Value of photography (Page 2): Yes , family photos or snapshots re the best regardless of the photo technique. My Grandfather was an early hobbiyist in the late 20's. He had his...

jimkh

Yes , family photos or snapshots re the best regardless of the photo technique. My Grandfather was an early hobbiyist in the late 20's. He had his cContax 35 mm camera going all the time from my birth in '29 to his deathe in 1941 and yes I'm about to be 90. I've been taking photos since he gave me a box brownie. I used to sit at his desk with him as he marked his contact prints to be sent to NY for enlargement. He was into movies, too. One of my greatest tragedies is a fire that estroyed just about all these priceless family mementos.

So take pictures of all kinds, family, vacation, as well as "artsy" types. They are all valuable.

radiojohn

This is why I have mixed feelings about 100% digital. In another discussion, we find that photo labs are slowly vanishing as demand for physical prints drops. 50 years from now, how will my USB stick be read?

anotherview Loc: California

Yes:

Country Boy wrote:

I agree fully. That is why I never delete the bad photos if it was of families or friends. I can look at them as time goes by and may wish I did a better job but I still get the memory of the time and people back.

anotherview Loc: California

Yes: "So take pictures of all kinds, family, vacation, as well as 'artsy' types. They are all valuable."

jimkh wrote:

Yes , family photos or snapshots re the best regar... (show quote)

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Most of my photos document country music events. I've been invited to many of those events with free admission. I don't charge for the photos, I do it for myself.

tbrad57 Loc: Cottonwood, AZ

To use an old expression and one that I subscribe to: "photography is capturing a moment in time"

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

pesfls wrote:

It seems many if not most of us on here are intrigued by and seeking better quality images. However, on reflection, there’s other values in photography. Having just been going over some family photos I was struck by another aspect, our ability to record history or change. Regardless of the quality of an image, images do record a time and place. An example of what I’m thinking, our granddaughters:

Yes, there are other values in photography and many genres of photography and many reasons why we do what we do with the camera. Family snapshots play an invaluable role in our lives.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

I absolutely agree! It's mostly about memories. I put Christmas photos on the refrigerator door every year of the grandkids as they grow up, going back 14 years now. Always fun to review and connect to years past. Took a trip to Svalbard several years ago when I was shooting film. Organized all the 4x6 prints in and album and framed a couple. Later when I switched to digital, I had the Svalbard trip photos digitized. Putting them on the computer, organizing them and annotating some really brought back the small details of the trip. Great enjoyment. By the way, a great set of photos that prove the point. You must really cherish them.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Good point. Fifty years from now digital files won’t be discovered in a box in the attic.

radiojohn wrote:

This is why I have mixed feelings about 100% digital. In another discussion, we find that photo labs are slowly vanishing as demand for physical prints drops. 50 years from now, how will my USB stick be read?

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I am well aware the first two are “snapshots” that were taken with a phone by the girl’s mother. The third was done by me catching the big grin when getting home from passing her driver’s exam at 16 years old. My only point was there’s value in capturing family moments regardless of equipment, technical expertise or lack of thoughtful posing. They are simply a moment of happiness that would otherwise not have been recorded. Thus, at least to our family, they are invaluable. So I see worth in them. I don’t view them in terms of a photographer’s eye, just something to cherish.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Photography is now my hobby, so technique is more important to me as I walk around the property finding the odd mushroom or leaf or rusty metal or whatever. When I make my too-short visits with my children and grandchildren, my photos are all snapshots catching them in the moment. My improved techniques mean that more of them are memory-makers. Those are the ones that will be passed down, not the wildflower ones I enjoy taking and admiring later.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

We sometimes forget that there are many interconnected reason we may snap a shutter: to create art, to document, to preserve memories, to advertise, to capture personality, to test equipment, to extend our vision, to create a fantasy, to practice, to play, to communicate with others, to satisfy the photographer.

As I was looking over some pictures I took as a young boy nearly 50 years ago, I found myself staring at a chrome of my sister on her 8th Birthday. Technically, the photo wasn’t very good. On a personal level, it sang to my heart.

Yes, we can’t forget the power of the camera to make memories

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Quality means nothing without content but content can stand alone without quality.
... Cam

pesfls wrote:

It seems many if not most of us on here are intrigued by and seeking better quality images. However, on reflection, there’s other values in photography. Having just been going over some family photos I was struck by another aspect, our ability to record history or change. Regardless of the quality of an image, images do record a time and place. An example of what I’m thinking, our granddaughters:

tdekany Loc: Oregon

CamB wrote:

Quality means nothing without content but content can stand alone without quality.
... Cam