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.
Hail Chase!
Well nothing to add, its about time we were all give a polaroid camera and told to get on with it! Like video, hiring is the way forward pick what you need for the job instead of worrying about what you have GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY ( I mean go and shoot and have fun )
Justin
Wow. Thanks for saying it.
I can talk numbers. I can talk tech and gear. But I hate doing it. I hate it SO much. That’s all I really hear about nowadays! Use this lens-or this lens is perfect for this and this! It’s horribly boring. What about vision? What about ideas? What about your adventures in capturing a certain image? I find that discussing these topics are so enlightening. You really get a sense of who the person is and how passionate they are.
I have a book full of concept sketches that I would absolutely love to show people. But when they hear about my love for photography, they would rather hear about the camera or if I’m ever going to make money off of it.
You’re completely right Chase. Love the art of photography and don’t forget about it!
My friend, who loves photography, see’s life as a photograph. He dreams in photographs and pictures of what his life will look like. I think its awesome and I’ve started doing it myself more and more.
i feel it chase, right on
Photography is about the moment not the gear. By the way for anyone interested check out the DC Photo Book. Great photos taken from places that are now inaccesible.