RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

A good image is one when you look at, you think, if I were there, I would think that is beautiful or interesting , but would also wonder what is just up ahead around the corner.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

I realize that after decades of making images that I am making a record of the life I have lived. A record that I, alone, will mostly reference.

A. T.

I just ordered it for my kindle.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

You said a MOUTH FULL when you mentioned WHO would be mainly referencing your life in photos. My wife tells me " WHO " besides the family really cares... I wish current generations of young folks could realize the importance of preserving family history more... My Dad had old Bell and Howell 8mm movies that no one can find now; they would be priceless to the family.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Bob, the sad truth is that in many cases, perhaps even a majority, not even the family cares that much. We do our work in genealogy for our own curiousity and so that person in the future, unknown to us now, will have a leg up when they get the family history bug. It is one of my regrets, and I suspect one of yours, that I didn't ask questions of my grandparents, even my parents, when I had an opportunity, but I was too absorbed in my own adolescence and young adulthood to even think about such matters. I, along with a brother and a cousin and others, have been researching our tree for several decades.We are back in early colonial Massachusetts, and
even earlier, many lines represented by folks coming over with the first Puritan Migration. Then within a few years these people were with the first settlers of Connecticut. From there we have spread across the country. A couple branches of the family back in the first half of the 1800's joined the Mormon migration and I have been able to find hundreds of cousins buried in Utah, other western states and Canada. I do have southern lines in my family, but mostly from Virginia and North Carolina but these people moved into Kentucky and Tennessee and those that moved on seemed to settle in the midwest. During the course of this research, we have accumulated several hundred or more old family photographs plus the ones we have added. We are considering donating the finished research and the photographs to a genealogical depository, such as the Midwest Genealogical center in Independence Missouri, one of the largest family resource centers in the United States. I understand what your wife is saying. However, I don't want other families to care about my family's story, but I would like for them to care about their own. As far as the old Bell & Howell 8mm movies, your story is exactly the same as mine. I have no idea what became of them. I can hear the clicking of the old projector in my mind as I type this and have the memories of an Iowa farm family flickering across the screen. Thanks for your reply and apolgies for the length of my response.

Ioannis

Something to show friends and family. Historical documents. I m retired and photography gives me something to do.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Why do I need a purpose? Can't I just like it?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Enjoyment is a purpose unto itself. Fun for the sake of fun...

"Yay, I made something!" — the feeling I get when I finish an image I like.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

You are not alone in that idea. To stop learning is to let the brain atrophy.

A. T.

I have read every one of the posts regarding this topic and I must say that there were some that were simply inspirational and there were others that brought tears to my eyes. I wasn't going to write anything but after reading these wonderful posts, I decided to give it a go.

I started this adventure some seven years ago after my wife couldn't retrieve her photos on her old iPhone4. I never imagined that I would fall so passionately in love with this wonderful art/hobby. I have one photo of my dear sweet mother who passed away my freshman year of college. My purpose is to leave a legacy of memorable photos to family when I'm long gone. Although my passion is wildlife and landscapes, I photograph everything especially family functions. I rarely leave home without my camera. A photo is a fraction of a second in time that we have never seen and will never see again.

While on vacation in Jackson, Wyoming some seven years ago a wonderful woman suggested that I find this forum. I don't remember her name, only that she and her husband were staying in the cabin next to ours and she was the photographer. I wish I could locate her to thank her for recommending this wonderful forum. The people here will never know what they mean to me and my photography. You guys and gals have been a true God send that no amount of money could ever afford.

God Bless you all,
A. T.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I come from a family of artists. Photography for Marilyn and I is enjoyable. Some of our goals are to reflect the magnificence of nature through our expression. We spent time every day learning our craft so that the photos we present are the very best quality.

A. T.

I totally agree, I take extreme diligence to get everything right in camera; however, there are times that minimal editing is needed but my goal is to get it right and limit post processing.

Scribe Loc: Shropshire UK

I take pictures to help create a memory of specific events and subjects I come across in the course of my day - hence my SanDisK 128GB card. in my Nikon D90.

WayneW Loc: South Carolina

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

I play golf for the challenge and the visual stimulation of different courses, and the same for photography. I search for something that excites me, like historic covered bridges, lighthouses and unique waterfalls, and encampments of historic log homes or trails to undisclosed venues. I have little interest in the mundane...I need stimulation and that is what I look for in photography.