I remember someone saying once that they liked Photography because it was an art and a science, and I fully agree with them on that point. And looking through the questions and topics in this forum, it seems we've covered the science side of photography, how about some discussions on the art side of things? Photography to me isn't just about exposure and lighting and technique, it's about people and experiences and messages too; these are things that really bring photography to life I think. So tell us all about what *you've* done with your photography...Where have you been? Who have met? Why did you do it etc? What did you get out of it? What sort of things do you like to shoot? And why? Hearing people talk about their own photography can be really fascinating...lets try it!

-- Andrew Bright (Sorry, no mail for me :)), October 02, 1997

Answers

What do I _do_ with my photography? The answer is very simple: I use it to help me see things. Not to _remember_, but to _see_.

I also paint, and have used (colour) photography as a "sketch book", and also used computers as a way of manipulating images to make pictures, but I'm currently back in "pure" B&W photography, making "pure" pictures.

I've been out of commercial photography for a long time now, it is purely for my own satisfaction. It helps me get more out of life.

What do I photograph? People, patterns, places. Why? Instinct.

Where have I been? All over the place. Just returned from S.E Asia. A couple of dozen rolls of B&W film. No colour at all, and many people thought I was crazy, but I see better with B&W in the camera.

-- Alan Gibson (Gibson.AL@mail.dec.com), October 07, 1997.

All of the when's, where's, and why's will never tell you theh entire story, but here goes. . .

I lost my brother to HIV on August 23, 1997.

You realize quickly that it is the little things in life that pass you by that sometimes matter the most. Most photographers I know go on great adventurous journeys in search of "the shot" that will end all shots. They seldom forget that somewhere near them all the while lie something beautiful, and in abundance. I started my work in macrophotgraphy to show people what I meant, yet the more simple the subject, the more abstract it became, so as an opportunist, I began to ride the fine line between abstraction and reality. It is a very fine line indeed. I guess it took the reality check of losing a person close enough to me to call family made me realize just what it is inside of me that makes me want to show the world my opinions.

I've poured out my soul, now it's your turn, reader . . .

-- Kevin Paul (kpm927@aol.com), October 30, 1997.

I have been working in the scientific field for nearly 15 years yet I am not technique/equipment driven when it comes to photography. I am interested in the emotional impact of an image no matter what the format or subject. I work with 35mm and it suits me perfectly since I can take advantage of sudden impulses. I mainly shoot urban landscapes while I roam the streets of Vancouver Canada. People rarely appear in my shots except as moving forms and I have a hard time with candid photography. Some of my greatest idols are Ralph Gibson (BW and colour), Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson. However I like works of just about any type from landscape to abstract photo-based art. I am becoming more involved with the local scene and have discovered some fantastic talent in my own back yard. While I would rather keep photography as a hobby/passion I am finding myself more and more drawn towards it in my daily life and am considering representing artists and perhaps trying to establish a gallery for their images. Unlike most large American cities the fine art photography scene in Vancouver is just about dead and most photographers are finding wedding and portraiture too lucrative to turn away from. I would like to reverse this but I feel that it would be a mammoth undertaking. I'm really glad you asked this question and hope that more people respond.

-- Andy Laycock (pbrlab@unixg.ubc.ca), October 30, 1997.

Photography for the love of it...........

I have been taking pictures for thirty years. And for a good portion of that, it was for the fire dept. My personal work has been all B/W and I've covered just about every subject. I've tried all the great themes and I've copied many of the great photogs. When I say personal work, I mean personal. For my eyes only.( in most cases ). To see my photographs is to see my soul, and most people guard the soul desperately. A shrink friend of mine(she has seen many of my pictures) claims that I fear success. Maybe so, but I can spend hours going through my binders of contact sheets. I believe that B/W is a true art, much moreso than colour. You have more control and colour, to me at least, is simply a record shot. To me that is not art. I don't join clubs and I don't show my work. I don't even have any close aquaintances that are interested in photography. I find that when I'm taking, processing and viewing my photographs, I'm in a world of my own. No outside sounds, thoughts or interferences. Just me, my equipment and my subject. Boy, talk about being at peace. I also read whatever I can find on the subject. To the chagrin of my wife I have several bookshelves of photography books that I have collected over the years. By the way, my wife has a hard time with the Polaroid. Anyway, just a few of my thoughts on the subject. If I come up with more, I'll be back.

Don Mc

-- Don McIlwain (cardon@networx.on.ca), November 02, 1997.

It has been said that "the eyes are the windows to the soul". I say that the camera is the photographers eye on the world, so often what we see in print is indeed a look into the very soul of the photographer. I believe that is why those of us who use photography as an art form do so. It is the way in which we express our view of the world we live in, however abstract that view may be to others. I am fairly new at photography compared to others who answered this question, having only become interested in photography seriously in the last couple of years. My interest began as an sketch artist looking for ways to gain access to subject matter for my sketches. I enrolled in a photography course at the local tech. school and immediately fell deeply in love with Black & White photography. Now, rather than photography being a means to an end it has become The End. I can't get enough of it! I am constantly looking for new film, paper, methods, etc. I am also looking for a way to turn my passion into a career. I have toyed with the idea of becomming a sort of free-lance documentary photographer, but am unsure of how to make my way into such a career. Any suggestions would be welcome. By the way, my husband of 21 years thinks I'm either going through some type of mid-life crisis, or that I have totally lost my mind! I am quite sure it is neither. I have been an artist all my life, I just took a break to be a wife and mother. My special interests are old architec- ture, landscapes and children. I also hand-color many of my images. There is so much in the world that is beautiful if we just open our eyes to it, and our souls!

-- Tanya Smith (s.tanya@mailcity.com), February 18, 1998.

Immortalizing a moment

I believe the most interesting aspect of photography, for me, is the fact that you can immortalize an instant of life without losing any details. One can put on film everything and everyone that was there. It's possible to record feelings, movements, actions, love, hate, deception,... I fairly new to photography so I can't really talk about exposure time and reflectors and that sort of things, but I can say that I've tried to reproduce life as I see it. Every time I take a picture, I try to get the feeling of the situation and heve the people who look at it wonder as to what it means, what it's message is. Therefore, I must admit I dislike plastic studio model photos(altough I'm working on a serie of autoportrait right now!?!?). Somehow, I feel it's taking the life out of the photograph. I enjoy walking on the street taking pictures of people and places with an atmosphere. That's what I try to do, just make pictures of life more than people.

Charles Basenga Kiyanda

-- Charles B. Kiyanda (gbec.kiyanda@sympatico.ca), April 23, 1998.

For most of my life I have had a camera in my hands. Generally that was because I was taking photographs for somebody else. So when it came to doing something to relax and take a break, I shied away from taking more photos.

Now I am semi retired (still shoot for the weekly newspaper) but I have a lot more time and I am getting restless. I have a little half acre wooded lot out here in a rural section of the state.

Little by little I have been letting it teach me about what is happening in this little world. And I have been seeing more and more images that I want to make as the seasons wind along their course.

I will be spending more and more time behind the glass of my view camera in the coming years. Just for myself, with no thought of developing something marketable. I have a feeling that it might turn out to be some of the best work I will ever do.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), September 12, 1998.

Each day we have is a blessing from God. We, who love photography, should never squander it on foolish & trivial matter-especially when we could do some shooting. Whenever I have the chance-especially on my lunch breaks-my Holga (or Canon) and I go out shooting. Same with the weekends-I make time with the Crown Graphic. I don't wait for a "special time", for it may never come. If we can make time for the trival, we can be like Henri Carter-Bresson, and take our camera with us and shoot. Let's start today and make a personal promise to ourselves to shoot-even just for shootin's sake :-). For tomorrow's not promised to us.

-- Victor Reynolds (decosta1@hotmail.com), April 05, 1999.

I have been involved in photography since my wife bought me my first camera, an Olympus OM-10, in 1977. I had studied to be a commercial artist until I saw real artists. It was about 10 years before I got that first camera and I think of all the years wasted. I agree with a lot of the comments here. 18 months ago I decided to try and do photography on a full time basis. During these 18 months I have been distracted by money. After much soul searching, I think my best option is to return to my first and true love - black&white images. I even prefer an "old" film, Tri-X. To me, I look through the lens differently when I am shooting b&w. My brain sees more easily in b&w mode and my images are much better. Even when I have shot color, I try to put my brain in my b&w mode. The images strip away any pretext and leave only what is really there. My $.02 worth.

-- Richard Owen (seagrove@digitalexp.com), September 23, 1999.