Why I Love Photography

For as long as I can remember I have always loved looking at photographs. I would spend hours looking through old photo albums, looking at pictures in magazines and other bits of photographic art. When I got my very first cheap camera as a child, one of those camera's that use that 110 film, I loved to take shots and most importantly getting them printed to see what the outcome was. I was not good at it but I loved the process.  It was not until I became a mother that I realized just how important the  photograph was. For me, as for many out there, the picture is a way to capture time. It was a way for me to immortalize my children in their various stages of growing up forever. Let's face it, they are only babies, toddlers or teens once (thank goodness). But as a Mom, when the kids get older, you find that you often forget what they were like when they were 2 years old. With a photo I can instantly be transported back in time and be reminded of all the joy (or heart ache) that we experienced.

Photography makes me feel creative. I love knowing that I created something beautiful, even if it is in my eyes only. I have never been good with paints or sewing. I could not keep a garden looking lush to save my life. I don't write poetry, work with pottery or sculpture. For me, photography is one of the only ways to express myself creatively outside of the kitchen.

I love the feel of the camera in my hands. There is something almost sensual in it. I love fiddling with the dials to achieve better images. I love playing with the alchemy of light, shutter speeds, ISO, and aperture settings. While I am not the best at achieving greatly exposed or beautifully lit photos, I do enjoy trying!

Since I have become a lover of photography I find that I see the world differently. To others a building may look just like a building, but for me, I notice it's structure, texture and color. I immediately think of ways that I can photograph it to capture certain moods or ambiance. I find that when I watch movies now that I see them from a cinematography view point. I notice how scenes are lit, what special effects are used, the angles the camera are used. To me, everything is a photograph and can be beautiful.

When I first got my DSLR camera it was suggested that I join Flickr as a source of inspiration and learning. From there my passion for the art intensified.  I came to know people from all over the world who all shared one common interest, photography. Some of these talented people I have met in person and have gone out on photoshoots with. The people are great, they inspire me and have taught me a great deal about using a camera correctly. I have also encountered quite a few photography snobs, you know the type, the ones who feel intimidated because you know a bit about something that they think they are experts in. These are the folk, that when you ask for advice will ignore you or insult your skill. Those people I just brush off and stick to the ones who love the art and want to share it with everybody.
 
At this stage in the game, I would not consider myself a photographer. Meaning that I don't see myself as a professional. I still have so much to learn. How to expose and compose images better, how to see light and capture it creatively; the list goes on. But in my heart I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER. This is one hobby that will last a life time and always be rewarding to me and my family.

New to Photography? Learn from Flickr

 Like many people, I love pictures. I love to travel around the world in my mind through the simple and inexpensive practice of viewing photos of exotic locations. Photography has taught me to look at subjects differently. I have always seen beauty in everyday things such as a cup of coffee, fallen leafs, old sneakers, so learning to capture these subjects in an manner that is thought provoking, smile inducing and giving the subject a platform to be appreciated is amazing.  

Growing up I always had some cheap camera that I would pull out just to take snaps for memories sake.  When I had my first child I started to take photography a little more seriously, realizing how valuable documenting my child's life was. By the time my daughter was born I had discovered the art of photography through Flickr and was caught up in the world of seeing things through a lens. My husband fed my new passion by purchasing me a Canon EOS 40D one year for Christmas. That was the icing on the cake! I was hooked for life. My camera was and is still my best friend. 

Since that time, I have become very active on Flickr. Sure Flickr gets a bad rap sometimes, and with good reason. There are some real assholes out there. There are the creepy folk who look for kids and trouble. Then there is the issue of recieving comments on your photos. One of the main reasons I joined Flickr was to share my images and get feedback, good or bad, so that I may learn and grow as a photographer. But you get these schmo's who only comment "Nice picture" or give some meaningless reward just to promote a group they belong to. These are all things that bug me about Flickr. But on the positive side, I have learned a great deal from Flickr.  I sought out groups that were geared towards learning and feedback. I became active in these groups. I also looked for photo assignments so that I could learn about the technical side of photography as well as composition, lighting and more. I also started a Flickr group, Newbies Learning Photography , that is dedicated to learning photography through assignments, helpful information and sharing. Majority of the group members are new to photography, but we are also blessed to have some advanced amateurs and a few pro's in the mix, to help the newbie in their quest to learn. 

As a Wannabe photographer would I recommend joining Flickr to another amateur, the answer is simple, Yes! I have noticed great improvement in my photographs. I have learned a great deal, found inspiration, and made some friends along the way. I have even lucked out to meet some photographers who live close to me. We meet every few months for photoshoots! All this, because of photography. So I say, take the shitty comments and creepy guys with a grain of salt and join Flickr, the world of photography is within reach!


Here are few samples of how my work has changed since I joined Flickr.

This is one of the first portraits that I ever posted on Flickr. Sure it is not that bad for a complete novice, but the compositition is boring. There is too much shadow on my sons face and he competes to much with the background for the viewers attention.

This is my most recent portrait post to Flickr. I am proud of this photo for a few reasons. One being that my hubby willingly posed for the photo. I like that he is not looking directly into the camera, it gives the image a bit of mystery, what is he thinking? I like the heavy snow falling around him so I chose to black and white to showcase the contrast between light and dark. The composition is much better too. He is not posed in the middle of the frame, but off to the side. The background is sufficiently blurred as to not compete for attention.

These are all images that I posted to Flickr when I first joined.

This is one of my most recent additions to Flickr. I really like the composition and now that I can use Photoshop (however limited), I was able to take the image to a whole new level by adding a texture and playing with the color a bit.

My landscape and travel photography has gotten much better as well. This is a photo I took in Amalfi, Italy when I was there last spring.