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.
Seriously dude. Thanks for saying it.
Make pictures because you have to.
I have hacked my meh gear, I’m not pro (I’m a student), I don’t actually care about the business (I probably should), I could easily chat about numbers and light, but really it’s the making. The making is the part that gets me out of bed. I’m equally interested in what other people are making, first the picture and then how the picture was made, maybe. The end result is what people will remember.
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
and now I am willing to lock myself in a light tight bathroom to load film into a developing canister in 90° weather with god awful humidity (need to figure out ventilation cause i end up sweaty!)
I have been getting up at 5 am and leaving the house to explore my town in the light of dawn through images. I am burnt, but it is worth it. For me, the love is the only reason to take photos. I have a 9-5 job as a product photographer and that pays the bills. All the rest is just joy.
Sam
So true. When im at home doing something wether im in the computer or with the family, I always stop what im doing at 6pm and go outside to photograph. And i do see things as pictures. I point out stuff the look interesting to me but to others it might just be “the sky” or “a flower” Photography really opens up your eyes to the smallest detail provided on Earth. I myself see the picture before i even take it.
amen! i feel like i don’t know anyone in my area who just takes photos for the love of it. it’s funny too. because many of my peers are copying good wedding photogs who are copying the greats….and they don’t even know it. it’s all L glass and photoshop.
reminds me of a saying i heard: when a bunch of photogs get together all they talk about is business and money, when bankers get together they talk about art. or something like that.