Why are photos important?

tragicendings_ · Oct 18, 2004

So, why do you guys all take photos anyway?

Corry · Oct 18, 2004

I started to take photos just so I would have something to remember the people in my life by. At the time I started I wasn't really serious about real photography...just about capturing memories of those I loved...and I started getting more and more compliments on them..and people saying I should take pictures more often...and thus the passion was born.

ahelg · Oct 18, 2004

On the wall in my room I have photos of family members who have passed away. It's comforting to be able to look at the wall and remember all the good times we had.

Artemis · Oct 18, 2004

I cant draw (due to a problem I have with Hand-I-coordination) So I decided to take pictures, because I do like art.

logel · Oct 20, 2004

i sure do take pictures partly to help preserving memories (often, admitedly, sensual, erotic memories...) but the nature of the relation of these memories with the pictures is a bit difficult to find out... anyway i think art (in any form) has a lot to do with time, and photography is no exception to that; sometimes it actually can make the passing of time so painfully clear...

and past is not to be recovered... or is it?

Varthlokkur · Oct 20, 2004

tragicendings_ said:
So, why do you guys all take photos anyway?

Because it is fun and makes me feel good. I like making people happy with pictures of thier family and children.

tragicendings_ · Nov 5, 2004

Any of you guys mind if i quote your responses as a part of my essay?
x

ahelg · Nov 5, 2004

Nah. If my comment was any interesting then please feel free to use it.

motcon · Nov 5, 2004

the reasons people take photographs and the reasons people appreciate photographs are often different, but do converge in some areas.

that is the commonly accepted general statement. each individual has a unique perception/passion in each of these areas.

someone once posted a scan of a photo taken of her sister. i immediately knew that i had to have it. i sent an email to her with questions regarding the purchase of a print. she thought that i was a stalker because she had never sold a print. after we worked through it all and she realized the fact that i was genuine and sincere, i had the print a week later.

so i bought a print of someone's sister. a random person. why?

it was technically without flaw. perfect dof, nothing annoying in the frame to detract from the subject, and most importantly; she hit the shutter at the right time. all at once the girl in the photo is happy, sad, being carefree and enjoying the day, being caught in the act of doing something that mom told her to not do. she has the eyes of the unknowing and innocent, she has the eyes of all wisdom. why did she take the photograph? because it was her sister and she wanted to photograph her. i'm not sure she knew it at the time, but she was able to capture that 'other' aspect; the something that makes a photograph live rather than just be.

a visual memory and conveyance of subject are, of course, reasons people take photographs and pull them out from time to time for the sake of remembrance.

others photograph in a technically sound way in order to capture and convey a sense of emotion and presence.

the list does go on. the profession of one of the best current day photographers i've ever known was to travel the world taking photographs of.....food. for magazines. that was his profession. the photographs led a person down a single path of, 'damn, that looks good'. his 'off hours' work was something else entirely. i could stare for hours at a single piece by him and my emotional perception would change slightly and at at times drastically.

and it continues to go on, but in the end, each person has valid reasons to take photographs just as each person has valid reasons to appreciate certain photographs.

**note - i did not do a spelling/grammar check, so shame on me if there are any errors.

DocFrankenstein · Nov 5, 2004

Now I wanna see that sister :? :lol:

Seriously... can u plz post it?

motcon · Nov 5, 2004

DocFrankenstein said:
Now I wanna see that sister :?

Seriously... can u plz post it?

sure. give me 'til the end of the day (tonight sometime) to get the scanner up and running.

tragicendings_ · Nov 8, 2004

Motcon, you make a very good point.
And please post that print, I would love to see it.

x

Hertz van Rental · Nov 8, 2004

Our memories are imperfect and we forget a lot. Go through your family and friends and try and remember the colour of their eyes. photos just fill in the gaps - and help some of us earn a living.