Why are you a photographer?

[RichC]

Leaving aside snapshots as memories of friends and family (which we all take), why are you a photographer?

Like most of us, I take photographs that interest me, but additionally my photographs are meant to be seen by others - perhaps on my website, in a book or in a gallery. I use them as a way to communicate my thoughts and observations on life and our society: for example, one project was about how quickly technology changes, and my current and ongoing project is about the lost River Fleet in London (once the city's second-largest river, today there is no trace of it above ground - I'm photographing the ghost of a river).

I hope my photographs make people think and look more closely at themselves and the world they inhabit, and perhaps consider things they've never have before.

What prompted this post? An email that arrived out of the blue at the weekend. It's because of responses like this that I'm a photographer...

"Dear Rich,

I came across your website last night and really enjoyed the experience. You combine ideas, creativity, images, and words in a very special way

I liked Insecta a lot, thought Fast was a thought-provoking nod to the masters - and beautifully done, and I liked the concept and very careful use of light in Tempus Fugit. But it was Digital Archaeology that really resonated. What a strong and thought-provoking idea. It's something I happen to think about a lot. I lament, for example, that the generation 1 iPad I bought in 2010 was so obsolete by 2012 that it wouldn't work with current software and was non-upgradable, and yet it is in perfect physical and electronic condition today. I think of all the waste of resources and the damage to the environment. I especially like the way you treat this irony by use of a lightbox

Your artworks are an inspiration."
​

NB: I don't seek approval (though I'm happy to get it!), that's not what prompted this post - indeed, some find my images disturbing and say so (they can all be read as memento mori - reminders that we all will die). What I like about the email I got is that my photography made someone think, and that it was affirmation of some of their own musings.

 

[daveleo]

Photography is my personal journey of self-discovery.
For me it's a wonderful question to ask myself about each picture ..... "Why did you make that picture and why did you make it look like that?"
The answers accumulate to who I am, which is what I meant about "self-discovery".

On the lighter side, it's just fun to make things (like pictures).

 

[back alley]

like the majority of members here on rff, i am an amateur photographer.
i started with photography about 40 years ago as a means to express some of the creative feelings i had going on inside me.
i also wrote a bit of poetry for awhile many many years ago.
the great thing about photography for me was learning about the gear along with how to make an image to my liking. i enjoyed the darkroom at first but it became more of a chore for me even though i stuck with it for 30 years. i love the digital process...no chemicals, no smells, no standing for hours at a time.
i enjoy myself when out shooting. i like that i can make some money at it when i want...i did weddings and family portraits...did music groups promo pics as well...nudes...had a studio with 2 other shooters for a few years...it has filled my time and my life and i have something to look forward to if i ever retire..

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Excuse Me, I'm not just taking snapshots of friends and family. I'm taking the portraits. You know, instead of going to elsewhere and paying for it.

Also taking photography seriously is less expensive to taking it on fishing. And I'm staying more at home. Making wet prints and doing the laundry by same time. 🙂


And this is the last week entry on the local community forum thread where I'm posting images about local events and such since 2010:

I find myself watching for this thread just to see your next pic's. keep them coming. thank you.

 

[Sparrow]

I started because it was quicker than making lots of preparatory sketches, that and it was on the course so I had to do it really ...

smart phones 🙄

 

[RichC]

On the lighter side, it's just fun to make things (like pictures).

That too! Although I'm serious about my photography (perhaps overly!), I find creating pictures very satisfying, especially if I manage to capture what I intended! It's also one way I relax and escape the daily grind.

 

[FrankS]

This famous quote explains most of the reason for me: "I like to see how things look photographed."

Add in: it's an outlet for creative expression, I like the craft of the darkroom, I like vintage photo gear

 

[awbphotog]

It is a release, like anything one pours large amounts of time into. Photography is, for me, a way to remember what I've lived through; catalogs of periods of time in my life. This, to me, is important. My mind cannot hope to remember as accurately as a photograph does (again, to me).

 

[JP Owens]

Photography has opened a lot of doors for me that would have otherwise been locked. I've walked into a lot of dark rooms through those doors, and photography turned on the light.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Like Frank said above, I enjoy seeing what the world looks like photographed (original quote was by G. Winogrand I believe). I've been doing it for 40-plus years and I haven't tired of it yet. 🙂

Rich, I had a look at your website. Beautiful images there; Insecta is my favorite body of work. Inspiring. Thanks.

 

[nikon_sam]

Because I can't draw...I would give it up if I could draw anything other than stick people...
I have a cousin that is very talented in this way...he did a pencil portrait drawing that looks very much like a B&W photo...if I were to be at that level I wouldn't need a camera...
Plus I love looking at the world through a lens...

 

[FrankS]

Photography also matches up with my personality. I'm somewhat of an observer by nature.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Habit.

Cheers,

R.

 

[noisycheese]

Because I can't not be a photographer.

 

[mdarnton]

What? Did we get a choice? In my case, when I was in grade school, my high school brother commandeered my services to do his darkroom work for him. After that, I just sort of slid into it, and followed in his footsteps. It wasn't until I was 30 that I wondered if I'd done the right thing and bailed for a while, but habit is a hard thing to break.

 

[35photo]

Because I can't draw...I would give it up if I could draw anything other than stick people...
I have a cousin that is very talented in this way...he did a pencil portrait drawing that looks very much like a B&W photo...if I were to be at that level I wouldn't need a camera...
Plus I love looking at the world through a lens...

This is a exact reason why I started with photography.. and has turned into an exploration of the world around me..

 

[johannielscom]

This famous quote explains most of the reason for me: "I like to see how things look photographed."

Add in: it's an outlet for creative expression, I like the craft of the darkroom, I like vintage photo gear

Garry Winogrand rules.

My favourite quote, what makes me tick photographically is his other essential remark:

"To make something look more interesting than it is in life in a photo, that's a real problem."

I think it's the quintessential motivation of any aesthetically motivated photographer, whether they realise it or not.


That 'problem' is what I'm trying to solve every time I push the shutter button.

screen print of eight scanned Hasselblad shots from a single snowy morning walk​

 

[Michael Markey]

I like it .

 

[AlexBG]

I have a really bad memory so take lots of photos to compensate. When I'm annoyed, upset, angry, unhappy or combination of these I look at photos and videos I've made and they fix my mood.

My Granddad took most of his photos with his M3 and now I'm doing the same, that's a nice feeling.

 

[Mcary]

I enjoy it and I don't completely suck at it 🙂