How important is photography to you?

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but its just a hobby and my camera has to play second fiddle to my bicycle (second among hobbies, that is, only after family, friends, career, etc.). That said, I don't think I could go on vacation without a camera. Photography is what I do to unwind but I also enjoy documenting where we've been, whereas most but not all of my vacations do not involve cycling.
 
robsomogyi said:
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but its just a hobby and my camera has to play second fiddle to my bicycle (second among hobbies, that is, only after family, friends, career, etc.). That said, I don't think I could go on vacation without a camera. Photography is what I do to unwind but I also enjoy documenting where we've been, whereas most but not all of my vacations do not involve cycling.
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Whereas I'm the opposite. I have quite a good bicycle (Overbury's) but if it were stolen tomorrow (which God forbid) then I doubt I'd even bother to replace it. Bicycling is more important to you; photography to me.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger, I have a lot of $$ sunk into film equipment (and a few in one pocket Panasonic digi) which I could probably walk away from in a moment. Photography is only one means of expression so I could live without it. I’d miss it but I could let it go.

Would I take a camera with me when I walk out a door? Yes because I’m always looking and thinking about images, but there are other ways to deliver a message than through a film or digital camera.

To the point there's no chest beating if I can’t shoot. OTOH I would be saddened.

BTW: What no “poll”!?
;D
 
I'm currently on 'holiday' with the family and have my M6 TTL & D200 with me. B&W film in the Leica and the D200 for colour. As I only want snaps in colour I'm now looking at a Panasonic LX3 or Nikon P6000 for colour (RAW is a must). I want it all to fit in my Billingham Hadley as I love my photography and am fed-up with carrying SLR's around. It gets monotonous after this time. Buying the Leica was great. I love the idea of a second M body for colour slide. Reckon two M's and a RAW Digi compact in the shoulder bag is the way for me. Also I've got a great little Manfrotto 709B that works a treat with the Leica.

Steve.
 
Would you consider going away for a holiday/vacation without a camera?
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I have my camera on me even while doing groceries, I don't think I can leave my cameras at home while on vacation. I like to think that my cameras are happy when they snap often :)
Or using disposables?
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Disposables...well, having a camera is better than no camera.
Or taking just one camera, with no backup?
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The backup idea has been getting very tempting recently, even though up until now I'd been shooting with only one body/lens combo.
 
I walked away from it for four years- I had gotten burnt out. But it snuck back into my life and now I do it every day, only not for pay.

It's less important, but way more fun, now.
 
Photography is a major part of my life, I always have my camera with me, even if I don't shoot a single frame for days. I never go on vacation without my camera, I can't even imagine how that would feel. I've always had a single camera and a single lens but luckily my girlfriend brings one of her SLRs along with a digital compact, so backup is available at no extra weight.

Looking back, if I weren't interested in photography my life would have been radically different, the comfort of my home darkroom is a very stabilizing factor for me (and attracts a good number of friends). Who says obsessions are harmful?

PS: Incidentally I also program in fortran (and used to program in FORTRAN), but my compiler is written in C, and wouldn't/couldn't touch it...
 
First, it's necessary.

I need to take photos of sites for my arch. projects, so without photography, I would have to sketch every perspective (forget that!) But that type of photography is almost purely utilitarian. I'm not going in for macro shots of a bug walking around on a brick wall while at a site. For that reason, digital p&s' are great.

Next, it's something to do.

Unfortunately (and the contrary), I was born/grew up in a digital environment, meaning I was lucky enough to meet one other person who appreciates film at college last year. Otherwise, all my other friends ask me (probably every time I have my GNS or Petri 7s) why I don't just use digital like everyone else. This is unfortunate because it makes me rethink bringing my film cameras, which are infinitely more fun to shoot, to interesting places (boardwalks,Boston,NYC,etc.) that I am going with my other people.

So, yes, I do occasionally consider leaving home without my camera (because I hate carrying around my Canon Powershot p&s...)

koniczech
 
telemetre said:
Looking back, if I weren't interested in photography my life would have been radically different, the comfort of my home darkroom is a very stabilizing factor for me (and attracts a good number of friends). Who says obsessions are harmful?
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Same here!

Cheers,

R.
 
For me photography is very imprtant: my life based on family, work and photography. Trying to balance the three (since a few month I'm retired so it's easier). But I have to say that when I say photography i do not mean only taking and printing pictures. As a serious hobby (or passion) it involves reading books about, visiting exhibithions, sometimes travel to visit an exhibitions, meeting with friends, preparing some lectures for the local schools or my photoclub. It's a way of life and i'm luck enough that my wife likes photography as well. Getting old I' try to travel light but never go to a holiday (even a week end) without a camera (it is 2, one for me and one for my wife, each of us is the back up for the other!)
robert
 
Lots of interesting stories and ideas posted here. A good read for sure.

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

No. But with that said, I would leave my high end gear at home in favor of bringing something more light and compact. As long as I can get decent images, and have reasonable control over the process, I'm willing to make that compromise.

>> Or using disposables?

Definitely not.

>> Or taking just one camera, with no backup?

For personal photography, vacations, etc, I would. I could always purchase a new camera, even if its just a P&S, should something happen to mine. But for work (I shoot commercially) its not an option since a failure could easily open me up to flying everyone back out for the reshoot, and absorbing all the costs which could be substantial.

I do like how I can intertwine photography and various other aspects of my life. From family gatherings, vacations, to even shooting macro images with a P&S in the car while waiting for my wife shopping. Photography has allowed me to document my other hobbies in great detail. I'm a very visual person, and photography does seen to creep into my life in all sorts of way.

My personal photography does drift in and out, and always has. Like the cobblers kids that have no shoes. For the last 15 years mainly because I constantly shoot for work. Before that, starting up a business. Before that, growing a family. Before that girls and cars. Before that, high school drama. Before that, I needed to learn to read and write, and start teething :)

But, I've been persistent at it for the vast majority of my life in various incarnations. There is always something that brings me back when I drift away. Sometimes is new gear, a new format introduced, a technique that as caught my attention, or a concept of subject matter that I want to document. It comes in waves, but is ever present. I don't think I have ever been without at least a few cameras at my disposal, and the longest timespan between shooting and not is typically measured in weeks, and rarely months.

I'm lucky in that I can afford to indulge most of my interests. But if I had to choose only one, it would be photography. While other hobbies come and go, photography has a timeless endurance for me, and a long history to fuel that.
 
For me it's like smoking: I do it every day but I could quit anytime ;)
 
Photography is a hobby for me but that does not mean it's some lesser way of spending my time. I don't think I would be as good a chef if I did not have something creative that is only for myself.
I'm obviously not pursuing this hobby in a vacuum and I do enjoy the notice of other people but ultimately I don't have to answer to anyone else about what I do with this hobby.
As well, there is (are?) enough different aspects of "photography" that I figure I can spend the rest of my life learning it and never be done.
I don't use my cameras every day but I rarely am without one and the days I don't enjoy some part of this hobby are very few and far between.
A camera on vacation? Absolutely. One camera on vacation? Depends on what and where. Disposable? Yes. Sometimes they are the better choice for me. In fact, I have a Konica Wai Wai sitting on the table next to me right now. Though I won't be disposing of that one, I'll be reloading it with a new battery and in date film once I've shot the roll that's in it.
Rob
 
For me it began as a hobby. I grew up reading second-hand National Geographic magazines, the ones with the big Canon advertisements inside. I naturally associated the exotic images and faraway places in the magazines with cameras. I decided I would love to visit all the places I saw, and hopefully take my own pictures while I was there.

Unfortunately, my life took a few different turns, and photography never progressed past a basic hobby. I always kept a camera around of some sort, and used it when I could, but my list of hobbies and part time activities was so long that I didn't actually get to use my cameras very much.

My interest in photography became full-fledged when I moved to Japan. With so many new things to see in a beautiful and scenic country, I gave my cameras a workout. With the huge numbers of photographers in Japan, and the many shops that deal with them, I began to take an interest in the equipment as well.

My photography has evolved from what was a sometime-hobby to a fairly good source of income. I don't earn as much with photography as I do with my regular job, but in recent months the extra money has come in quite handy. I am slowly picking up the pace of my business, and though I don't ever expect to be into photography full-time, I am enjoying what I am doing.
 
The urge to bring magic analog machine gets stronger as years passes by. The stillness while developing my magic negatives and the anticipation to scan them is something wonderful. Under the surface of live and streaming events outside some surgical and highly subjective samples can be made. Only with the symbiotic relation between the tool and the tools tool N.B.
One camera, one lens and Tri-X. Sure. M2, Summilux 35mm pre-asph to be specific.

Super Angulon and Summicron pre-asph 90mm if strong and eager and another camera body or two to become superman..:eek:
 
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I am ever surprised , given this age of tiny portable Digi-boxes , how many people go to shows / fairs etc without a camera in sight .
I am still agonising over a pocket Digi-box , given the size of my M8 which presently travels with me .... or the big box Dig 3 with it's oversize lens .
It would be unthinkable to holiday without a camera .
 
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