Why do you take photographs?

Nisah Cheatham

My Dad is a serial hobbyist and at some point he was into photography and even turned a bedroom into a darkroom (like in 1975). Once he moved on, my mom picked it up and stuck with it for the rest of her life. I have been an on/off hobbyist since the early 1980s. So short answer long: I don't know why. Its like asking why I wear shoes. 😎

Melanie C Goins

I started with a love for photography in high school, just some candids and trip photos. The candids and videos continued through the years. Not too long ago, I had an appointment in another town and took my new Nikon with me to try it out. I had come to enjoy shooting floral, nature, etc. I stopped a few places and was “in the zone”. I was kidnapped, brutally tortured and raped repeatedly. I am currently recovering from my second plastic surgery to repair my face. Other physical injuries that were inflicted can not be fixed, and led me to attempted suicide, which left me in a coma and on a ventilator for a bit. Despite the physical scars I see everyday, and the emotional, photography brings me peace. I can lose myself in the beauty God created for a little while and push aside the ugly. I have not picked up that Nikon since but use another camera around the yard. I don’t leave our property alone. There is no more “in the zone”, but there is a certain peace when I look at the photos I’ve shot and see that I’m still in there somewhere in the photos I shoot. He hasn’t completely won….

Mark Thompson

I take photos because I enjoy it! I also like editing photos and surprise myself quite often by editing a photo that was nearly deleted and ending up with something that people like. I enjoy the solitude when I'm out with my camera and often just walk the countryside with no specific goal in mind.
How did I get into photography? When I was younger and throughout my school years I was never very artistic and had no interest in the process of developing photos. Then digital photography came along. My wife decided she wanted a 'proper' camera with controls so the photographer could be creative rather than just point and shoot, so I researched and found a bridge camera for her.
I fell in love with it and taught myself photography and how to use the camera. My wife didnt lol.
I was lucky enough to take early retirement and now spend the majority of my time playing golf or taking and editing photos!

Ken Deckinger

Mike - Cool question... Thanks for posting it.

So for me, I got into photography after first getting into videography. I made a documentary about entrepreneurs in Cuba a little under 10 years ago. First time really ever picking up a camera to create something. At the time, I wasn't interested in photography. I found though that in my down time I started using my camera (the one I was shooting video with) to take photos. They were awful. But with time I put some effort into learning and improving.

Photography eventually overtook my interest in videography because of the intentionality required to tell a story in one frame. Today I take photos because I love to create and capture moments. I love street and documentary photography. It's a way for me to focus my energy on a craft that adds something to the world (although some that see my photos don't agree 😂). I also love to tell a story of a moment in time that will never, ever happen again. That's super special - and sometimes kinda spooky feeling to me.

Tony Kelts

I used to just snap pix with a phone. Now I try to make real pix with my real camera, computer and editing programs.

Mariah Adams

My Nana was a photographer and I grew up in front of her lens. I went through a really traumatic childhood and she was always there for me. She was one of the most important people in my life and one of my best friends. She was so excited when I picked up a camera and when she couldn't use her equipment anymore she gave it to me.

Lisa Trefry

Photography has always been a part of my life. My father and brother both enjoyed photography as a hobby, and I grew up watching them develop photos in our basement darkroom. My father would bring an extra camera to my brother’s sporting events, and that’s how I first started playing around with photography.

In high school, I was always the one taking pictures of friends and capturing all the fun moments. After many years away from photography, a trip to Wyoming brought me back to it. The incredible landscapes and wildlife reminded me how much I enjoyed having a camera in my hands. Now, I’m getting back into photography, relearning what I once loved, and enjoying the challenge of capturing the wildlife, travel, and experiences along the way.

Amy Kauffman

Interesting! @[Mike Gunderloy](65b6b973-f22d-4907-add6-f0148bb9ddc7) I thought this was a response directly to you.

Sarbajit Chakraborty

I am not sure what got me into it. I think the only thing I can point to is that my father had a old Nikon FM2 that was going to waste, and I hated seeing that. I picked it up to use it, and make sure it's not completely falling into disrepair.

Just playing around with it gave me happiness. Capturing people in there natural elements, and finding the colour, joy, and stories in everyday life has been eye opening, and has made me way more observant, and also, gives me an ability to connect w/ people. So I continue to do it!

I remember, I was so protective of my father's camera, that my college friends used to joke that I would part with my kidneys before my camera. That sentiment I think, is very much true now (maybe more about the pictures rather than the camera, though)!

Hayley Flint-ahern

I absolutely love this question and reading through the responses is so interesting!
I was shown by a family friend how to use a more advanced digital camera and I was able to have a go with it and just found it sparked so much joy and creative satisfaction.
As long as I can remember I’ve been drawing sketching making art in the physical way but photography especially digital has this kind of magic that happens fast whereas traditional art takes time and I’m impatient and a perfectionist so it takes even longer!
I also feel like I see the small things in the world that I just want to hold on to the moment forever and sometimes you can grab it in a photo just perfectly. It lasts longer than my memory can hold it.
Flowers die seasons change people come and go but photos keep a piece of that tucked away.
I regularly go through my photo albums from my childhood and ones I’ve put together from my photos over the years with treasured people who some of aren’t here anymore and moments of beauty and serenity that will always be fleeting. It’s nostalgia basically to me I think.
Thank you for this one!!

Hayley Flint-ahern

Also I haven’t heard of anphantasia or hyperphantasia but I honestly am curious because I have such vivid mental images and almost permanently vivid memories it’s unsettling.

Nate Riggins

It's always been a way for me to fight depression and anxiety. It brought some joy into my life when not much else did. I always need a creative outlet in my life, whether that being graphic design, drawing or photography. I started out with a Kodak Advantix camera back in the 90's that my parents bought me and photography just kind of hit that creative outlet that I needed. I have to be "all-in" on something all the time, and it's currently photography and video games.

Ralph Berrett

Sherman Duffy of the New York Herald once said, “A newspaperman is the loneliest guy on earth. Socially, he ranks somewhere between a hooker and a bartender. Spiritually, he stands with Galileo because he knows the world is round.”
I am a professional (aka FullMetalPhotographer) photographer with 35 years of photojournalism experience. Photographed the Raiders for 15 years. My specialty is people photography. I have worked for Scripps League, Pulitzer Publications, Lee Enterprises, and the Associated Press.

Bryan Diehl

I take photos because I believe the world is a spectacularly beautiful place, and I can prove it cause I have pictures.

Stefan Crysell

When I go out for walks mainly along rivers or farmland and woods I am captivated by nature and so trying to fit in the scene and let it all play out in front of me I try to document it...the more I do it the more I get obsessed. I do like to test myself and go out without a camera and most of the times I end up laughing to myself as I see something unfold.

Mark Thompson

@[Melanie C Goins](58f24e11-cd2f-4ee3-9ddf-632f7643e056) What a horrific experience, I am glad you are recovering. Photography is a perfect way to experience beauty by capturing it yourself or enjoying it through other peoples photos. Stay strong x

Lisa Trefry

@[Melanie C Goins](58f24e11-cd2f-4ee3-9ddf-632f7643e056) Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that with time, healing, and your love of photography, your world continues to grow a little bigger again and that you find joy in seeing the beauty in nature through your lens.
Whether it is in your backyard today or somewhere beyond it in the future, I hope your camera continues to remind you of your incredible strength and resilience. The fact that you can still see beauty, capture it, and recognize that you are still in there somewhere says so much about the strength of your spirit.
Wishing you continued healing, peace, and many beautiful moments behind the lens.

Mike Gunderloy

@[Hayley Flint-ahern](82d0a8ab-3fa2-47f0-b8e7-69dc32871621) Sounds like you're on the opposite end of the mental imagery spectrum from me. This sort of thing just wasn't even known until a few years ago - I was over 60 before I learned that "the mind's eye" wasn't just a metaphor for most people.

Hayley Flint-ahern

@[Nate Riggins](9b83f1a3-a802-40bd-b214-d2f84c0bdb22) it’s truly such a balm. I totally resonate with this glad you’re finding the joys in life man.
I really enjoy seeing your work.

Nate Riggins

@[Hayley Flint-ahern](82d0a8ab-3fa2-47f0-b8e7-69dc32871621) appreciate it very much