Are photographs the main reason you photograph?

[Ian David]

I enjoy the whole process.
I really like looking at other people's photographs, and rarely leave a gallery without some kind of new perspective.
I feel sure that photography helps me to see things better and to appreciate the world in a way I didn't ten years ago. Then again, maybe it's my greying hair that's doing that!
I like the way it can sometimes allow a connection with people that I might not otherwise ever meet.
I love holding and using a beautiful mechanical machine that just keeps working perfectly every time.
I love the darkroom and striving for the best expression of something I thought I saw or felt.
But at the end of the day, for me, I want physical photographs. They are like distillations of my life, the crystallisation of emotions and memories. If someone said that my negs could never be transformed into prints again, I would probably give it away...

[Curt]

I never miss the opportunity to go to a gallery or see other peoples work, I also love to read and look at books in my library. Magazines are all but history so that's out but I like to come here and listen to other points of view, like this thread.

[MattKing]

In the non-photographic part of my life, I really enjoy examining the current situation, determining the problems that need to be dealt with, crafting potential solutions, determining the methods needed to bring about those solutions, and then implementing those methods.

Each part of this process gives me a fair amount of satisfaction.

I see some strong parallels in photography.

IMHO you cannot "previsualize"* effectively, unless you value the result of your vision.

On the other hand, IMHO you cannot fully enjoy the results, unless you get enjoyment from how you get there.

I enjoy each part of the process, and just wish I had more time to devote to it.

Matt

P.S. *while I agree that, technically speaking, the word "visualize" is probably more correct, I like better the impression that I gain from "previsualize"

[largely]

I also love it all, from the G.A.S. to scouting for photo ops to shooting to processing (well maybe don't love film processing so much) to printing to matting and framing and hanging the prints on the wall.
I own some (not many) books and go to a gallery now and then. (love the one on APUG "cause I can "go" every day).
I love my old cameras and I find new ones interesting though maybe a little overcomplicated.
I think I'm a hopeless addict.

[Steve Smith]

There is quite a mixture here. Some people like the taking stage and not the printing and others think taking photographs is a chore and love the printing aspect.

Perhaps we should find someone nearby who is our opposite and form teams to do both.



Steve.

[2F/2F]

Interesting stuff so far. Keep it coming.

Steve; I am a musician as well. (Main instrument is the bass, but I also play trombone and baritone/euphonium, trumpet/cornet, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, sax, drums, and of course guitar.) Most of what I like came out before 1970, though there are exceptions.

I like the idea of a shooter/printer team. I seriously need someone to help me proof all my stuff, select interesting pix, think of projects, and get to printing!

[BWGirl]

This is a great question, 2F/2F! I guess for me, I like the whole process. I do not print as often as I should, and I am not as good at printing as I could be if I did it more. I'm also not the greatest photographer on the planet, nor do I aspire to be! I embrace all methods of photography because it all completes the picture, so to speak... each a piece of the whole.

I shoot because I see God in the world and for me it is an act of worship. I love that He is there in the macro and He is there in the 'wide angle.' Every shot I take, whether it 'works' or not is, for me, and act of love and admiration. And I am happy as a clam doing it!

[SuzanneR]

I'm smitten with prints.

Like others have stated before, I respond to the emotional connection I make with the people and places I photograph when I'm photographing them. Then it's wonderful to feel that connection again when I make a print. And again... when I take in the print when it's on the wall.

And it's important for me to see the photographs that other's make. When I can, I make an effort to go to shows. It's interesting to feel something about a photograph... to feel connected to it, even when you didn't make it.

Yeah... I'm pretty much eating and breathing it... too many fix fumes, I guess!! But a good print is greater than the sum of the whole process, so, even though at times I feel a little overwhelmed by it all, the whole process is important to keep at for me.

[Steve Smith]

Steve; I am a musician as well. (Main instrument is the bass, but I also play trombone and baritone/euphonium, trumpet/cornet, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, sax, drums, and of course guitar.)

I mainly play guitar in a rockabilly band but also play blues and jazz. I also play mandolin, banjo and ukulele. I will play bass if pushed but how our bass player manages to play a double bass for a whole gig is beyond me. If I play one for two songs my fingers are ruined for half an hour.

For some reason I can't do drums and when I try piano, both hands want to play the same thing!

Most of what I like came out before 1970, though there are exceptions.

That's a bit modern for me! Most of my favourite stuff is pre 1959.



Steve.

[BobNewYork]

Holy Moley this made my brain hurt - but what a great exercise.

I like all of photography - but not at the same time. I like photographing and during these phases the only darkroom work I do is to process the film and proof it. At other times I will concentrate on going over my proofs, new and old, to decide what's worth printing, and at other times I'll immerse myself in the darkroom to print properly.

I like going to galleries and exhibits - not just for photography mind you - but I enjoy seeing the art of others. It will often inspire me - although I then go through terrible angst over whether I'm plagiarising or not. Similarly I'll go through periods where I will read and re-read books in my own photo library. I also enjoy conceptualizing images - how do I express a particular thought photographically for example.

I rarely go out "on spec" just to take photographs. I've always found that for me there seems to be pressure to make images - whether there's really something there or not. These have produced my least fulfilling work. I will go out, with a digi, GPS and iPod with voice recorder, to scout potential photographic fodder. I've found this more productive for me and I build a book of "work to be done" from these forays. This gives me the time to really consider the shot and pick the season, time of day, type of weather etc that enables me to best express what I want to say about this subject. I'm constantly on the lookout for material. Driving with the family, by myself , on a train, in the city I'm always "seeing" potential photographs.
There are few times when I'm not actually or virtually doing photography - but I find I go through phases of what "type" of photography I'm doing.

All in all I, like many of you, need some very serious help.

Bob H