What is it about photography that turns you on?

[bago100]

I just can't seem to get deeply immersed into anything in life to the extent where time and fatigue stand still. As a result I have often wondered what is it that drives people, such as some DLSR forum members to become fanatical about their hobby.

The following article discusses the theory of flow. Does this theory apply to you, do you think?

http://www.austega.com/education/articles/flow.htm

[Alpha_7]

Well I find and have done so since I was very young, that I am easily obsessed or imersed in something. At present and I hope for a long time to come (I hope) its photography, but previously it was lanning, fishing, inline skating, (world of warcraft) and distributed folding.

But to get to your main question, I enjoy creating images, seeing things and recording them, I also enjoy sharing my shots with others. I didn't originally want to PP my shots, but I've been steadily swayed and I guess I enjoy that aspect too.. I find it a very fun and engrossing past time that less determental to my health...

[xerubus]

I'm very similar to Craig... I am always 'into' something... and the flavour of the couple of years is photography, and I hope I don't see the passion disappear.

For me my style of photography is all about the challenge... to get to a scene on time... to try and get 'the' shot... and to tell a story as I see it unfolds.

cheers

[Heath Bennett]

world of warcraft

it is amazing how easy it is to loose yourself in this beast. I am completely free now, but one of my friends is beyond hope

Photography melds the right and left hand side of the brain. Art and technical. I like the way it is balanced like that.

[Dug]

Photography found me at an early age, I am not good with motor skills, eye hand coordination, so drawing and art were out, as was sport.

Photography was a way of expressing things I saw that others missed seeing. It was freedom and work, escape and solitude, concentration and discipline. I can push myself as hard as I like both physically and mentally. I am badly Dyslexic so it allowed me to communicate without words. ( I cope now with computers and spellchecker)

For me now photography is meditation. It took a while to realize but I feel no pain, tiredness or hunger when I am working.

A close friend told me I become a different person when I am working, again I had never noticed this but it is true, I become Doug the photographer, normally shy and reserved mild mannered doug turns into Camera man! who can do anything go anywhere talk to anyone.

Yes I am obsessed but it is a good addiction. I cannot understand how people cannot get lost in things but that is just me.

[wendellt]

Simply for me it frees me from the daily grind, to photograph something is the begining to understanding something, it makes you appreciate and allows you to see further to what is obviously presented, it also has the reciprocal effect of instant satisfaction.
being a graphic designer for many years, when i design something it's usually time consuming and in the end even though it may be creative no one really cares about the artistic merit in it, however in photography you can make art at a press of a shutter button, now that's Sexy!

phew, need to cool down now...

[Big Red]

umm dunno ... i just like it

maybe its one of the things i think i'm good at and that drives me to be better at it

[Onyx]

Csikszentmihalyi's theory of 'flow' basically just describes sex IMHO.

For me, it's trying to capture a reality that doesn't quite exist. Some things look better in a photograph than in real life, eg. models - when they're there in front of your face, they're just like a normal person. But in a glossy mag, they're glamorous and alluring, etc.

[Nnnnsic]

world of warcraft

it is amazing how easy it is to loose yourself in this beast. I am completely free now, but one of my friends is beyond hope

Indeed. I'm not a fan of it as a multiplayer game, but I like its single player component. If only the AI was better. Oh well.

On topic... I have nothing to add.

Shame really. I'd have said something sexy.

[Michael]

A photo is something I can call my own.

It's a way I can convey what I am feeling in a way which people will understand.

[Zeeke]

Some people know this, some people dont.. i dont like to lie.. but im ashamed at times because of what iam.. I used to be extremely depressed with life.. i spent about 4 yrs of my "teen" life inside the house and never going out.. i left school when i was 15.. till i was 19 i was like that.. then my brother took me fishing.. i went fishing alot when i was younger.. but when i got a bit older.. i stopped fishing.. and sooner or later i hit depression.. and pretty bad.. but after that fishing trip with my brother i got inspired... i bought a boat.. and started working on my life.. still am.. i still suffer from bad depression at times and i have a extremely bad fear of people... people think im being rude when i dont talk.. i dont blame them.. im just extremely shy at times.. through my fishing,

I met Dug who took me fishing with my boat, and got me interested in photography, ive always liked images and art.. during my teen years id play with 3d modeling programs and just play.. nothing serious.. just a way of releasing my feelings.. but through Dug's inspiration with photography.. im trying to come out of my shell a bit more.. for photography.. what turns me on is.. the positive feedback when i take a good picture.. i know im not great or exceptional like alot of the very gifted photographers on this site.. but it does boost my confidence when someone says a photo i took looks good..

Thats my story

Tim

[Glen]

Tim, that is a very moving story

[whiz]

Tim, I share the experience of being depressed.
I've not been so deep, nor so long as others have been, but I've been there.
It can only be understood if you've experienced it.
Use whatever you can to fight against it.

If photography is your sword to swing against the overbearing darkness, let it be, for if you surrender to it, it will claim you.

My advice is to combine the natural remedy to depression which suits photography to a tee.

Charge your physical, mental and electronic batteries.
Clear your mind and your memory card.

Walk with your camera.
The key is to walk.
Search for the beauty in everyday life.
Train your mind to search for it.
Teach yourself to capture it.

Soon you'll see it's hard to turn your eyes and mind off to the beauty that's around you.

That's what I like about photography.

It taught me to look for beauty and to appreciate being alive.

[Zeeke]

Thanks for the support Whiz

Glen, didnt want it to be a moving story... just saying why photography does it for me... i guess its my way of communicating with the world....

Tim

[ozimax]

I'm very similar to Craig... I am always 'into' something... and the flavour of the couple of years is photography, and I hope I don't see the passion disappear.

Touche Mark, I was into golf, and before that fishing/tinny, but for a few years now I have enjoyed photography. I'm not as full on as some of our forum members who photograph every day, I have to be in the right place at the right time, but boy oh boy it's enjoyable.

Max

[Big Red]

hey tim, well done.
being able to talk openly about it means you have conquered it !!

[Greg B]

Tim, well said, and well done on beating the beast.

[gstark]

Tim,
\
An interesting story. Certainly, photography can be an outlet for many.

But there's one aspect of photography - and I'm talking about film photography now - that can only be described as magic, and a true thrill.

Those of you who haven't spent time in a darkroom won't know of this (yet) but those who have will recognise and, I suspect, confirm that there's little that can compare with the excitment of seeing an image just .... appear .... on the paper as you're working with it in a wet darkroom.

It's a true thrill, it's pure magic (of chemistry), and if you're not yet hooked on photography, it's an almost certain way to kick yourself over that line and pull you in, hook, line, and sinker!

[Dug]

I met Dug who took me fishing with my boat, and got me interested in photography, ive always liked images and art.. during my teen years id play with 3d modeling programs and just play.. nothing serious.. just a way of releasing my feelings.. but through Dug's inspiration with photography.. im trying to come out of my shell a bit more.. for photography.. what turns me on is.. the positive feedback when i take a good picture.. i know im not great or exceptional like alot of the very gifted photographers on this site.. but it does boost my confidence when someone says a photo i took looks good..

Thats my story

Tim

It's not true ! dam I deny everything, Tim took me fishing then got hold of my D70 after that there was no stopping him Bastard after 6 months he was doing better work than I had done for years Only good thing is he gives me competition to go out and try to beat his work.

I was going to offer to let him into my studio but I am not sure now. Repeat Dam i hate people with natural talent and intelligence.


Seriously I have lived with severe depression for years too (Long story) and I am chronically shy by nature too.

Photography gives me a way of living with myself that most jobs would never provide. My other defense is a tragically sick sense of humour.

I just thought I would say this cos of what has happened over the last few week putting depression into the media spotlight. It is a disease, it can be fatal, but with help people can live with it. '


If you are suffering from it

(A) You are not alone

(B) seek help it does ..... help:-)

cheers doug

Ps hope this is not too depressing back to normal dug soon

[mudder]

Sharing a passion for a hobby or interest with friends can be a wonderful experience. About 12 months ago it was simply a mechanism for escaping the pressure and stress of my job.

Since then I've found some great people I consider valued friends, shared some memories and have found that photography has taken me to some beautiful locations and has given me a much deeper appreciation of, and care for what mother nature has created.

May we all continue to enjoy what is is we get out of this hobby we call photography and experience the joy and fun we get from it...

Cheers.

[NikonUser]

What turns me on about photography?

Definately the feeling I get when someone really likes an image I've taken.

Also I feel very at peace with the world when out either by myself or with my partner in nature capturing photographs of the natural world... big and small. It's a way of getting away from the stresses of everyday life. I definately love going to an isolated spot away from anywhere that has been touched by the destructive and ugly human hand (IMO of course!). This is getting harder and harder to do unfortunately.

I dream that I will one day be good enough to convey this feeling to other people through my pictures. Reminding them that there is a much nicer world out there that doesn't involve pollution, noise and cement.

Thirdly I love it when I get home, bring the images up on the screen and see that I got it right. (Doesn't happen very often... but when it strikes it's a great feeling!)

Paul

[Zeeke]

Thanks to those who commented. im still working on beating the beast.. just takes time.. and Gary, i agree, im yet to work with film... and id like to one day.. seeing as i like Photography so much... id like to do a course or something in photography.. something to help work on my skills.. with my problems.. i find it extremely hard to get work.. and i know i dont have a chance to make a living out of photography (havent got stars in my eyes, just know reality) it'd be nice to make a bit of pocket change now and then..

Tim
p.s. Dug, dont blame me for being good You taught me some things!!! your a good teacher

[Alex]

Well I find and have done so since I was very young, that I am easily obsessed or imersed in something. At present and I hope for a long time to come (I hope) its photography, but previously it was lanning, fishing, inline skating, (world of warcraft) and distributed folding.

But to get to your main question, I enjoy creating images, seeing things and recording them, I also enjoy sharing my shots with others. I didn't originally want to PP my shots, but I've been steadily swayed and I guess I enjoy that aspect too.. I find it a very fun and engrossing past time that less determental to my health...

Craig, I am similar to you. I was very into fishing just before I became mad about photography . Also, like Mark and you, I am always into something.

Alex

[nito]

I am the opposite, never managed to catch a proper fish besides the puff kind. The only fish I did catch was on the hook and fell off onto the ground. Hence its was only a 1/2 catch.

Photography is an escape from the pressures of my job. I am a scientist and because of the crap funding we have in this country I spend a signifcant amount of time finding the $$$ to keep the research going. At the same time, you have to be competitive on the international arena with you experiment. Hence the long hours and high levels of stress. It really takes a lot out of you. In the profession you generally eat, breathe and sleep science.

[Dug]

I am the opposite, never managed to catch a proper fish besides the puff kind. The only fish I did catch was on the hook and fell off onto the ground. Hence its was only a 1/2 catch.

Photography is an escape from the pressures of my job. I am a scientist and because of the crap funding we have in this country I spend a signifcant amount of time finding the $$$ to keep the research going. At the same time, you have to be competitive on the international arena with you experiment. Hence the long hours and high levels of stress. It really takes a lot out of you. In the profession you generally eat, breathe and sleep science.

I find it sad that we put so much effort into sport and so little into science (and Art) it would seem you can spend your time researching or chasing funding but no one can afford or have the time to do both.

I worked for 16 years in a university so know the funding game really well. A mate who is a brilliant researcher is stuck behind a desk 90% of the time chasing funds.

CEO's get paid huge amounts for moving money around, people who actually make thing happen get paid a pittance.

Sorry don't get me started on this

[nito]

I find it sad that we put so much effort into sport and so little into science (and Art) it would seem you can spend your time researching or chasing funding but no one can afford or have the time to do both.

I worked for 16 years in a university so know the funding game really well. A mate who is a brilliant researcher is stuck behind a desk 90% of the time chasing funds.

CEO's get paid huge amounts for moving money around, people who actually make thing happen get paid a pittance.

Sorry don't get me started on this

Thanks Dug, its good to know there are some people who have an idea on how tough it is. We are literally surviving on a year to year basis right now and hope some funds will magically appear before the end of this year. At the moment we have enough funds for 2/3 of this year.

[Alex]

I find it sad that we put so much effort into sport and so little into science (and Art) it would seem you can spend your time researching or chasing funding but no one can afford or have the time to do both.

I worked for 16 years in a university so know the funding game really well. A mate who is a brilliant researcher is stuck behind a desk 90% of the time chasing funds.

CEO's get paid huge amounts for moving money around, people who actually make thing happen get paid a pittance.

Sorry don't get me started on this

Thanks Dug, its good to know there are some people who have an idea on how tough it is. We are literally surviving on a year to year basis right now and hope some funds will magically appear before the end of this year. At the moment we have enough funds for 2/3 of this year.

I'm in science also and spent quite a bit of time at uni. I'm quite familiar with grant game as well, ARC especially. I completely agree with Dug about the obsession with sport...

Alex

[gstark]

Dug,

I find it sad that we put so much effort into sport and so little into science (and Art) it would seem you can spend your time researching or chasing funding but no one can afford or have the time to do both.

You're not alone in this.

I found it quite offensive that we spent so much on the sporting facilities for the Olypic circus in 2000, when our kids are crying out for education funding, and our health system has collapesed into a screaming heap, and our public transport is just such a laughable shitheap.

Of course, we're about to get more of the same, with the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Please don't misunderstand me here: I accept that we need more and better sporting facilities. But surely our kids' education, our health, and infrastructure items like public transport need at least equal funding?

And, of course, it pisses me off greatly that, in order to become the Strayan of the Year, you simply need to be the captain of one of our sporting teams, but if you're a person of artistic - or, heaven forfend, scientific - notoriety, then just forget it!

Finally, I am pleased to see Barrie Humpries get the Oz Legend of the Year "status", and I can think of nothing more appropriate for this country than to see Dame Edna on our currency!

[bago100]

This in indeed an interesting discussion.

Thanks Tim and Dug for having courage to talk about the beast. And thank you to all the other members for having something to say as well.

As for me, I have a half completed model of Captain Cook's "Endevour" sitting on a table behind me - have not done any work on it for a year. I have a "Javascript beginners guide" beside me that I intended to study over the holidays, I have a dozen projects around the house to do and a pile of work for money stuff that needs to be done soon. I have several unread books and a great D70 camera that begs to be used.

It would be lovely to have a 'flow" and immerse oneself into something so that time and competing tasks stand still. Maybe the Asian saying "Less is more" is the answer.

I remember as a child, getting so involved in something such as building roads in sandpits, or trying to get a balsa wood glider to fly or something simple really and getting so much pleasure out of the activity.

Concentrate on less might be the answer I'm looking for.

Oh well, I'm off to finish painting the main bedroom. Maybe it's the paint fumes

Does having a thousand things to do and not enough time to do any of them pleasurely ring a bell with forum members?

Does having a thousand things to do ring a bell with forum members?

Cheers

Graham

[Matt. K]

If I walk 10 miles without a camera I see some things. If I take a camera I see everything!

[Manta]

Excellent thinking Graham and Matt. I've taken something away from both these posts. Thanks.

Zeeke and Dug - in light of some recent unsavoury events on the forum, it's fantastic to see members appreciate the honesty and support that this community shows it's friends. I suspect you would never have ventured forth with your stories had you not felt that they would be respected.

[Jonas]

Having just voluntarily spent three hours of my Sunday afternoon indoors PPing on my laptop while the glorious Queensland sun shone outside, I now realise that this photography caper is pretty addictive.

I've always been interested in the craft, but never owned an SLR until ths year. Before this I borrowed my fathers Pentax P30, used the K1000s at high school and recently had an extended loan of an FM2.

My first love is surfing and I do it whenever I can around the Gold Coast and northern NSW. I find the pursuit of surf takes me to some pretty speccy parts of the coast and taking my camera has become as natural as taking my board and towel.

However, my main problem now is the fear of a break in with leaving my camera gear in the car in an isolated beach carpark while I go surfing. I've solved this in the short term with a lockable cash box, bike chain and padlock.