On a recent family trip, I was asked by my 14yo niece, Sophie, why I love taking pictures.. While I don’t think she quite “got” my answer, as is kind of typical for a 14yo entering that stage of “knowing-it-all-and-adults-are-kinda-dumb” stage, it seemed like a good post topic. Most photographers probably feel much the same way, I suspect.
She also asked how I got started in photography, and if I’ve always loved it. I laughed as I told her how much I used to HATE photography, when I was a kid and had to wait forever for my dad to take bracketed shots with his old Minolta film camera all over Europe. But like a lot of boys, probably, I got interested in it because I was trying to impress a pretty girl, who happened to like photography.
To see a lot more of my work, check out CDPayetPhotography.com, where I share photos from trips, around the neighborhood, and creative attempts.
Photography is About Those Special Moments in Time
First and foremost, at least for me, photography is about capturing those special moments in time, whether it be silly, joyful, solemn, sad, insightful, or whatever. Especially with my wife and 2 daughters, as much as I know they sometimes get irritated with me always lugging my camera around, I love having these photos to look back on down the road, and hopefully they will appreciate it, too – especially when my daughters get married one day and I have lots of great photos to show at the reception! But they’ll be able to show their kids, and grandkids, etc……and I love the digital and online world now that allows us to share photos with family so easily. No longer will our descendents have to scrounge through old boxes in the attic to suddenly come upon photos of Grandpa, Grandma, and the relatives.
Photography is about Light, Color, and Shape
Next, I love the way photography lets me see light and color so beautifully! Our world is such an amazingly beautiful one, if we only take the time to see, and if we look at light, color, and shape……oh what we’ll see!
Photography is about Looking At the World Around Us and SEEING!
Ultimately, what I love about photography, as I told my niece, is that because I’m always looking for photos, I see the world around me, and I see it in ways that others don’t. And that’s also why I love seeing the work of so many other photographers, whether on Google+, Facebook, SmugMug, Flickr, or wherever, because they show me how THEY see the world. I’ve followed many top photographers on G+ especially, and I am constantly amazed at the work they present. The vision, creativity, the expression, the sheer BEAUTY of it all is overwhelming and amazing and stunning.
Do you love photography? If so, why? Share some of your favorite photographers!