What "turns you on"..................

about photography? LOL What I mean to say is, why photography? What is it that keeps you interested in it? For those who make a living off of it, I understand......although this question probably still pertains. Is it the mere beauty of a subject that you feel you need to capture? Is it the challenge to get "the shot" that drives you? Is it the sharing of such images that keeps the fire burning, so to speak? For me, it appears to be all of the above, although I am far too new to this game to challenge myself for the "shot" LOL. Not to say that I don't strive for a great shot, rather I haven't the experience, yet, to make such statements. I just really enjoy the beauty of a captured moment....and as they say, "it's in the eye of the beholder". Maybe it's the fact that a single image, examined, makes me appreciate this world a bit more. Hell, I was in an alley way the other day......amongst the rats and garbage....and saw the sunlight shine upon a building that the alley way was leading to, and it was a "moment" that I wanted to capture. Why? I don't know LOL. It was a "feeling" that I tried to capture in an image. It wasn't that good of a photo LOL, but I still managed to get a piece of the situation for myself. Silly I suppose, but I'll be damned if that dark, dingy alley way didn't have a beauty all of it's own. Anyway, just curious as to what you guys and gals think, from a philosophical point of view?

Hey, is there a "show your alley way shot" section on here? LOL

Chris..in the same way the Japanese construct those viewing points: you may have seen them, two uprights, a cross member at a right angle not quite at the top and a gentle inverted curve, or arc to cap them: my mind enjoys the framing of what is around me. The is a panorama, a view yes, but what part of it interests or teases the mind and "soul" most? Have you noticed how when you look through your viewfinder you see the alley differently? That is because the eye has peripheral vision, the out of focus bits to each side, the lens crops them (except the wide angles of course). And by the way, the alley shot "works" it is quite effective..There's more, but I'll leave it to the next contributor to add...
Here's a better explanation, I feel..


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Watching the image appear on the paper while in the tray of developer. Even after 44 years, I still get a kick out of that!

STM said:

Watching the image appear on the paper while in the tray of developer. Even after 44 years, I still get a kick out of that!

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I heartily agree with that. Without wanting to appear a Luddite, I often think however superb the technology of digital photography has become, the young have been denied that sense of mystery (what was on that roll exactly?) or that pleasant surprise when the roll came back as proofs or prints and you saw one or three were excellent, or as in your case, the magical process when the image manifests in the developing tray. Then too it does have its upsides: You can see what is effective or not immediately, and do a second or a third take until you are happy. We film users could not usually afford to blow a roll so easily and in my case, I can no longer be around chemicals so send my black & white film out.
Finally, saddest of all, it is heartbreaking to see wonders of camera design and technology going for pennies or to waste entirely.
I urge the nikonites who are born into the digital age to look, compare, wait until the light is right, then squeeze the shutter: the aim has not changed, to Photograph means to Draw/paint with Light.



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ima93m4k3r said:

I heartily agree with that. Without wanting to appear a Luddite, I often think however superb the technology of digital photography has become, the young have been denied that sense of mystery (what was on that roll exactly?) or that pleasant surprise when the roll came back as proofs or prints and you saw one or three were excellent, or as in your case, the magical process when the image manifests in the developing tray. Then too it does have its upsides: You can see what is effective or not immediately, and do a second or a third take until you are happy. We film users could not usually afford to blow a roll so easily and in my case, I can no longer be around chemicals so send my black & white film out.
Finally, saddest of all, it is heartbreaking to see wonders of camera design and technology going for pennies or to waste entirely.
I urge the nikonites who are born into the digital age to look, compare, wait until the light is right, then squeeze the shutter: the aim has not changed, to Photograph means to Draw/paint with Light.



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Unlike film, digital is "free" (equipment costs aside of course). As you stated, few of us had unlimited resources to spend on film, P&P supplies, etc. So that being said, you had to learn to wait for the right moment and click the shutter. No such thing as "spray and pray" and then spend a lot of time fixing things in Photoshop you should have anticipated and fixed in the camera.

"CHRIS" said:

..........why photography? What is it that keeps you interested in it?

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Not a day goes by I dont ask myself the same question. I could sell all my gear, save a sh...ed load of time and money and just rip images from Google if i liked them. At school i used to enjoy art, i wasn't the best in the world, but i wasn't half bad. After a teacher gave some heavy non constructive criticism, i gave it up. Capturing a good photograph is like finishing a good piece of art for me, it also ties in with my interests. Kind of a double whammy

"CHRIS" said:

about photography? LOL What I mean to say is, why photography? What is it that keeps you interested in it? For those who make a living off of it, I understand......although this question probably still pertains. Is it the mere beauty of a subject that you feel you need to capture? Is it the challenge to get "the shot" that drives you? Is it the sharing of such images that keeps the fire burning, so to speak? For me, it appears to be all of the above, although I am far too new to this game to challenge myself for the "shot" LOL. Not to say that I don't strive for a great shot, rather I haven't the experience, yet, to make such statements. I just really enjoy the beauty of a captured moment....and as they say, "it's in the eye of the beholder". Maybe it's the fact that a single image, examined, makes me appreciate this world a bit more. Hell, I was in an alley way the other day......amongst the rats and garbage....and saw the sunlight shine upon a building that the alley way was leading to, and it was a "moment" that I wanted to capture. Why? I don't know LOL. It was a "feeling" that I tried to capture in an image. It wasn't that good of a photo LOL, but I still managed to get a piece of the situation for myself. Silly I suppose, but I'll be damned if that dark, dingy alley way didn't have a beauty all of it's own. Anyway, just curious as to what you guys and gals think, from a philosophical point of view?

Hey, is there a "show your alley way shot" section on here? LOL

View attachment 215047

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Because I'm better at it then I am at golf! Plus it's a lot easier.

Because its a cheap hobby :cheerful:

STM said:

Unlike film, digital is "free" (equipment costs aside of course). As you stated, few of us had unlimited resources to spend on film, P&P supplies, etc. So that being said, you had to learn to wait for the right moment and click the shutter. No such thing as "spray and pray" and then spend a lot of time fixing things in Photoshop you should have anticipated and fixed in the camera.

Click to expand...

A lot of digital photographers still do that. I spend hours sometimes waiting on the right light to appear that may last only a minute or even just seconds just to click the shutter at the right instant.
A lot of time it doesn't happen and the hours of waiting is wasted with nothing to show for it.
But when it does happen, and the light is perfect, and your composition is spot on, it is a fantastic feeling opening the image up in LR and looking at it for the first time on the big screen.
Even though you're going to tweak the image further , you already can tell that you took a special shot and it was worth the wait.. It's a great feeling.:cheerful:

Sometimes you film guys don't give us digital fellers enough credit.

mikew said:

because its a cheap hobby :cheerful:

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huh?

mikew said:

Because its a cheap hobby :cheerful:

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Is that what you tell the wife

Blacktop said:

A lot of digital photographers still do that. I spend hours sometimes waiting on the right light to appear that may last only a minute or even just seconds just to click the shutter at the right instant.
A lot of time it doesn't happen and the hours of waiting is wasted with nothing to show for it.
But when it does happen, and the light is perfect, and your composition is spot on, it is a fantastic feeling opening the image up in LR and looking at it for the first time on the big screen.
Even though you're going to tweak the image further , you already can tell that you took a special shot and it was worth the wait.. It's a great feeling.:cheerful:

Sometimes you film guys don't give us digital fellers enough credit.

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My comment was directed at the scattergun users, not those who like you wait on the shot. I have 80 year old cameras and lenses that still perform well and have charisma. But then I also own 4 digital cameras, two of them Nikons a D200 and a D610. I bought the 610 to use my old Nikon and Nikkor lenses: I don't use a single kit lens on the 610 and am having no problem focusing the manual lenses. My D200 is with my eldest daughter and took stunningly good images. (I do own two kit lenses I used on that but as you know the D200 can also use old glass to good effect. Why photography? Because it like meditation, because when someone sees what you saw and captured and goes, Wow that's nice...you know you got it right


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I took it up after the strokes and disability. I love to capture anything and share it if it pleases me. Some are good some not so much, but I continue to get better. It is good therapy and fun at the same time. And I learn something every day. I do all the shots in manual and I am always learning from sources here and elsewhere. So much of it is timing and sometimes you miss it, but when you get it just right it is so nice. I love the nature shots the best, but I like it all. God is good.

mikew said:

Because its a cheap hobby :cheerful:

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Compared to what... Car Racing? Power Boats? or is it like @paul04 said?

Danno said:

Compared to what... Car Racing? Power Boats? or is it like @paul04 said?

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Whats the best way to make a small fortune in Racing?







Start with a large one!

Bad Joke i know.



For me, seeing the finished product. Seeing the images on a computer is one thing, but seeing them blown up to 24x36 posters is something else.

I started with b&w photography in school 20+ years ago. I won a couple of competitions and had two prints in a gallery in Washington DC. My Canon a1e and all my lenses were stolen from me in 1996, and I just didnt get back into it until last year. I picked up a D3300 kit for a great price and jumped back in with both feet. I recently picked up a D7100, and after having a taste of a "non" kit lens last week, I am very eager to move forward...that 2.8 70-200 really opened my eyes.

Also with all the craziness at my house, grabbing my camera bag, and hitting my quiet spot keeps me from flipping out and doing something rash...

For me it comes from my love of nature and being able to capture something of what I see and experience, so I can bring it home to look at whenever I like and share it with others. Wildlife photography is also an extension of my love for hunting, many of the skills are the same, just using a different tool and with a different desired outcome. Unlike hunting though I can do it almost anywhere and any animal is on the fair game list.

I like the art too, the experience of learning and improving my images. However if the subject isn't wildlife or a natural landscape I don't generally have that much interest in photographing it. My wife is an exception, I like taking her portrait when she has the patience to let me but general street or architectural photography I can take or leave.

For me, it's trying to share the feelings and experiences with my family / friends. I take my wife and girls out to quite a lot of beautiful places around England. Fountains Abbey, Aysgarth Falls, Northumberland National Park, and so on. It's not so easy to put into words the things you see whilst you're at these places. Plus, I'm not much of a wordsman.

Taking a photo gives you that extra power to overwhelm someone with the same thing you've seen. One of my work colleagues has a rolling desktop wallpaper of places I've taken pictures of, he likes them that much. And my sister, who is disabled and doesn't get out much, loves seeing my photos. She's into photography herself so she appreciated them that bit more.

For me personally, I like the calm of going out and shooting. Walking around beautiful locations, looking for that special spot that just screams to be captured in print.

...although I am quickly running out of living room wall space for new prints!

While it is not the reason that I pursue photography, I really like the sound and feel of an SLR/DSLR's shutter actuation. I like that feel/sound when I am shooting. I know that is really weird.

I have always loved the whole going out and capturing moments in the world sort of thing. I started out with a Polaroid when I was a child, then I had a Kodak Instamatic. I remember having to take the cassette to a drug store or a photomat booth when I was younger to get the film developed and prints made. Then when I first started college, I took courses in photography, and I got into developing my own film and making my own prints. That was where the whole thing took on a whole new light (if you will) and it really changed for me. I was so hooked after that. But it changed that way that I looked at things. I shot everything that caught my eye after that. I had a bit of hiatus for several years due to what was going on in life at that point, but when I came back, digital was the thing, and film was more difficult to do. (I had no access to a wet lab for one). I got my first DSLR and relearned/refreshed the basics. And I was off again. My wet lab was now totally electronic, and I was able to do so much more. (I still have a romantic attachment to film though, and I still have my film SLR's, including my very first one. A Nikon, of course). But like many others, I like the nature of photography in capturing moments of life and of the world, then interpreting those to share with others. When I am not shooting anything specific, I do love to just walk where ever and make any place that I am at into a photo walk. I take my camera bag with me almost everywhere that I go. I even take it to work (and I am not a professional photographer) just in case an opportunity comes up that I might not want to miss. And I do love sharing my work, eventhough it is not anything special (to anyone else). It is sort of "this is the world through my eyes". It is a lot of fun, and I greatly enjoy the pursuit of it.