What photography is to me

[chicagojohn]

Please join in on this if you like

Whenever I observe myself engaged in something; or avoiding something; I try to check up and discover why that is.

Once, while ago, I was thinking, "Why pursue photography; every truly great picture has been taken already, and anything you could ever hope to do could not possibly improve upon the body of existing images. It would be a complete waste of time."

Yet, in spite of that rather obvious observation, something continued to draw me to it. I took joy in my personal achievements; images that I liked and which made me happy and sometimes joyous; realizing that those same images were nothing in comparison with others that I could dial up on the internet in an instant.

And then I began to look at what my internet friends were doing, and what my handful of real-world friends were doing in photography. I noticed that, like me, they were just taking pleasure in the daily successes they had had, not in comparing their results with some ultimate standard.

Someone posted an image this evening of a very young boy hunched down on a beach with a shovel doing something -- we know now exactly what -- in front of him, and when I saw that, I kind if saw myself in him; me now approaching 65, and with a few thousand dollars worth of gear instead of a trowel. But yet playing in the sand.

And it was then I realized that it is not about the product; the picture in relation to other pictures; it is rather about the process.

Speaking for myself alone, like that tree in the Nevada desert, still recognizable as a tree, I hope; it is about the process of discovery: Learning from others' experiences, sharing ones own as well, making something that one finds beautiful and understanding how that came to be.

And seeing so very often in the work of others, especially here on this forum, examples that are stunning and encourage one to continue on this path and see what happens as a result.

So, as you are probably wondering, "Where in the hell is he going with this?", I will conclude by saying that photography has become for me a personal journey of discovery and also a realization that it is that as well for others.

Now that I know what it is and what it is not, I think I'll be able to be even more effective going forward.

[yellalablady]

I enjoy my family, my Buddy, flowers, landscapes, seascapes, my Sophie, my grands, etc. ad nauseum. I also enjoy taking pictures of the aforementioned. I'd really like them to be good pictures. But, if they're not, that's ok as long as they capture a memory I'd like to keep and cherish. Someone I know is always cutting down the pictures I show him/her. They can always find something wrong with them. I don't show her/him as many of my photos because most times I don't want to know every bad thing about said photo. I just want to cherish the memory the photo evokes.
So, this is what photography is to me. The ability to capture forever a cherished memory and keep it close to enjoy over and over. Along the way, I read and practice and practice some more. All the time trying to improve my photography. In years to come, maybe my photos will bring joy to someone else's life.

[mishlove]

Hear Hear......I shoot want I want when I want how I want.....if you like it.......bonus........there are times that I've got goose bumps on my skin, with the anticipation of photographing a scene I see or have come across.

[Sage]

When I was a child and young teen, I detested being photographed. Consequently, I went the other way when the camera was anywhere in sight. This continued into adulthood. Perhaps it had something to do with who was taking the photographs. "Line up and say cheese" was rather uninspiring from any viewpoint. The advent of digital cameras and moving to an area rife with wildlife changed my attitude. My position was no longer in front of the camera, but behind it. Capturing a majestic buck or preening turkey proved a real rush. I'll never be a National Geographic wildlife photographer or any other genre of photographer for that matter. But that isn't my goal anyway. Photography gives me an outlet from stress, a sense of fulfillment when I capture a great wildlife shot, and it's just plain fun. Nothing better than taking the camera and disappearing into my own private world for a few minutes or hours. I hope to improve and that I have improved since I started, but as long as I please myself what anyone else thinks isn't all that important. It's fun just following whatever whim strikes my fancy. ~~Peg

[Edvins]

Please join in on this if you like

Whenever I observe myself engaged in something; or avoiding something; I try to check up and discover why that is.

Once, while ago, I was thinking, "Why pursue photography; every truly great picture has been taken already, and anything you could ever hope to do could not possibly improve upon the body of existing images. It would be a complete waste of time."

Yet, in spite of that rather obvious observation, something continued to draw me to it. I took joy in my personal achievements; images that I liked and which made me happy and sometimes joyous; realizing that those same images were nothing in comparison with others that I could dial up on the internet in an instant.

And then I began to look at what my internet friends were doing, and what my handful of real-world friends were doing in photography. I noticed that, like me, they were just taking pleasure in the daily successes they had had, not in comparing their results with some ultimate standard.

Someone posted an image this evening of a very young boy hunched down on a beach with a shovel doing something -- we know now exactly what -- in front of him, and when I saw that, I kind if saw myself in him; me now approaching 65, and with a few thousand dollars worth of gear instead of a trowel. But yet playing in the sand.

And it was then I realized that it is not about the product; the picture in relation to other pictures; it is rather about the process.

Speaking for myself alone, like that tree in the Nevada desert, still recognizable as a tree, I hope; it is about the process of discovery: Learning from others' experiences, sharing ones own as well, making something that one finds beautiful and understanding how that came to be.

And seeing so very often in the work of others, especially here on this forum, examples that are stunning and encourage one to continue on this path and see what happens as a result.

So, as you are probably wondering, "Where in the hell is he going with this?", I will conclude by saying that photography has become for me a personal journey of discovery and also a realization that it is that as well for others.

Now that I know what it is and what it is not, I think I'll be able to be even more effective going forward.

......yep!

[Kiasmum]

Originally,for me it was a case of take my own shots or stand around like an idiot while Mark took his. I started out with 'snaps' and no great expectation other than to have recorded an event,however when my first DSLR arrived I realised that photography gave me a way to be 'arty' in a way that I had never been-I can't draw for toffee and that was how 'arty' was defined both at school and home.
I love to look at other people's shots for inspiration and aspiration and am thrilled when I get somewhere even remotely close.Mostly though I take shots that I like and if someone else does then its a bonus. Like Monnie I also like to record special moments to keep close for ever because, ultimately, photographs and memories are all we are left with.

[Kiasmum]

Monnie,

Don't let that person 'steal the joy' from your shots.Tell them how you feel and that you don't need to have every (perceived) flaw pointed out.

I don't expect that they take shots that are even half as good as yours so have no right to comment until they can be equally competent.

[yellalablady]

Thanks for the encourgement, Karin. I've hinted at it with them. They are that good good. Better than me.

[Kiasmum]

Thanks for the encourgement, Karin. I've hinted at it with them. They are that good good. Better than me.

You're welcome Monnie but some people don't take hints and need to be told.Go for it!

Well that makes it worse then as they should be encouraging and picking out the positives not criticising. Perhaps criticising makes them feel better/superior

[chicagojohn]

I'm reading a couple of outstanding books recommended to me by one of my teachers; The Great Picture Hunt by Dave LaBelle and John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide.

And the one theme that comes through to me in both is congruent with what I was seeing in the analysis of my own experience prior to picking these books up: viz that it really is first and foremost about discovery; the camera is secondary to that.

I think that it can be helpful sometimes to recognize and explicitly state to oneself underlying principles, and I think this is one of those times for me.

[Redsparrow]

For a very brief period after I first got my SLR, I started getting down on myself because of the same thought: "Every great and original thing has been done already, so why bother?" But I took a trip back home to NY and was shooting not only scenery and pretty things, but family and old friends as well, and it was then that it occurred to me that I really didn't care whether my photos ever ended up in Life or National Geographic. While that would be incredible and wonderful, it wasn't what I had in mind when I first picked up my Canon, and that has never changed.

My husband has asked me why I throw myself into it so passionately when most of my friends and family (other than him, and my older sister) don't even really pay much attention to or care about my photography. I told him what I had told myself when I'd been down before... I shoot the same way I dress, do my schoolwork, and live my life:
for the love of it, not to impress anyone else or garner attention. Because it's fulfilling and satisfying to me, not because it adds to or detracts from anyone else's experience of something. For the joy it brings me to shoot, even if most of the shots I get in a given day are bad or just meh, if I get one good shot, it was a great day in spite of any and everything else.

[byteme]

Megan
Please see my PM regarding text colour
Regards
John (aka Byteme)
Moderator

[chicagojohn]

For a very brief period after I first got my SLR, I started getting down on myself because of the same thought: "Every great and original thing has been done already, so why bother?" But I took a trip back home to NY and was shooting not only scenery and pretty things, but family and old friends as well, and it was then that it occurred to me that I really didn't care whether my photos ever ended up in Life or National Geographic. While that would be incredible and wonderful, it wasn't what I had in mind when I first picked up my Canon, and that has never changed.

My husband has asked me why I throw myself into it so passionately when most of my friends and family (other than him, and my older sister) don't even really pay much attention to or care about my photography. I told him what I had told myself when I'd been down before... I shoot the same way I dress, do my schoolwork, and live my life:
for the love of it, not to impress anyone else or garner attention. Because it's fulfilling and satisfying to me, not because it adds to or detracts from anyone else's experience of something. For the joy it brings me to shoot, even if most of the shots I get in a given day are bad or just meh, if I get one good shot, it was a great day in spite of any and everything else.

Lovely, redsparrow! I think it can be helpful, from time to time, to stop and think about what we're doing and why. I very much enjoyed reading your essay on this topic. And having been on this forum for awhile, now, I do believe that you have very articulately expressed what I think is a fundamental spirit on this particular forum; which is why I love participating here so much.

I think I am luckier than you, perhaps, in that when I send pictures to my family, I generally receive positive, encouraging responses. There are exceptions, of course, as with the picture of wet dog poop. But at least you have us to share your efforts with.