Why do you take photographs?

[Fettator]

Just because I love it for the sheer fact it is about all I can do now 'cause I am broken but I love showing people what is out there in the wider world.....especially the little things which go un-noticed by the greater population......also it gets me away from my daughter, until she gets her own camera

[yummymummy]

I like the history. I have always loved looking at my great nanna's family photos, she still has the old original glass plates for some of them! which I find incredible. I love to think that I'm helping families out by taking their photos, to help them to have something to give their next generation and the generation after that.
that and I love my camera as much as I love my kids

[Steve Axford]

I'd almost forgotten that side of it, but that has been so important over the last century or so.

[DacrimL]

#1 - Because I can
#2 - Because I enjoy it......it usually takes me to some interesting places for a shot and perhaps some not so savoury places but in the end it is all a record of where I've been and what I've seen. In this respect I can show others who may or may not have the ability or chance to go to some of these places for whatever reason.
#3 - Because if done right by my standards it can be therapeutically relaxing after a stressful day/ week at work.
#4 - Because of the way of the world and its changes, I can look back on an old image and say I was there before the change.
#5 - And finally, because in some instances I find it both mentally challenging and stimulating to achieve a desired result, always with room for improvement.

[Mr Felix]

For what my thoughts are worth:
- It captures history - covered.
- It helps me with CRAFT disease. This maybe comes under history anyway. Nostalgia?
- It can be fun.

I've mucked about a bit too with "macro" stuff. Well, close ups. I got back in to playing with Lego models and there are some great ones once built.
I've put a few up and have taken some more here and there.
The close up ones on models can take you to a "new place" and change perspectives.
With the more expensive lenses you get the "tilt shift" (is it?) and that is fun too. Though I don't have the $$ for that.

I would like to get/try those "infinite focal length" lenses and try the old tricks of people and toy cars, etc. But for now much I would use it (really) and what it would cost, I can't afford them.

Steve,
If you are "interested":
THIS weekend at Evan's head there is the annual get together of people at the airport.
8 and 9 Jan.
I don't know if you are into that or not, but seeing where you live and what is going on this weekend, I thought I would mention it.

[olympuse620]

It is enjoyable. It has to be otherwise why would you lug all that gear around everywhere.

[Steve Axford]

Steve,
If you are "interested":
THIS weekend at Evan's head there is the annual get together of people at the airport.
8 and 9 Jan.
I don't know if you are into that or not, but seeing where you live and what is going on this weekend, I thought I would mention it.

Thanks for letting me know, but I think that airshows aren't really my thing. I'm more into nature and I wouldn't know anyone there.

[Mark L]

Thanks for letting me know, but I think that airshows aren't really my thing. I'm more into nature and I wouldn't know anyone there.

Maybe you could go there and talk to strangers and see if you could get them into looking at nature with you. Yeah yeah, that won't work so go and take some other photos to affirm why you like to take photos.

[Marietine]

For me photography has always been something I like, and as others said, quite good at it. Now looking back, there are so much better photographers than I will ever be. The photography for me is something for the meditation, spending time with nature, or friends, thinking of something creative.

No matter what, I can't imagine putting the camera away forever, I love the possibility to take a look from a different angle and to be able to show it to others.

[ricktas]

For me photography has always been something I like, and as others said, quite good at it. Now looking back, there are so much better photographers than I will ever be. The photography for me is something for the meditation, spending time with nature, or friends, thinking of something creative.

No matter what, I can't imagine putting the camera away forever, I love the possibility to take a look from a different angle and to be able to show it to others.

Looking forward to seeing some of your photography then.

[Mark L]

For me photography has always been something I like, and as others said, quite good at it. Now looking back, there are so much better photographers than I will ever be. The photography for me is something for the meditation, spending time with nature, or friends, thinking of something creative.

No matter what, I can't imagine putting the camera away forever, I love the possibility to take a look from a different angle and to be able to show it to others.

I tend to agree with Rick above.
Surely you're not satisfied with not showing your photos here. But of cause you share with your friends.

[lenscap]

I like getting out in nature and the challenge of getting a better photograph than previous ones, especially of birds and macro. Shooting birds with my Canon brings a stillness to my busy life as I have to slow down and wait for the best opportunity.

[feathers]

I like art, and photography is an art form l get a lot of pleasure from, both in the natural and manipulated pics. Cheers.

[pgbphotographytas]

In my case it is now just an extension of the rest of my life, if that it taking photos of daughter number 1 doing something funny / cute or photos of radio towers and users for my blog.

[Brendo09]

I take photo's because it's a chance to get out and not focus on everything else that takes up all the minutes in a day. It's just you, a mechanical device that draws light pictures, and whatever you want to draw a picture of.

It's great to take a photo that a loved one likes, though I rarely show my photo's outside here and my wife.

It's nice to be able to see something in something that people walk or drive past everyday and grab a little snippet of beauty in it, and lock it away forever (or until your hard drive gets munted).

I like that I can photograph an animal and show my kids (most of whom love animals) the little intricacies, and the changing colours, and the pores and skin and feathers and hair and facial expressions of the animals that they only see from a distance.

I like that I can take a photo of something that I find beautiful, like a dried lake bed, or a sunset, or a cloud formation. Those things will never be the same as they were at that moment, the light will never be the same as it was that moment, it's a snapshot of time that won't ever be there again.

It's a complex thing. It's a beautiful thing. It's a peaceful thing.

I don't think I've explained that very well.

[feathers]

I take photo's because it's a chance to get out and not focus on everything else that takes up all the minutes in a day. It's just you, a mechanical device that draws light pictures, and whatever you want to draw a picture of.

It's great to take a photo that a loved one likes, though I rarely show my photo's outside here and my wife.

It's nice to be able to see something in something that people walk or drive past everyday and grab a little snippet of beauty in it, and lock it away forever (or until your hard drive gets munted).

I like that I can photograph an animal and show my kids (most of whom love animals) the little intricacies, and the changing colours, and the pores and skin and feathers and hair and facial expressions of the animals that they only see from a distance.

I like that I can take a photo of something that I find beautiful, like a dried lake bed, or a sunset, or a cloud formation. Those things will never be the same as they were at that moment, the light will never be the same as it was that moment, it's a snapshot of time that won't ever be there again.

It's a complex thing. It's a beautiful thing. It's a peaceful thing.

I don't think I've explained that very well.

Think you explained it very well

[Steve Axford]

I take photo's because it's a chance to get out and not focus on everything else that takes up all the minutes in a day. It's just you, a mechanical device that draws light pictures, and whatever you want to draw a picture of.

It's great to take a photo that a loved one likes, though I rarely show my photo's outside here and my wife.

It's nice to be able to see something in something that people walk or drive past everyday and grab a little snippet of beauty in it, and lock it away forever (or until your hard drive gets munted).

I like that I can photograph an animal and show my kids (most of whom love animals) the little intricacies, and the changing colours, and the pores and skin and feathers and hair and facial expressions of the animals that they only see from a distance.

I like that I can take a photo of something that I find beautiful, like a dried lake bed, or a sunset, or a cloud formation. Those things will never be the same as they were at that moment, the light will never be the same as it was that moment, it's a snapshot of time that won't ever be there again.

It's a complex thing. It's a beautiful thing. It's a peaceful thing.

I don't think I've explained that very well.

That describes one of my main reasons very well indeed.

[Cage]

I think you've explained your reasons very well Brendo.

It's capturing that moment in time. It will never be exactly the same again.

And Steve, is that your work on David Rabbitburrow's upcoming series ?

[Steve Axford]

Yep, that's mine. I couldn't think of a better place to showcase it. It's odd, but first I got "discovered" in Europe, then USA, Russia, China and Japan and now Australia.

[Mr Felix]

I guess I can't use the excuse nowadays, but reading some of the replies:

Though some of you say it is a good change to get out and focus on ........ I know a lot of people who take out-of-focus pictures.

Maybe they just didn't quite understand what was meant by FOCUSING on the subject.


Oh, and as a bit of a dig at myself......
I see when I log in, that sometimes the saying at the top is "its all about the light".
I think it is also all about the TIMING!

Recently I was at the airport about to fly away and took a photo of someone cleaning the windscreen of the jet.
Like those people at the traffic lights who approach you when the lights are red..... "Want your window cleaned?"

TYPICALLY! I was watching him do one side, climb down and start on the other side before I had the idea of taking the picture.
All I got for it was him starting to climb down the stairs.

Not the best picture, but it brings back the memory for me. So I guess that is important, somehow.

I'd include it, but not sure if this is the right place.