What Is Photography To You

I am sometimes amazed at responses to the question, “What Is Photography?” The answers are all over the map, it seems. Clearly, there are a lot of people with cameras; some of who call ourselves photographers; some who are just people with cameras. But, just as we differ in so many ways as photographers, we have almost as many diverse answers to the question of “what is photography.”

It is different things to different people. What amazes me is how intense the discussions sometimes can get when we’re sharing our personal perceptions of photography – especially in some of the online forums. For a great many, photography is only seen as an art form and those of us that (attempt to) make money with photography are doing a disservice to the art of photography. Then there are those that measure the value of photography by how much money the photographers are paid – it being assumed that the higher paid photographers do better photography work – because they get paid more than others.

Often, I meet self taught photographers that don’t like formal photography training. And I meet formally trained photographers that feel you cannot be considered a ‘real’ photographer if you have not been formally trained. Even within the formally trained photographers, there is a tendency to feel that some formal photography training is better than other formal training. And it goes on and on… (btw, there is online photography training that offers their own answers to "what is photography?")

For me, I like most photography. My favorite photography is what I’m shooting at the time. Sometimes, I can’t seem to shoot enough portraits. Other times, I spend hours, days and weeks shooting colorful, wild flowers. Currently, one of my favorite photography pastimes is shooting street photography. Digital photography allows me to shoot until my batteries run out or I run out of memory – I carry two extra batteries and, at least, two extra 4G memory cards – so, I don’t have to stop shooting until I decide to stop. I really have no way of describing the joy I get from that – endless photography!

I find such shoots very therapeutic and relaxing. I also make money with photography and I am very happy with what I’m getting these days for my photography, very happy. But, the happiness that the money brings is no match for the joy I get just shooting photography whenever I choose!

But, that’s just me. What Is Photography to you?

In the video below, I share what I think photography consist of. Take a look at the short video and then share your answer (or response to the video) below. If you choose, when you leave a response, you can also put your website address and I will make it a ‘hot’ link back to your site. And, of course, you can display one of your photos if you want.

So, I put the question to you………

What Is Photography To You? Below is a video that I made offering one answer. What do you think?

What Is Photography To You?

Do you have an opinion about what photography is to you? Share it!

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