Seems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of photography, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of photography.
I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry about the business of photography and the gear and the gadgets. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Gear is easier to talk about than vision. Exposures are exact, the camera dials have numbers. There is a ‘right’ answer to many of these questions.
But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?
Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?
It’s different for all of us, but when you can take a break from all the chatter, remind yourself–as often as you can–why you love photography.
I totally agree with you Chase…I’m a photographer and sometimes it’s difficult to take time to do photography for myself and not for someone else…
I think that’s the biggest problem when you became a “Pro”….
But…about a month ago I started a new photographic project that is mostly interesting for me, because it allows me to take my time, see things with no pressure and think about each picture I want to save on film.
It would be great if also other photographers will write about “vision” on their blogs; it would be great for all the photographic industry.
Amen to this post. I sometimes wonder how much my photog buddies really love this art form. I, too often, hear talk of business, meetings, strategies, and hardly ever hear about the drive/desire/love to create photographs. Thanks Chase!
I really don’t spend too much time wondering what others do, I love images, I love street photography, landscapes and then there is always the obscure.
Me, a Leica, that’s it, snapping away, I have no idea whether I am good, bad or indifferent, doesn’t really matter. I have been a very successful film editor and now I have added photography and writing to the mix. That certainly fills my head with creative challenges, so don’t need to worry about all the technical shit.
Chase, You Know You Love Photography when your like me. Im twelve years old, you have to get that in your head, and most people dont get that. I have a Canon EOS 50D I have spent thousands of dollars on grear and equitment. I would in the winter work 6-12 hours a day shoveling snow here in Canada. Each second of work doesnt even compare to how much I love the sound of a cameras shutter. Im one of those people who can walk outside and take hundreds of photos and only spend a few minutes.
Minutes outside. That is how much I love photography and Chase if you happen to read this, I flew from Alberta Canada all the way to Seattle alone just to come and see you and capture those memories with a photograph just to find out that you werent in Seattle you were at a Ski Photo shoot. Ive stopped buying gear, tranfering pictures to my laptop and then deleting them because im saving up to take that trip. Ive learned photography the hard way. Im planning in the Spring of 2011 to come visit you again Chase. And just imagine how upset I was when you werent there. That is love and passion of the art of photography
From your good friend
Dejan
Thanks for the reminder Chase! Sometimes I get too caught up in my head and all the things I am supposed to be doing to really look around me for photographs. This post was just what I needed to get out of my head and wander around with my iPhone looking for something fun and inspiring to shoot.
CheerZ m8!
Chase get post, I have been doing this profession for 16 years and each day I try out new things and push my level of photography. Everyday I love getting up and doing my job!
Joel SMith