Wdydwyd?

elven

Meaning: Why Do You Do What You Do?

I just thought it would be quite fun to bring something together from all the different styles and subjects we have, and say something about what in particular attracts you to certain things.

I'm thinking: Calina and Paudie their kitesurfers and surfers, Paddy@CIRL and Thonda with their hugely different approaches to motorsports, Fajita's fashion stuff, HughC's moody landscapes, Fenster's beautiful dereliction (and cats ), Baz's Dublin folk, too many to mention for band/gig shots, Paulw/CityExile/Darren's sports, Danny's gannets! (and the rest of the Valentia shots of course), Rymus' sweeping vistas, Leinsterman's travel - he's back on Irish soil, temporarily, tomorrow... I'm missing millions of you but I just wanted to give suggestions.

i suppose I could kick it off with the aul nature/macro thing :rolleyes:

Mostly, for me, it's about getting away from the drudgery that our lives are filled with, the office and the supermarket and sitting in front of the tv - getting out and looking at stuff that's growing has a way of pulling me out of the doldrums and reminding me what amazing stuff is going on, in the tiniest corners of gardens, or on a windowsill, in the botanic gardens or out in a forest. It's changing all the time and even if I take home a leaf, or a conker, they don't stay as they were in their environment. Photographing them captures their appearance at that time, in a way that can't be done by pressing or otherwise preserving them. Wandering round, looking for the details is also a great way to forget all the crap in our lives. It's been said by so many about shooting macro but it really is a whole new world. And you can take it literally and shoot things to show how they look or you can take it to an abstract level too, there's so much flexibility. It's also great because it doesn't necessarily require going very far, or waiting for special light.

It's just pure magic*

*must be pronounced with scottish accent

So, who else is going to be all evangelistic about their chosen thing? It's fun, I promise...

Quackles

I don't think I have a 'thing'... I shoot mainly landscapes, but that is simply because I'm in awe of the area I live in, and I have never, not once managed a shot that captured that feeling. You look out and it blows you away - that's what I want in my photographs... Not stopping 'til I do get it, either! My other favourite thing is pictures of my son, nephew and niece, and that's the mammy in me

I need a thing, someone, help me!!! Friends, romans, countrymen, lend me your thing*


*no pornographic references, please, too easy a shot

CraggyIslander

isnt there some ban on txt speak words like wdwdwd?

Simple for me, I still havent got a clue what I'm doing.... dabble a bit here n there, but no niche yet for me

sheesh

for me its the buzz. I get a little zing of pleasure every time I come back with a pic I'm pleased with. Its a personal pleasure just for me. I don't active pursue going photographing with other people I don't mind it but normally go off alone. mainly so that people won't tell me to 'take a picture of that'. Recently took a panoramic shot over killarney in kerry. looks good but needs work I'm saving this for a special occasion I'm hoping that this will be a picture to be really proud of and I want to do it right. Its something to look forward to.

similar to elven I think that you are capturing a moment, a view of the world that might never be repeated and can only be recorded at that instant.

440Hz

Didn't you have a thread on this before Julie, seems familar. I just shoot what I love, things that I am passionate about, that can be anything from places, to musicians, at the moment it's family. My fav genre is landscape though.

elven

Maybe I've mentioned something similar before, but it was more about why you photograph at all than why you pick a particular subject/style. Don't think there's any harm in having more than one thread on this, when we have five on which camera to buy :rolleyes:

I had it in mind that it might be interesting to see why people shoot things that you maybe wouldn't have thought about, for yourself. Show the sports people what macro fun is, show the street shooters why you love landscapes, etc etc...

440Hz

Wasn't having a go, no harm in more threads at all, just asking cos thought I remembered one like it.

GristlyEnd

Nooooooo, please don't lump me in with the sports I've learnt it's not my thing (anyone want to buy a 300mm f/2.8?).

This weekend I'm trying to get back to what I love best about photography, exploring, stopping, being nosy and taking some shots. Sunday I'm heading back to the botanics for the first time in months as I too love the macro thing but you wouldn't know from looking at my flickr :rolleyes:

challengemaster

what am I? cornbeef? :(:(

whyulittle

Don't think I really have a thing yet. Things that interest me and I'd like to develop more though, are sports and astro photography.

If I was to have a style, going by my most popular pics on pix, it would be dark!

TelePaul

challengemaster wrote: »

what am I? cornbeef? :(:(

You do okay by me bro!

I guess I'd fit into the forests and ruins category.A weird combination but they make up about 3/4 of my shots.I shoot forests mainly because of their natural beauty,they are a completely different world yet still so close to civilisation.And ruins well I'm not quite sure why but there's nothing nicer than a ruin in the Irish countryside.My new year resolution is to try and expand into some other forms of photography.At the moment my view is way too linear.

Masada

I think it would have to be night time stuff for me., for the simple reason that at night the normal things you see every day look completely different and the colours you can get are brilliant., also Its a nice way of clearing the head and relaxing to a bit of peace and quiet if you head out on a sunday to wednesday when theres nobody in town and take your time to think your shots through.,
I need to get away from the liffey though. ive done it to death.,lol

unreggd

I love taking photos of small animals that are hard to get a pic of at all

[squirrels, dragonfly, grasshopper]

I love gettin a nice in-focus shot, and the difference of the clarity from my LCD to my Monitor

So i guess im the Paparazzi of the animal kingdom

Calina

I'll try to keep this short but I'll do a post about it in more depth on my own site.

One day last July I was standing on a beach in Portugal, in the Algarve, pointing my camera at two guys, one of whom finished second in the world championships last year, one of whom was 17 and will probably win the world championships in three or four years. The sun was shining, and in the background, there was a commentator yammering on about what the two guys were doing. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were being pumped out over the PA. Every once in a while, in your life, you get a perfect moment where everything just feels right. Last year, that was that moment.

I've been very lucky. Mostly I did landscape and travel photography before I went back to kitesurfers. What most people don't know is that this is my second shot at kite photography and the first time it failed because I couldn't make it work with the camera I had at the time - it was an OM10 and there were practical issues that made it completely impossible to use for kite photographs, particularly given what I do.

When I went back the second time, it was with a bigger zoom, a 1.6 crop and above all else, Autofocus. What kept me going back for more and more and more is the kitesurfing community. Many things are beautiful, trees, lighthouses, derelict buildings in County Kildare. But they don't drag you out partying, they don't talk to you. They don't ask you where you've been when they haven't seen you for two weeks. And they don't make you believe in yourself. When you spend your time with people, they do. I've been very lucky because the people I photograph keep me coming back for more.

ThOnda

Amen, Calina!

I just wanted to type something similar. I just like people (most of them) and I like taking pictures of them. That's why I am interested in documentary photography.

I was given an opportunity to have free access to that mechanical team, so that was a voluntary project for me to see if I could get close to people even having lingual problems. So my interest is not in motorsport, but in people. And I am going to enhance my portfolio of photographed subjects and themes after purchasing a DSLR.

I don't have anything against macro, landscape, architectural or commercial photography, I would like to get more experience in all those fields, however being limited by many ways, I have chosen photography of people.

So what do I do? I like taking pictures. And I am more than happy when people like some of those pictures.

[MACHO]And I am even happier if they are pictures of beautiful naked women [/MACHO]

Thirdfox

I like taking pictures since it gives me something different from law cases (law student here).

I suppose it's also very satisfying to have someone appreciate your photos.

I haven't taken enough photos to have a particular area of interest and I think I want to keep myself open to all ideas (since photography will never be a job for me I can afford to dabble in a little of everything.)

challengemaster

Don't really think I've got a thing yet.. unless it's B&W photography..

But I like generally everything (except sports) - Why? I don't really know, I just like it. It's a good enough reason for me to do it, aswell as all you nice folk

TelePaul

I'll shoot anything but I'm really into nature. I'm not necessarily brilliant at capturing it, but I like being out and about in the wild and if I can combine that passion with taking photos, so much the better.

RoryW

DarrenG wrote: »

anyone want to buy a 300mm f/2.8?.

Nikon Telephoto AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED-IF VR (Vibration Reduction) Autofocus Lens is a rather expensive lens to buy and not like anymore

If my lotto numbers come up tonight, I may give you a call

Fenster

I've always been curious about places where people have been, but have since moved on, and it's a theme that I guess pervades my work.

trishw78

Mostly Landsacpes for me. I like the solitude. The being one with your surroundings. But I'm trying to branch out. Just started Macro, and since the lads haven't started training yet, I will be appearing at hurling games this year

RCNPhotos

With gigs, its more with the bigger abnds you get to shoot, where you only have three songs, give or take 15 minutes, to get good shots. It is a buzz. There's a band playing full blasat, people behind you screaming, lights going, and you're running around with anywhere between one and 8 other photographers, trying to get something they haven't. it's just a buzz.

bovril

I don't really think I have a thing either . I'm constantly trying different things out e.g I tried out street photography over Christmas but I didn't like it. I didn't like the feeling I got watching and waiting on people. I don't like doing sports photography either unless it is a sport I have an interest in.

I do love looking at landscape photography and nature photography. I am going to concentrate on trying to get somewhere with landscape photography on my up and coming holiday and I am come hell or high water going to get a photo of a puffin this year.

beans

I started enjoying photography because it gave me a chance to slow down, really look at what was around me, feel a connection to events as they happen. It's kind of like therapy for me, regardless of what's in the viewfinder or what genre it may or may not fit into

Hugh_C

elven wrote: »

Why Do You Do What You Do?

For me it's pretty much an extension of what I do as a job - I'm a film editor - I make stuff for TV - I structure narrative and tell stories with pictures, or that's the theory of it. One element of this job is visual.

In essence, taking pictures is just an extension of that, except that I have the freedom to do whatever I want (or am able) to do, without having to be mindful of either brief or client.

I've been taking pictures since I was a kid, first with my Dad's camera, then with my sister's, then I bought my first 35mm SLR when I got my first real job. That camera is still on the go along with some others I've picked up along the way. Now, I'm mostly digital although I might be the proud owner of a medium format tonight, depends on the eBay itch ...

My preoccupation with landscapes comes from the very limited amount of free time (father of 3 kids) I have on my hands. When I do get some time, I generally head for the hills for solitude, my version of spirituality and exercise. So that's generally what I'm doing when I've got a camera handy.

The other preoccupation is with my kids who are mostly willing models, plus I don't have to pay them (yet, although I'm paying in every other conceivable way).

I get a huge boost when someone is complimentary about my stuff, it makes it all worthwhile. So I suppose there's vanity involved, the gentle massaging of the ego when somebody remarks on a picture.

Anyhoo, photography is important in my life. A great avenue for self expression and creativity.

HughC

sineadw

Hmmm.. I don't know what I do? The gigs thing is more to do with my life in general, although I do love the atmosphere and I really really love live music. I guess having the camera with me is a part of that - a focus point. I'm the only member of my family who doesn't play an instrument so maybe its my attempt to finally fit in I do love it when I manage to capture a great expression or a spinning double bass or something though.

I like old things. I love photographing vintage cars, vintage clothes, machinery, you saw what I was like outside Johnny Fox's. Its trying to capture that aged look. Decay. I think I'm on a bit of a death vibe at the moment. The music I'm most around has this vibe to it too so I guess that ties it all together. My favourite shots of my own are still the album shots I took with the vintage guitar and double bass.

Also agreeing its about being around people who are important to you.. Its the buzz of he whole thing really.

As for macro, I'd rather have my head stuck between railings trying to get as close as possible to the berry that just peeps out of a bush than look at sweeping vistas any day. I have to remind myself to look up sometimes I dunno - I like little details and things that people maybe never even look at or see the beauty in. I think that has a lot to do with it for me - capturing something in a different way to the usual.

kensutz

Main interests for me is sports and having the equipment to photograph what I enjoy is my aim. One thing I'd like to try my hand at would be gig photography which is testing due to alternating conditions and working with different lighting. This year I hope to cover most LOI games of Waterford United, a couple of Ireland cricket games and then I've been asked to cover our local cricketing season.