How essential is a car ?

MooseJam

Was giving taking up photography a bit of thought but then I don't drive and reckon this would severly limit me, do all of you have your own transport, do you find it very limiting if you don't ?

Borderfox

it all depends, but for paying work you need a car even to assist.

kensutz

I find I'd be lost without a car. It just gives you access to all those areas the limited Irish transport system cannot reach. Also you can jump in at any time of the day or night and go about your business.

Beef

I agree, I would be lost without it personally. People who don't take photos won't like driving you around and waiting for you to take your shots. In saying that - it depends what kind of photography you'd be interested in. for example, street photography doesnt exactly require you to go to far flung locations! If you have a strong enough interest you'll get by without a car!

Calina

Having a car is not really essential for taking photographs as a lot depends on what you want to take photographs of and also, how much equipment you want to drag around.

So if you tell us what you want to take photographs of (landscapes and remote parts of Kerry say "car", for example, but sports says "probably not, depending what sports you want to shoot").

Photography is a malleable hobby. If you want to do it pro, you'll need a car. If it's a hobby, you may will survive without one. Depends on what you want to photograph and where you live relative it but it's not a given that you have to have a car. Lots of boards photographers don't have cars.

ThOnda

Calina, I like the way you write! No kidding!

As Calina said - if you have to go somewhere to take pictures, local public transport won't make you clap your hands from happiness.
However if you shoot macro in your home table top studio, or if you shoot in atelier, you don't need a car.

whyulittle

ThOnda wrote: »

However if you shoot macro in your home table top studio, or if you shoot in atelier, you don't need a car.

Thank God for dictionary.com.

ThOnda

Sorry for lingual complications. I just don't think sometimes. Well, almost never.
As far as I know that word has French origin. The painters knew that they need a lot of light for their work - painting. So they created special rooms with enough and controllable light. Often the attic.
And when photography become a little less complicated process, artists started to use it more and more than chemists. And who could be better artist for visual art called photography?

That's something I've read somewhere in the last century. Wonderful book about history of photography. I wish I had more effort to read even now.

Doc Farrell

I guess this is spam but it might be of some use here...

I sell cars and have half a dozen under 3 grand and half a dozen under two grand. I might be able to help you out. Take a look at my signature and if theres any there that might be suitable pm me your mobile and i'll call you.

however if you are a young driver its the insurance that'll break you, not to mention tax, fuel, nct, repairs. Really its 2 grand a year minimum to keep a car on the road. If i were 20 again i would spend that money on travel and gadgets to help my dream career.

after all that if you still want a cheap car pm me. if you buy one from anyone get help from a mechanic (it'll be the cheapest 100 euro you'll ever spend) or if possible ask the buyer to put the car through the NCT for you.

sheesh

as everyone else has said not really you could go out with a hiking group if you wanted to to do landscapes you could do gritty urban photography if you live in a town to me its like saying that you have to have an slr if you want to be really serious about photography but if you are doing it as a hobby all you need is a camera and a willingness to go out and shoot.

bradnailer

I'd start with getting some camera equipment:D;)

Fenster

I'd love a car :[

311

Availing of public transport is probably better for learning photography.
You are closer to people ,than when you are in a car.

thebaz

i used to have a motorbike , and that was the best -- no worries about parking

Have a car now , which i find essential , but might go back to a bike , before i kill someone in road rage !

run_Forrest_run

_Brian_ wrote: »

Availing of public transport is probably better for learning photography.
You are closer to people ,than when you are in a car.

yes and you will have plenty of time to read the manual while waiting for the bus

Zillah

I don't have a car. I feel that that massively limits my options. So no, its not essential, but its pretty damn helpful.

Frankiestylee

Not much experience in the photo game but plenty in hiking/random walking... all the best shots occur to you when you're just randomly walking and have time to take in your surroundings.
Maybe you need a car if you're doing it as a business - weddings etc - but if you're just looking out for pretty pictures then I reckon on foot is the way to rock it.

Fionn

you want to get to places to do photography! use whatever is available to get there!!!!

MooseJam

cheers for the offer of a car lol but I can't drive , as far as what I would like to photograph it would be all the pretty landcapses so public transport wouldn't be too helpfull, I suppose the obvious thing to do would be to learn to drive !

5uspect

Got a car recently, opens a whole new door of options for places to go take pictures.
I suppose it really depends on your situation. If you're in Dunlin there's more stuff covered by public transport. If you're stuck down the country the bus doesn't really cut it.

CraggyIslander

dont have a car either, do have a bicycle tho... so can get to most of the interesting places around dublin.

About once a month I'd rent a car for the weekend and follow my nose and head somewhere down the country.. different area every time :-)

Paddy@CIRL

If your limiting your photography ventures because you don't have a car, you should be taking up tiddlywinks or something !

I don't drive, yet I shoot for Prodrift, Modified Motors and other motoring magazines around the globe, if there is any subject to shoot that would be harder to shoot without a car, I think I'm doing it. I've never let it get in my way that I'm dependant on others to shoot, if I'm being honest, its made life easier for me as the more people I meet, the more contacts I get and more opportunities arise.

Sure, It would be more convenient, but it definitely isn't essential. If you want something badly enough, nothing should get in your way.

Happy shooting

Fajitas!

Don't drive here either. Dosn't stop me. If all goes to all, I'll hire someone to drive me and put it to expenses.

Paddy@CIRL

Shotgun !

5uspect

Just wondering...
Those of ye that don't drive, is it cos ye spend all yer cash on gear?!

ParkRunner

Some of the best photo's i took were down in west cork and kerry, neither place would have been accessible without a car. I live in Dublin though and hardly use it here

ThOnda

Well, I have free company car, but not for long, so I don't use it already too much.

DotOrg

i shoot concerts, music festivals, portraits, weddings and don't have a car
i've done photography in Ireland, the Uk and the US and never really wanted a car, there's loads of ways of gettiung around including taxis which work out a lot cheaper than buying a car and paying insurance, parking, petrol etc

Stephen

I live in the country and a car is essential for shooting anywhere that isn't my own house
I used to have a motorbike, and that would have done fine too except with less comfort, safety and gear-dragging capability If I was living in Dublin i'd sell my car and get a motorbike in a heartbeat.

That said I'm in China for work at the moment and taxis are so cheap and driving so horrendous that I'd never consider having a car if I lived here :eek:

rymus

psh... car.. Oh puhlease.. What you want is one of these

Zillah

DotOrg wrote: »

including taxis which work out a lot cheaper than buying a car and paying insurance, parking, petrol etc

I seriously doubt that...