Why did you ......

[AcadieLibre]

Since there seems to be a wide variety and skill levels and personalities I thought I would ask why you decided to get into photography, and if relevant what was the cause that got you into it. I was going through one of the few boxes I think I have been lugging around seems like forever and I came across a single photo I have no idea how it got there but looks as though it stuck behind a fold in the box. The photo was shot back in would have been late 1976 or early 1977. I cannot post because the subject matter and the girl in the photo never gave consent since there was no internet at the time.

After seeing it, I recalled why I decided that it was something I wanted to do, not as pro or anything else but just as an art form. I would like to see why you did? What was the catalyst or cause if any. I will reply after, just thought I would see what others had to say first, I know why I did and really just curious about the reasons of others. And do you consider what you do an art form?

[PaulaLynn]

I decided to get into photography because I always felt I had a "knack" for it. I always thought "gee that would be a great picture if only it was taken with a better camera".... HA HA HA!!! Anyway, so I finally convinced hubby to get me a SLR last Xmas. I had no idea how involved photography was. However, since picking it up last year it has been around my neck pretty much 24/7. I love taking photos of kids the most. I really like doing it at their home environment as they can truly be thereselves and WOW! The shots that I can produce without even trying, just shooting them being them. Its amazing.

[Ben H]

I'm a creative type, but I've never regarded myself as particularly visually creative (not being someone who can draw, or went to art college or all that). I have always done things like DTP and other computer-based artwork, and I can do it to some quality, but I in no way can call myself a graphic designer. (However, I do have some feel for a visual aesthetic, and my snaps were always nicely framed... :)

And because of this, it's great to start using photography to generate my own images I can use in my artwork, rather than having to come up with stuff from scratch with no images. I had some cheap film cameras when I was young and always hated faffing around with film, so I ended up getting a cheap P&S digital to take snapshots. After using that for a year or two, without any particular interest in photography per se, I got a better P&S where I could have more control over aperture etc, and started to get a feel for light and how to start to improve my images, and quite enjoyed it - and saw the results in much better images.

It was at that point I started to be interested in photography proper, I think.

To be honest, it's a really nice way to be creative without a huge amount of work - many of my other creative avenues require so much sweat (songwriting/production etc), that it was just fabulous to go out for a walk, listen to some music, and take some pictures - instant creativity without weeks of effort. What's not to like..? :)

And the more stuff I did, and the more I learnt, the more I reached the point where I had outgrown that camera for some time.

My dad was quite into photography in the past (Leica film cameras etc) so perhaps I inherited some interest in it from that.

Anyway, I had always planned to get a DSLR next, but couldn't justify it, but due to some serendipity of events ended up getting it sooner than I'd expected, and started on the crazy learning curve about "proper" photography, light, more sophisticated techniques, and at last, creative lighting with control over the lighting (never had lights and such before).

And so I've kicked up my levels a notch.

So - basically:-
a) I enjoy it - it's an easy, fairly light way to be creative
b) I get the benefit of being able to create my own imagery / library for artwork
c) It's another thing that I can learn and try to get decent at
d) It has some additional benefits by being able to do things that otherwise I'd have to go out to a third-party photographer for
e) It helps me educate my eyes and brain to be more visually aware and creative

I guess that's the short story, anyway... :)

[AcadieLibre]

Thought this would spur some creative discussion, see I may not have been on the ball on this one lol. I got into photography because I wanted to capture images I thought no one else would. I liked the idea of being there to capture a moment and having it live on long after. Since at that time I was only shooting B&W film I thought I was being very artistic also. Later on I had doubts about the artistic side of photography but I seem to have resolved it in my own mind.

I had forgotten about a lot of photos I have taken and I also lost most of my older photos so finding one I felt a bit nostalgic. I remember taking the photo and the result was more of an accident then planned. It was just silhouette and I was amazed at how it came out. I was just learning about photography and it was what I thought at the time it was a masterpiece lol. Looking at it now I can see how flawed it was on the technical side, not as sharp as I would have liked and too dark in areas but I still like it and still recall how proud I was of myself that I had taken the photo. At that moment when I saw the final print and it was hanging to dry I knew I was hooked on photography as a hobby and art form.