Why do we photograph?

[JH100]

Sorry this falls under "because of I love it", but I photograph because I've had an innate strong interest in it for years. I remember telling my mom once I was thinking about becoming a photographer before I had ever touched a SLR. I love the emotion captured in photos. I finally took a photography course this past fall and my interest in it has taken off even further. I also pick photography because it's one of the mediums I'm stronger in.

 

[Diddy2theJJ]

I like the problem solving of it...finding the perfect combination of all of your in-camera settings, the right lighting, a unique angle etc etc to make a great image It's a really fun way to express myself too.

I also really like the response I get from people when they are so thrilled at how I captured a moment in their lives forever (usually with weddings). And....it's a pretty nice way to earn some extra money on the side

 

[mishele]

I have a desire to create!! I like showing people a new way to see the world! Life is too damn fast, we need to slow down! Photography does just that, it slows us down.....makes us think. It makes you REALLY look at the world around you. Wwwhhhh0000aaa, now I need a cigarette!!:greenpbl:

 

[Overread]

My reason changes over time and I don't think I've done enough introspection to really come up with a single overall answer; so as time has gone on:

1) I was bored. Yep pure and simple. I needed something new, interesting and slightly more creative, whilst at the same time not being art (I can't draw -- its a common complaint with photographers it seems ).

2) Then it shifted to interest/fascination; boosted by the fact that I could get shots that didn't look that bad (always helps). Macro and wildlife here, but macro took over mostly because it was much more accessible.

3) Now I think its shifted again, its a challenge now as I try to push from the odd really good shot to trying to get better shots on a consistent basis.

As for what it might be behind it all - eh fascination maybe but I really don't know, I'll probably have to shoot for another few decades to really work that one out.

 

[marmots]

because it is something i can do well, learn quickly, and be better at than most of the people i know, simply because i enjoy helping people and making them happy, either by teaching them how to do the things i do, or simply doing something for them they could never have dreamed of someone doing for them.

i really enjoy teaching people, but you really can't do that without first knowing what you're trying to teach.

i specifically like making crazy edits for people, either to make them look nice, or just because they wanted to be a zombie, younger, less bald, etc...

i'll admit, i've started to get out of photography, but in order to be successful with any kind of special effects work you need to first be able to capture the images you need for the edit

in the end i like what i do because i make other people happy by doing it... simple as that

 

[Josh66]

Kind of hedonistic, don't you think? If it's just for pleasure, isn't it just entertainment? Like watching a football game or even a porno magazine? I don't think there is any time wasted in trying to find purpose in your life.

Yeah, I guess it is a little hedonistic, for me anyway. When it stops bringing me pleasure, I will stop doing it. Hopefully that never happens, lol. And a lot of the time, it is just entertainment for me. I don't have deadlines or goals, I just do this because I like doing it.

Maybe it's just a stage that will pass. I don't really have the "drive" to take myself seriously enough to "go pro". If I ever did go pro, it would be as an artist, not a portrait photographer working for clients. Maybe if I had a ****ty job (I don't), I would look into doing weddings and portraits, but that is "work". I don't want photography to ever be "work" for me.

 

[unpopular]

I think though there is more here going on than simple pleasure - it's an expensive pleasure (especially for you filmies), and it's one that consumes a lot of time and energy. It can be frustrating. If it was pleasure alone, a playboy magazine, an action movie, or a football game or some other brainless activity would be just as satisfying. I think photography beings us pleasure for more cerebral reasons, and understanding these motives I think help us as artists in the long run.

... not sure if that makes sense ...

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I just like making things. I don't care what medium it is, I just like making things.

 

[Josh66]

Makes total sense to me. It certainly is not a brainless activity for me (like sitting in front of the TV), but at the same time I know that I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't like it.

OK, so I guess my reasons are more complex than I knew. All I know is I like doing it.

 

[unpopular]

well, certainly we enjoy everything we do, otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. There has to be something. But it's not just pleasure for the sake of pleasure.

 

[imagemaker46]

I do it to record the history and memories of other people. I hear it all the time from people I have photographed in the past when they come across a photo that I have taken, but that they have never seen, it instantly brings back their memories, in some people it brings back a better time and place in their lives.

If I just go out on my own to shoot, it is relaxing, and depending on what it is, brings back a happier time in my life. So it is all about recording memories for the future.

 

[KmH]

Photography for me is an amalgam of two things I love; science and art.

Me too!

 

[unpopular]

Photography for me is an amalgam of two things I love; science and art.

Me too!

The science aspect used to be a lot more obvious.

Does anyone know if a UV-irradiated chromium ion has a positive charge? I'm wondering if you could use ammonium dichromate to selectively plate a tin particle...

 

[Diddy2theJJ]

Kind of hedonistic, don't you think? If it's just for pleasure, isn't it just entertainment? Like watching a football game or even a porno magazine? I don't think there is any time wasted in trying to find purpose in your life.

Yeah, I guess it is a little hedonistic, for me anyway. When it stops bringing me pleasure, I will stop doing it. Hopefully that never happens, lol. And a lot of the time, it is just entertainment for me. I don't have deadlines or goals, I just do this because I like doing it.

Maybe it's just a stage that will pass. I don't really have the "drive" to take myself seriously enough to "go pro". If I ever did go pro, it would be as an artist, not a portrait photographer working for clients. Maybe if I had a ****ty job (I don't), I would look into doing weddings and portraits, but that is "work". I don't want photography to ever be "work" for me.

I started going photography just for fun too, and now I'm doing weddings and portraits. It sometimes feels like work, especially after a 12 hour day of shooting a wedding. BUT...it never fails to happen, I get that great feeling after it's done and it feels great to have done a good job and captured so many great images. Runners get a runners high after long runs, I get a "Photographers High" after a big job that's been done well. So it does seem like alot of work, but there's a very rewarding feeling that I get with it as well.

 

[o hey tyler]

I do it for the groupies.