Is photography a profession, hobby or obsession for you?

[Raid]

Well photography has always been a subject that captured my imagination. I can still vividly remember seeing the now famous iconic pictures of the 60’s and 70’s for the first time (some I wish I could forget). When I first started taking pictures it was with my mother’s camera (Kodak Box Brownie) and I realized two things:


1. This is very expensive and we didn’t have money to spare.


2. I have no compositional ability at all.


So my hobby/career ended before it even started (became a nerd instead, the pay is better).


When digital became widespread in 2000 I jumped back into photography (yes, this was my first camera). While I’m now retired and have the money to buy new equipment there is still no change when it comes to composition.


So for me photography is Capturing the Moment, which means taking the best pictures I can, with the least amount of PP.

[bob williams]

Wow, DD great question; but I am surprised at most of the answers. As most others have stated in on form or the other, photography can be a hobby, a profession or an obsession.....but those are all pretty narrow definitions. If someone plays a Guitar, would you ask them to limit the definition of thier art to one of those three words? How about a painter or someone who rides motorcycles or builds wood furniture by hand? It would be difficult to narrow the driving force of those talents, why would photography be any different? I did try and think of one word that describes my passion for photography, but couldn

[ddt0725]

I love how everyone is responding to this thread! I have lots of reading to catch up on! I was just able to quickly scan thru the last few entries but I will go back and read them more thoroughly tomorrow. I am dealing with a very sick dog tonight


I would LOVE to have my grandbaby for overnight or a weekend but unfortunately my daughter would never go for that One of the reasons being, she really does not like dogs! How this happened I will NEVER figure out since I am an over the top dog lover (another obsession) and my other children love dogs too ...and to be honest, so do my grandchildren! But she will not let my older granddaughter go near them except when she sneaks her little fingers thru the gate! Shhh ...don't tell her mom! LOL!


Today, I received "professional" photos of my new granddaughter in the mail! All I could think of was, with everything everyone here taught me on an earlier thread about taking newborn photos, I could have done that and better!

[bouwy]

Congratulation Denise..... Krista Joy looks beautiful.


Wally

[clemmb]

Wow, DD great question; but I am surprised at most of the answers. As most others have stated in on form or the other, photography can be a hobby, a profession or an obsession.....but those are all pretty narrow definitions. If someone plays a Guitar, would you ask them to limit the definition of thier art to one of those three words? How about a painter or someone who rides motorcycles or builds wood furniture by hand? It would be difficult to narrow the driving force of those talents, why would photography be any different? I did try and think of one word that describes my passion for photography, but couldn't.----Well, I suppose "Passion" would be a close one for me. I also thought about the word "pasttime" but that really isn't true either, because photography is so much more to me than just passing time. Since I started this, I certainly understand more than I did 3 years ago, of course "theory to practice" is still a challenge, but isn't that what it is all about, the journey. Almost every time I pick up the camera, I learn something new and I love that feeling. So for me, I guess its the process as much as the final product that I enjoy. Though i stiill have much to learn, Photography has made me a much more observant guest on this planet. 3 years ago I couldn't tell you the difference between a common sparrow and a house finch, I didn't know the difference between a sandhill crane and a great blue heron, I didn't know that the moon travels its own diameter every 3 minutes (about)---Since reading, watching and doing, I have learned so much more than "photography" and that I can't define with one word. I suppose I could ramble on, but don't cut yourself short by trying to define this path to one of your friends or loved ones or even to yourself---just sit back and enjoy the ride. As all my Harley friends say " If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand anyway"


I have rambled on enough so I'll close with this last tid-bit:


Tell your daughter to give up that grandbaby for the weekend, and let you take some pictures, put some sunglasses on that baby, set up your lights, and shoot away---You take pictures in the house, at the zoo, in the backyard or wherever else the mood strikes you ---This time will never come again so why not capture it.


Just my two cents worth


Bob
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Well said Bob. Thanks[]


Mark

[HDNitehawk]

Denise


Did she get her Grandma's hair color....that is a cute little girl...


And of course you could have taken better pictures...

[Richard Lane]

Photography is a hobby for me with some local sales to replace lost lens caps and such. Perhaps when I retire from my day job in 20 years or so, I could see doing it more for extra money. I was a professional Videographer on the weekends throughout college.


Denise, that's a bummer about your photo restrictions. Perhaps you could negotiate, lets say 120 frames/year limit (10 shots a month)anda Holiday exception. It's too bad, because they will really be missing out in the long run and the kids will be missing out too. I think they will come around, just give them a little break for now.


My father was into photography when I was a child and we haddark room in our house when I was growing up and I have a ton of baby pictures to show for it and I really appreciate that now.


I have the opposite problem, my family wants me to bring my camera with me all the time and then they don't stop bugging me for the images (which I admit I am very slow at getting them the images, whereas3-12 months isn't unheard of for me), so now I am more selective in where I bring my kit.


Rich

[ddt0725]

Denise, that's a bummer about your photo restrictions. Perhaps you could negotiate, lets say 120 frames/year limit (10 shots a month)anda Holiday exception. It's too bad, because they will really be missing out in the long run and the kids will be missing out too. I think they will come around, just give them a little break for now.

Well, my daughter saw that I posted the photos on flickr so that I could pull them into here and apparently Iwas not allowed to post photos of them either for she publicly posted that I tried to steal creditfor JC Penney's work and that people should maybe doubt all of the photos I have posted as being my own work.I was not trying to do that at alland I hope everyone here or anyone that saw her post knows that what she said is not true. Ihave RAW files to prove it and I statedhere that I did not take those photos.I have removed the photos of her and it looks like photography is pretty expensive for me in a lot of ways ...it has now costed me my reputation!

[Steve U]

Hi Denise, sorry to hear this issue is escalating for you. No one in this community doubts you and we know you didn