bel air bill Loc: Bel Air Maryland

Because I am retired it gives me something to do for me and my wife and friends. I also do it for our Church, we call it at Church; the " WALL OF FRIENDS " I also try to be Creative and enter some of my Photo's for Exhibits.

fantom Loc: Colorado

I have been recording my life---where I've been and what i have done for over 50 years. I have been lucky enough to have been over much of the world (5 continents) and have lived in several very scenic areas. I have been lucky enough to have had friends who were always up for another wilderness adventure so I have been able to get quite a few back country shots.

I probably have over 40 to ,50,000 slides and digital pix---all labeled and in chronological order. Out of all of those I have only about 30 slides that I will never look at. I took them late one winter afternoon/evening near a small village in Germany that I looked at only once. Years later I converted them to digital and looked at them again at that time to be sure they were OK and I will probably never look at those again, due to the very depressing subject matter. From the first pic til the last one I took I have always strived to get a well exposed and composed shot and keep trying to learn and get better with every shot. That is where the "hobby" comes in and really helps because it enhances the effort to get quality shots.

The pix I remember the most are the ones I did not take, due to lack of a camera at the time--- a jewel robbery in Torino, Italy, Israeli militia (or army) responding to gunfire at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a disturbance at the DMZ in Korea and countless animal encounters. It is great to go back and look at old pix at random and recall the laughs and the sights but pix taken over a life time also recall people, places and things that are now gone forever. But, as the man said, it is better to regret what you did rather than regret what you did not do.

fantom Loc: Colorado

TMcL

This isn't remotely like a Chris T question. Chris T's questions are lightweight, simplistic, inane, and totally devoid of any intellectual component. In addition, the OP did not berate the people with whom he disagreed, did use complete sentences and proper punctuation, and avoided insincere expressions of familiarity.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thank you this is a good question which we should all ask ourselves from time to time as many times the reason we do things in our life changes. I use photography as therapy both physical and emotional, when I came home from Vietnam I could not even look at a camera much les pick t up and take photos it was just painful and very unsettling for me to do so as I would get overloaded with memories of all the photos I had taken of that place and the war, after about 3/4 of a year went by and I had been thumbing it through the country to try and find my place in that very confusing world I came back to I started to want photos to remind me of the places I have been. It took me awhile to develop the passion for landscape photography but I was able to force myself out of the house where I sort of hid from life as I had and at times still have very extreme anxiety when around group situations with folks I barely know. I really do feel that getting out and taking photos has helped me keep my weight down as I am disabled but can get walking exercise in and breath fresh air of the outdoors. I am able to use my photos as a conversation starter giving me something in common with those who I talk with so even though the professional part of my photography was with the Navy mostly of the recon before, during and many times the aftermath of the battles and operations we were involved in ( I have been working to get photos that I took released so that I can create a book from that period in my life but the government wheels turn slowly but I am making some headway), I feel that the landscape photos I take and street shots of everyday objects and people as a hobby have helped me keep my demons in check and fulfills a valuable spot in my life even to the point of saving me from myself at times it fulfills and makes me smile inside when I go back through old shots and memories come back to me.

bluechris Loc: Grapeview, WA

As a child I had a brownie, all the different size film sizes from the point and shoot cameras. I always enjoyed photography and still do. I consider myself as an eclectic photographer. It is the one thing that gives me joy as I can now take photos and still get a few turkeys but when I get that one that turned out great, it makes me feel that I have accomplished something. I do it for me.

danersmiff

I can confess this here because they won't read it....I post quite a few pictures on my facebook page. Among my friends who like my stuff are 10 to 15 Octogenarians that may step outside only once a week, and I know a couple of them who don't make it that often. Since I photograph anything and everything that catches my fancy, it helps them see a little of what they have a lot of trouble getting out to see.

And of course, I get a little pleasure when they hit the like button, and a lot of pleasure when they hit the love button.
And I know I have hit it out of the park, when they write down and share a memory it stirred....

Then there is the getting out and about myself... and capturing this or that just right...or wrong... hahahaha
My trick is to never take yourself too dang seriously, then it becomes a job...

This is a lot like golf- you come back for that one shot that hit the sweet spot, right down broadway. For a brief minute (very brief) your a pro --- hahahaha

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I enjoy (appreciate) precision machines. I enjoy loading and shooting my own ammunition experimenting with precision and impact. I enjoy repairing and rebuilding motorcycle and car engines and making them the best they can be. I use mechanical world time watches. I am artistically challenged and photography gives me the mechanical and artistic challenge. It is all a matter of challenging myself and the machine and hopefully bettering both in the end. And my family and friends appreciate photos of themselves but honestly that is secondary.

Indecisive Loc: MD

Photography provides a means to capture a moment with the clutter of the world cropped out if you will. I find it an escape.

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

I started doing this in 2008 to give my grandchildren memories. It morphed into shooting the high school sports they participated in. Almost year round including travel teams. Now we only have 2 left in high school (a Senior and a Sophomore). I have been blessed with some nice pictures of my grandchildren playing Soccer, Basketball, & Football. had a few in the local newspapers and over the past couple of years most of the sports pictures in their yearbooks. I'm happy this part of my photography life is about over cause I'm 72 and its a little tough on my legs. However, the most important part of this adventure for me is knowing they will have these pictures to remind them of their high school years.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Amen brother. You are right on every point. Thanks for reminding me. You guy are making me want to travel this world.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I like this question, and others like it, because it makes me think about why I really do something, like take photos, build models, own a fast car, want a new camera.

I also thank the people who ask them.

canon Lee

Thanks for all the inspiring comments...