How I developed a love for Photography

RScottie · Thursday at 8:25 AM

I developed a love for Photography in the 9th Grade, my last year of Junior High.

We were allowed in 8th Grade to pick electives for one class period during our 9th Grade year, with each class lasting one six week period. The selections contained a whole bunch of courses such as Art, Cooking, Woodworking, Photography, Sewing, Finances, Music (Singing), Intro to Band (Instruments), and a few others that are not coming back to me.

As I have no ability to draw but love looking at art and nice pictures, I chose Photography. I did very well and became one of the volunteer school photographers for the remainder of the year.

I continued that "job" in High School, even having a couple of my pictures published on the Sports Pages of the local papers.

After years of not shooting with my Pentax SLR and only having a few point and shoot digital cameras, which left A LOT to be desired, I decided I wanted one of these new electronic marvels.

My OCD led me to researching various camera's and their capabilities, I was not having much luck. Along with my ignorance of how digital camera's worked in comparison to film, and my OCD, it seemed I was just chasing my tail.

My wife, who is an angel, recognized that I would suffer for a long time with comparison charts and specification lists, decided to ask the internet what a good camera for someone new to digital cameras would be. She was given the answer of the Canon EOS Rebel T7 that came with at least one lens, the specs which were lost on her.

She chose the Kit that contained a new T7 with the EF-S 18-55mm and the EF 75-300 lenses.

And now I am totally enjoying figuring this thing out.

It is a little frustrating that some of my pictures are not as good as others, but I have found that if I look at the parameters that I chose, or let the camera choose, they do tell a story.

But, all in all, I am loving it and, as I approach retirement, it will give me something to do that I really enjoy.

And, I am really liking this forum too!

SharonHearn · Thursday at 9:35 AM

I got into photography many years ago with an old Samsung phone camera, I managed to take a close up of a bee on heather and fell in love.

Many years later and with a much more expensive camera this is still one of my favourite photos. I keep trying though but my OCD (another OCDer) won't let me accept noise or any blur in my photos so I have problems knowing what's any good lol

cgw · Friday at 2:30 PM

SharonHearn said:
I got into photography many years ago with an old Samsung phone camera, I managed to take a close up of a bee on heather and fell in love.
View attachment 287970

Many years later and with a much more expensive camera this is still one of my favourite photos. I keep trying though but my OCD (another OCDer) won't let me accept noise or any blur in my photos so I have problems knowing what's any good lol

Shoot what and how you like. They'll catch on eventually.

Ozzie_Traveller · Friday at 4:52 PM

Good on yer Scotty !

Your intro to the 'love of our lives' is a beaut read and no doubt similar to many of us too

We all seem to go thru some sort of evolution for our equipment, before settling upon the kit that gels with us and our way of life. Keep going mate !!
Phil

PhotoHobbyist · Friday at 6:18 PM

RScottie said:
I developed a love for Photography in the 9th Grade, my last year of Junior High.

It is a little frustrating that some of my pictures are not as good as others, but I have found that if I look at the parameters that I chose, or let the camera choose, they do tell a story.

You got started much younger than me. My father was a professional photographer who gave me a few tips on how to frame a shot and how to use a film camera, but as a kid and teenager I was mostly disinterested. As an adult I took pics with cheap point-n-shoots and didn't think much about photography. It was only after my father passed, that I became interested in trying to take good pics with a good DSLR. Now when I get the rare good shot I would like to think my father would be proud of it.

Even if you have the best camera and best lens most of your shots will not be worth keeping. Everything has to be right to get a great pic ( subject, framing, background, lighting, Aperture, Time, ISO, focus). Even when those are right, the content might not be interesting to you. I only keep 1-2 shots out of 100, and that is pretty common from my understanding. You'll know you got a great shot when you see it, but that never happens while using the camera. It happens on your computer while reviewing and editing your shots.

BTW, most rely on the camera to do focus as modern cameras do so well. Many use "spot focus" which displays a small square in the center on which it focuses. Most use the P(rogram) mode most of the time, and switch to A(perture) mode, or T(ime) mode if the shot requires it. Good luck!

smoke665 · 2025-06-21T06:57:38-0500

My journey started in High School in the mid 60s, with an old import 35mm range finder (which I can't remember the name of). I was pretty much shooting blind, but loving it. When I started college I traded it in on a Yashica Electro 35. My freshman year i started working evenings at a large local paper in production. I loved it there and gobbled up knowledge/skill from all the departments including darkroom and photography from the staff photographers and reporters. During my time there the owner/publisher took notice of me and became a mentor and life long friend. After college he helped me buy my own weekly paper, which rapidly grew to include three papers and a commercial printing shop. It was during this time in 72 that I switched to Pentax equipment, and honed my photography skills both with the papers, and as side hustles doing portrait, product and forensic work for the SO and local attorneys. 10yrs later marital problems and the resulting stress forced me to sell. It was then my career path changed direction, I mostly forgot about photography for many years, except for the occasional family and vacation snapshot, I just didn't have much interest. Then in 2012, the newly released "red" Pentax K30 came out, something snapped in the brain (had to have it) and I dived back in. Loved that camera so much I must have wore it out shooting, because the auto focus died. From there I went to the K3ii (which I still have) and the K1Mii. I've thought about an upgrade, but frankly both bodies still serve me well, and I've yet to exceed their capabilities. Over the last 13yrs I've discovered the joy in photography that I first found in the 60s. I only shoot "who, what, and when" I find it interesting, and convient to do so. When it starts feeling like a job, the equipment goes back in the closet.