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.
Great post! I am constantly taking photos in my head. It took my girlfriend some “understanding”…but she gets it now. This shot was a late nighter: http://erroldunlap.com/blog/among-us/
This is exactly why I started my latest (frankly quite bonkers) project. http://www.shotbyjobson.com/blog/?p=381
… and I feel better for it already.
Take a step backwards. Remember why you are a photographer. Be young again.
Perhaps a better title would be “For the Love of WHAT You Photograph” …
Funny thing… I went back last week to my best photos in iPhoto and created a Slideshow with them just for fun. Back in those I was terrible at making technical decisions when shooting, but it was the love of shooting and sharing what made the spark … I had to remind myself of it.
You gotta love what you do and you’ll only progress naturally. Love it people! Love it!!