How important is photography to you?

[Roger Hicks]

For example, would you consider going away for a holiday/vacation without a camera? Or using disposables? Or taking just one camera, with no backup?

There's obviously a spectrum from those to whom photography is a central part of their life (to quote Geoffrey Crawley, "I can't imagine ever giving it up. Can you?") to those who drift in and out of it among other hobbies. Also, photography is by no means exclusive: as RFF members demonstrate, you can combine it with motorcycling, history, travel, all kinds of things.

There's no moral judgement in this. Clearly photography is more important to Geoffrey (and to me) than to many people, not least because it accounts for a substantial part of our living. But how important is it to you? And how would you define/recognize 'important'?

Cheers,

R.

 

[lorenzo1910]

For me photography is a part of my life.
I couldn't even imagine to have holidays without at least one camera (usually I carry one film/one digital camera)...
Sometimes when I am too busy I feel the urgence to go taking some pictures...doesn't matter where and what...I just want to feel the magic of the creation of a photo...

 

[isorgb]

Important, even very important...
but for example- if I will not have a camera on vacation, I will not cry. I will be happy, I will not be watching the world by frame, exposure etc 😉
I really like pictures, but sometimes I do not take pictures for a long time, despite the fact I have digital camera.
I'm just hobbyist and photography is important without "clutch up".

 

[Arjay]

> would you consider going away for a holiday/vacation without a camera?

No.

> Or using disposables?

No; the last disposable I had was lieing around in the trunk of my car for an undefined time. I don't think I could have relied on the quality of the film in that thing. And I'm not even speculating on the limited technical possibilities that this camera could have offered.

> Or taking just one camera, with no backup?

Hm - that's a question of how professionally I would like to operate, and a balance between safety and convenience.

I tend to take my digital gear (DSLR) on vacations because I really can't plan on how much I would be shooting. Cost-wise, digital is a safer bet here.

But - I might carry a film camera for some limited street shooting.

> But how important is it to you? And how would you define/recognize 'important'?

Well, speaking of a holiday, I will not be on my own for most of the time, and therefore I am also considering the wishes/needs/interests of my significant other. So, I might not have a large choice of gear with me all the time, but rather find an agreement about going out on my own for a temporary photo walk, and that would be the time that I would devote entirely on photography. Other times, I'm likely to compromise ...

 

[nathanp]

Snapshot type photography is quite important to me. I want to be sure that when my son grows up he can see pictures from all stages of his life and when I get old(er) I want to be able to look back at the photos of my life. For these photos I'm not very fussy about the equipment - I have photos taken with disposables and 110 novelty cameras that are perfectly capable of taking me back to the time when they were taken and they mean a lot to me. Anything I use these days is streets ahead of those cameras. I'd class these photos as important as I would be quite miserable if I couldn't take any photographs on a family holiday/event.

For my own photography, the stuff I do for my own amusement that I mentally class as "proper" or "arty" isn't hugely important. I get a lot of pleasure from it but I don't carry a camera everywhere and I don't take photographs every day. I swing between photography, guitar playing, guitar restoring and making electronic music - photography is just one of the things I drift in and out of. I have had more praise for my photography than for my guitar playing or music making which makes me think I should do more.

I can't imagine not ever taking photographs again. Video just isn't the same.

 

[kuvvy]

I carry a camera daily, usually a compact, just in case I come across something worth shooting plus I have a young grandson who's always worth the odd snap. When on holiday I'll take a compact and a 'serious shooter' like my RD1. I have gone away in the past with only a small Yashica T5 and actually shot more films than I had when carrying more gear. May be a lesson to be learnt there.
I wouldn't think of going on holiday without a camera even if only to capture those happy snaps that prove 'I was there'. I'm off on a Norwegian cruise in three weeks time and I'm planning on taking my RD1, G11 and GRDIII.

 

[john neal]

Like Kuvvy, I don't go anywhere without a camera (generally a Leica 1), and would never go on holiday without a decent camera. The choice will change depending on where and how long - Florence would be the MP + 35mm Summicron, while Kenya would be the R8 + long lenses and, yes, I do sometimes go with only one camera.

Photography is important enough to me that I have been doing it for the past 51 years 🙂

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Pretty important, as a hobby. I have two others - flying gliders (real ones) and playing music with a couple of bands twice or thrice a week. Photography consumes the most time though. Not always productive time but always enjoyable.
I would not go on holidays or even a day trip without a camera, although I don't take one down to the shops every time I go out. I've made some attempts to reduce the size and weight of my gear as I find the larger and heavier it is the less inclined I am to take it with me. So the Nikkormat (used for macro and telephoto - 85/135/200) stays at home and also the Rolleiflex. I usually take the two Bessas, each loaded with a different film and lens.
I wouldn't use a disposable - I have a Canon IXUS digital that would cover that need if it ever arose but my wife usually has that.
I'd thought about trading the two Bessas for one M6 but currently I've concluded that much as the idea of an M6 has emotional appeal, the Bessas give me two bodies with overlapping viewfinder frames (I use a 25mm lens quite often, preferring it to a 28 and I don't use longer than 75mm on the RF's) so I've got backup as well in case one breaks down. And they really do everything that the M6 will do, if not with quite the same "feel" or pride of ownership. And they're newer.
I haven't quite decided what role the GF1 has. I prefer working with film but see the GF1 as something like a different design of hammer when the one I like to use isn't quite what's needed for the job at hand. It does have its uses occasionally. Bloody expensive hammer though!

 

[ReeRay]

Eat sleep and drink it. Much more important than life and death.

 

[johannielscom]

I am watching the world 'by frame and exposure' and actually get grumpy when denied photographing when I want to, which is most always 😱

No holiday is ever enjoyed without several cameras in my bag, and when I leave it at home to please wife and kids on some odd days, I always feel relieved to bring it along next day.

When shooting street, one of the most valued 'extras' is the opportunity to be an observer solely, not a participant. For some strange reason, I like being alone in the presence of others.

Interesting question Roger, got me some nice quotes for the signature.

 

[xxloverxx]

‘For example, would you consider going away for a holiday/vacation without a camera? Or using disposables? Or taking just one camera, with no backup?’
My Rollei 35 came in the post today. I now have next to no excuse not to take a camera everywhere with me. It's also a good film backup camera.
Even if I forgot the Rollei, I probably wouldn't forget the iPhone.

I hardly go anywhere without a camera, and if it isn't in my hands, it's a few steps away (think: swimming pools).

It's not that I'm completely obsessed with making photos every minute, but I like the “secure” feeling of having a camera there in case I need it.

I have, in the past, taken 1 camera without backup on vacation; now I realise what a stupid decision that was (in Vancouver (and in Whistler), winter, snow, rain…). Luckily, I had no problems (nothing failed), but I'm not trying my luck again.

Photography is very important to me, both as art and as a way of recording history. They say a picture paints a thousand words…and, honestly, I hate writing. Ergo, this post ends here (I hate writing even more)

 

[xxloverxx]

I am watching the world 'by frame and exposure' and actually get grumpy when denied photographing when I want to, which is most always 😱

No holiday is ever enjoyed without several cameras in my bag, and when I leave it at home to please wife and kids on some odd days, I always feel relieved to bring it along next day.

When shooting street, one of the most valued 'extras' is the opportunity to be an observer solely, not a participant. For some strange reason, I like being alone in the presence of others.

Interesting question Roger, got me some nice quotes for the signature.

Regarding your 1st & 3rd points, you're not alone.

Your 2nd point however…
I'd never leave a camera at home just to please someone.

 

[andreios]

Holiday or even a small family trip without a camera? Impossible. having quite a big car, I usually carryalmost all of my cameras (I haven't acquired many of them yet, but it begins to grow) - seeing all the stuff we need to carry for our son I always say - those few cameras won't matter at all. But I do the actual shooting only with one or two of them - always deciding on the spot which to take with me.

 

[isorgb]

Holidays without a camera is possible for me only?!?!? 😉

 

[petronius]

I have many interests (beside the work for living) but if I could afford only one, it would definitely be photography!

Vacation without a camera?
I´ve never done this for more than 30 years. My wife and son are shooting too, so vacations are always photo trips (lucky me!)

Disposables?
Any camera is better than no camera!

No backup?
I´ve done this, but the fact that most of my cameras are old, it doesn´t make me happy. Better have a backup and don´t need it, than ...

Edit: isorgb, how does it feel to be alone;-)

 

[johannielscom]

Regarding your 1st & 3rd points, you're not alone.

Your 2nd point however…
I'd never leave a camera at home just to please someone.

Trouble is, when I bring it on a daytrip while being on a holiday, there's lots to see and shoot, so I tend to shoot at least two rolls a day. Not only some tourist snaps but also street stuff etc. which needs a permanent photography-driven attention to your surroundings.

I'm not much fun being around when 'working the streets' and leaving the camera at home keeps me from going grumpy. Next day, I don't take no lip from nobody, since I did their thing the day before 😀

 

[isorgb]

petronius:
Fantastic! Then I am free from search of the light, composition, focal lenght. I don't scream then "Where is my camera??? Where is my camera???"....
I can only focus on the drinking of beer or watching beautiful girls. Just relax 😀

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I do it for enjoyment and self-fulfillment. I've been taking pictures since I was 6.

Nikki has a two-year head-start, using a Nikon and Leica since she was 4. I'm sure she will outlive me.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Can't think of many days (unless I was sick in bed) that I've haven't had a camera in my hand in the last 50 years. I was hooked at 10 years old and it won't let go! 😉 Definitely have other interests, but photography has been my passion, and career, for most of my life. I tend to be an observer, and a camera has opened doors for observation that would have been closed to me without it. "Oh, him? Ignore him, he's always got that camera." 🙂

Good question.

 

[petronius]

petronius:
Fantastic! Then I am free from search of the light, composition, focal lenght. I don't scream then "Where is my camera??? Where is my camera???"....
I can only focus on the drinking of beer or watching beautiful girls. Just relax 😀

Then you live in paradise! Even with a P&S I only have one hand and one eye for beer and girls!