Do you find photography therapeutic?

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Here's further proof.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21579762

 

[benjiboy]

Absolutely. All of my hobbies are therapeutic, why else would I persue them?

Photography is like sex, if you find it therapeutic you ain't doing it right

 

[batwister]

^ Agree. Only when I get caught up in the moment and press the shutter prematurely! I usually need a cigarette when I see the negatives.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

If you shoot digital, are you faking it?

 

[benjiboy]

If you shoot digital, are you faking it?

How was it for you ?

 

[newcan1]

I have slightly high blood pressure so have to monitor it regularly. A day of photography, be it in the darkroom or outside shooting, tends to lower my blood pressure by at least ten points. I think I have finally figured out what I want to do when I grow up.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

...Yet at the same time, I can't imagine what it would be like being into something else like cars or guns, or whatever it is other people are really into.

I've rarely seen any evidence that most people are really into anything. Just being swept along by popular culture, television adver-news-ing and peer pressure. But I'm usually outside looking in, so I'm probably wrong.

s-a

 

[semi-ambivalent]

There is nothing wrong with simply satisfying yourself.

For example, here in Colorado, the one picture a landscape photographer has to take (and will be judged by) is Maroon Bells. It's the most photographed spot in the state. There are weekend mornings where there is hardly room along the lakeshore for another tripod. Ansel Adams did a wonderful B&W version. Now why would anybody want to take another shot of it? It's been done to death. Anyone can go out and buy any number of truly spectacular prints, even print some off Flickr.

Well, it hasn't been done by me, yet. I've tried and failed. I don't care about all those other guys. I want to make my own. I don't want to sell it - who would want to buy it? I just want to take a beautiful photograph that does justice to one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Maybe at this point you need to tell yourself you are doing it for yourself. Just for the shear pleasure of doing it.

While you're there, there's that "mining shack" along the Crystal River to shoot. It might have beaten out the 'Bells for calendar appearances. It's ready to collapse into the river and there was once debate about whether or not the Forest Service is going to 'preserve' it or let Time take its course. Better get that one before it's too late.

But you're on the right track. Find that image that's been done to death and throw your slant on it; a great endeavor! I've done my 'Bells shot and I'm not going back there. The hell with the shack.

s-a