Why do you take photos?

[em&ollie]

For me, it started when I got Ollie. On a pretty old compact camera I became increasingly happy with the results I was getting. Then I go here and learn that people take way better pictures! With some magic thing called an 'SLR'.

That was over two years ago. I've finally gotten my DSLR and now I take photos as my creative release. It's great fun getting it just right while I'm taking a photo and then torturing it later with my photoshop 'skills'

So why do you take photos?

 

[AndrewF]

For me, I had no interest in photography beyond a simple point'n'shoot. I was coming home from work one day and saw the most amazing storm cloud. I decided to grab some film to stuff in my camera, but by the time I got home, the cloud was dumping massive rain on me. I decided that I wanted to learn about how to take pictures properly so that if the instance arose again, I'd be prepared.

From there, it's been a source of both relaxation and inspiration for me.

Funny enough, that cloud I saw almost 15 years ago is still so etched in my mind and that experience is so intertwined with my photography that I can't help but take my camera out when the weather is crap in search of the "perfect storm cloud". That said, it's always a learning experience and I've taken on all sorts of different challenges with photography, including birds, night-shots and landscapes.

Funny though; in photography, things have a way of coming around full circle. Last year, while I was waiting for my oldest daughter to finish with her swimming lessons, I was wandering around with my youngest daughter (camera and tripod in tow) and came across the scene below. I didn't get it exactly as I'd have liked to, but when your child is standing with you on the highest point of land, near a rail-road track (ie, metal), you don't linger too long when you know lightning is going to be coming soon .

 

[Punkygirl0101]

I just enjoy taking pictures of things I find beautiful. I always have my camera with me.

 

[Buckshot]

I get into what I call photo mode. I love it when I get in that mode because I am looking at almost everything trying to frame it up. I spend my time looking for the beauty in things instead of the ugly. When I am not in photo mode I walk or drive past sections of rivers, herds of elk, insects, snow covered mountains without even thinking of their natural beauty. For me, life is happier when I concentrate my focus on the good in things rather than the day to day grind.

I want to expand my horizons though. I almost never photograph people or even the evidence of people other than just quick snapshots. Some of the greatest photos ever taken had people in them. I want to get an eye for that.

 

[MelissaCato]

I love taking pictures. Even more so because I'm a independent single mother. If I didn't take pictures throughout our life .. my son wouldn't be able to picture those exact moments all over again. It's fun.

Here are some pix ....

His final boxing match for the youth golden gloves, his competition was 20 pounds over.

Thanksgiving 2008. All the kids showed up to see the new club house.

His best catch first day of trout this year.

We cut down the trees down around the outhouse to have a view ...

.. I take oodles of pictures, it's nice today because you can make motion pictures with still images in about 5 minutes. Saves on disk space.

 

[MelissaCato]

Here's Granduer ..

.. just wanted to share.