workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

Don't mean to get off subject but now I know why I feel so ignorant and intimidated on here. Most of you are my age but have been playing with photography for 50+ years. I bought a little Nikon D40x and 2 lenses in 2008 for a trip back to Alaska. 12 days and 1500 pictures later I knew very little about photography. I am a great (not just good) carpenter but have made sawdust all my life when not in school. No time for hobbies when raising a family and making a living. Now I still enjoy the Nikon and will actually take some classes to learn how to use it. Never expect to make any money at it...there are too many really great photographers out there. I will content my self with bending wood and making bookcases for money.

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

I enlisted in the Navy in the early 60s and traveled through out the Far East including Viet Nam. My first camera was a Petri 35mm SLR I purchased from the PX in Yokosuka Japan in 1963. Since I then have had many cameras and went digital in 2005. Today I still enjoy photographing just about anything. My only reward has been the pure enjoyment of it.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I had those two Minoltas! Couldn't remember the names- thanks. I do remember after lusting for then finally getting the 7000 finding I really liked the SRT101 better. Wish I could say that was the last mistake I made with equipment over the years. ;)

Greg Brandt Loc: illinois

My interest in photography started in 1975 (7th grade), when I had the opportunity to work for a small town newspaper, taking photos of local events. My very first camera was a Yashica Electro 35 GSN. At the time, I was really interested in the Dark Room side of the process and even had my own dark room in our basement which was in an old coal room which my dad and I converted into the dark room. I spent many hours in there developing the pictures that I took. The newspaper that I worked for was located in a building that was previously a bank and when I had to wind the film onto the developing reel, I had to do it in the "vault". That always made me uneasy going into that room and closing the big steel doors, but it was certainly dark in there. One thing that is certainly different now is that you get to see how the picture turned out right when you take it. There certainly was an element of anticipation as you couldn't see how they turned out with a film camera until after the event was long over.

wylie Loc: Canada

I just got lucky. Working in the back room at a newspaper when a construction accident happened virtually outside the front door. The editor of the day, Edith Weber, came running into the printing area, demanded I take a camera and take some photographs of a cave-in on the road. I recall complaining that i didn't know what i was doing, taking the camera and walking out to the site and seeing a human arm sticking up out of the ground. I was at the time, innocently hooked on capturing "what actually happened". I was using a two and a quarter square Rolliflex and the newspaper also had a like format Yashica. Have been in love with it all for the past 45 years.

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Well I started taking pictures in the 1970 s, I have not been able to stop,a friend got me started.

Evie Loc: Sacramento

3 years ago I picked up my first DSLR and I was hooked. It can be an expense but freezing a moment in time.....priceless

minimdot Loc: Essex

Hi Andy I first brought my Panasonic DMC-FZ8 before my first Cruise to Alaska 2010 have not as yet used the manual side of the camera did try classes but as I did not have an SLR and could not take my lap top no interest was given to me so gave up I still have pleasure in using my camera whenever I can will be going to Scandinavia Russia this year VI Cruise ship so hope to get some good pictures there.

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

The camera of my avatar was the first camera I got to shoot with regularity. I snapped a few shots with my mother's camera (avatar) and did better than she did. She was forever cutting people's heads off. We had a project in Cub Scouts (age about 10) and I started shooting her camera regularly. That Christmas, 1952 or 1953, I got a camera of my own, a Kodak Little Brownie and started shooting everything in site. It came down to buying film or paying for the photos to be processed, so I learned B&W development through a hobby shop (went to school with a son of the owner) and the wallet has been drained ever since.

While in Japan (1961-63) I attended photo classes complements of the USAF. We had a Japanese instructor who was a commercial photographer. Classes continued for almost a year. Got to go on shoots with him and was taught 'cosmetic model photography' shooting lips, eyes, hands, fingernails, etc. Loved it. Learned filters, color development from B&W film, color processing (Ektachrome positive slide film) and even color tinting of sepia toned photos from him. Quite a teacher and I enjoyed every minute.

Now 70 and having been shooting for over 60 years, I continue to classify myself as 'still learning'.

murphy Loc: Georgia

Hi, I started out thinking if I got a really nice Camera and a couple of decent lens that would be just what I needed to make exceptionally beautiful photo's. Not So. That's the next thing you learn. Great to have the equipment and needed, but now you need to learn to use it. Along with lighting, composition, and on and on. Have finally decided to move along at a comfortable pace and enjoy the journey and am improving. It's a much longer trip than I expected. You can't buy a horse and open a training center. Same thing. I love it and am having a great time with it. Hope you enjoy it first and think about sales as you progress.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I used to develop and print colour pictures and I still miss it, Digital is great for several reasons but,somehow nothing matches the thrill of seeing your picture imerge from the developer.

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

Some very interesting stories. Funny, heartfelt and compelling.

Everyone takes a different route. Some start as kids, some later in life. The one common denominator from each photographer, whether they post here or not... is passion...

That's where EVERYONE starts.

Love of the medium. Money? Huh? Forget it. Follow the emotion... get your satisfaction from checking the focus not checking your bank account.

Start with a thirst to make great images... one at a time... and that is what should make you happy and keep you inspired!

My 2.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Hello kurme,
Interesting question you asked. Let's see, since Abe Lincoln & I chummed around together, I really have to think back a bit :)
I became interested in Photography in 1949. A friend and I went to a local Camera store that had a 'film developing kit' on sale for $8.95. This included three small trays, a red 'safelight', a 'contact printer', which was a metal box with a light in it that exposed negatives you set on top, sandwiched against 'contact paper' on glass, with a lid you placed over it to keep the negative and printing paper pressed together as you pressed a button that turned on a small light that was inside the box. Of course the kit also contained the necessary chemicals for processing the film and prints. What excitement it was to see that image appear on a plain piece of blank photographic paper as you sloshed it through the developer! We had such a good time but eventually wanted to print larger pictures, thus, the addition of an enlarger in the temporary darkroom.
That's how it all began. I have since enjoyed a lucrative business doing what I enjoyed in several photographic fields, and it has also made a tremendous and interesting hobby over the past sixty-odd years. How about you? How did you start?

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

I did not make any money in the beginning. I made "money." People asked me to take a portrait of them, or an entire shoot, for which I charged $5 for an 8.5 x 11 print.

akfishguide Loc: PA

Started SCUBA in 67-68, compliments of USN when they sent me to Andros Island, Bahamas (largest of Bahamas 700 Islands and no one knows where it is). Bought my first Minolta Highmatic 7 in Nassau to record where I was. SCUBA and photography kind of went by the wayside till 1971 when I took a class in Basic Photography at the Univ of Alaska in Fairbanks from an awesome professor. Bought my own darkroom and developed film in the mens bathroom (guys never used private bathtub area, so I converted it to darkroom. When I left college for my sabittical (Univ. said something about a 0.75 GPA and perhaps I should eval my career path) I spent a year backpacking around Europe and Africa. Had a little Kodak camera to record travel. Then another break as life came along. returned to college and graduated in 78. Married, children etc -- life. In 92 returned to college to work on Masters degree and teaching certificate. Began teaching at 50 with my MEd. 2001 I had students who wanted to be Marine Biologists (I tought Biology) so I suggested they get SCUBA certified. They agreed and I joined them. We all got certified. Instructor was Womens Hall of Fame diver (now one of my best friends)She helped me ge advanced certifications (Divemaster now) and got me back into Photography. We started with Nikon D200's then I went to a D300, and now we are both working with D7000's in Aquatica housings. I am still 'heavy' on the learning curve. Have taken numerous online courses and have a library of photography books -- still learning. Had 3 photos of the SS Oregon (sitting down at 130' off New York) published in a book published a year ago, called 'Shipwrecks of the Cunard line' which is my minimal claim to fame. Goal is travel and U/W photography, but am still in the learning mode and learning from everyone on UHH each day. Someday perhaps the dream may be realized, but when I look at the photos on UHH, I realize I still have a lot more to learn.