Greetings from the Hawkeye State

Greetings from Matt in Iowa. I’ve been lurking for a while, and have made a few posts, but have never officially introduced myself. This site & the people here are absolutely wonderful.

I’m fairly new to photography, having only been seriously shooting for about 5 years. I work with 6x9, 8x10, and play with a Holga. I have a wife and three young daughters that consume most of my time & fill my life with pleasure. I’m still trying to find my photographic voice and what exactly I’m trying to say; and why I’m doing it. I hope you don’t mind a few questions.

Why do you photograph?

Is it to express yourself visually? To show others what you see? How you feel? Do you do it to capture the beauty you see & share it with others?

Do you do it for yourself? Or do you do it for recognition from others? Both?

Is it the process; the feeling of creation? Is it the euphoric pleasure you feel when peeling your negatives off the developing reels, or turning on the lights with a tray full of negatives, or watching the image come up on paper?

Is it for the art? Are you trying to create something that stirs emotion in another? Is it for the feeling of power that you get when that happens? Is it for the questions that will be asked?

Is it the feeling of relief? The need to get something out of you?

Most of what we photograph never makes it past the negative stage. Why then do we even click the shutter? What is it that makes us click the shutter? Is it hope? Are we simply committing to memory the beauty we see before us? Isn’t that enough most of the time? Why should we add to the visual clutter of the world?

Welcome, Matt (no pun intended)!

Wow, that's a lot of questions to consider! I'm pretty new to photography myself, but I love the entire process!

I guess the reason I do this is to capture what I see. You know, you see something... milkweed pods releasing seeds, a feather in the sand, rows of corn covered in snow... and there is something about the play of light and shadow and spirit that just makes you want to keep it forever. It's kind of like a journal.

So, that's how it is for me!
Jeanette

matt miller said:

Greetings from Matt in Iowa.
Why do you photograph?
Is it to ....

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Yes to all, with the exception of "recognition from others", if you are implying "status". Used to be - once - a long time ago - but that mindset had a negative effect on ALL of the others.

Glad to see more people from "fly over country" contributing. Where about in Iowa do you live?

Jim68134 said:

Where about's in Iowa do you live?

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I live in Cambridge, which is about 20 miles north of Des Moines. I work in Des Moines.

I don't see many folks from around here running around APUG either. I have seen JMoore's photos from Downtown Des Moines & quite enjoy them.

I have a lot of family in Ft. Dodge, Humboldt, Sac City etc. Get to Des Moines often. maybe we can get together and do some shooting later in the summer.

Jim68134 said:

maybe we can get together and do some shooting later in the summer.

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Count me in. Maybe you could bring one of the cameras you're fabricating. I'd love to see what your doing.

Hi Matt.

I'm new as well, to the board and photography (though newer than you). Why do I do it? Because whatever it is you shoot, it'll never be exactly like that ever again. Because I love to look at the images. Because I love to share the things that I think are special and beautiful and interesting. I love to focus in and get life to something that maybe someone else hasn't bothered to really look at. For some people an old railroad bridge is just an old ugly failing structure - but there's beauty in it if you look at it the right way. If no one agrees - oh well, it will still be beautiful to me and long after it's gone I'll still have the photos to remind me of something that once was. And that is the other part of it, being able to hold and remember something after it's gone - a beautiful windmill, an old ship, a crumbling bridge, woods, flowers, animals.

My mom grew up in Coulter, near Hampton. Funny I recognize all the names you guys are talking about. She use to drag me up to Coulter twice a year. Of course I grew up on a farm just 30 miles north of Jim. It's a small town north of Blair called Herman. If you ever decide to gather in the fall or spring let me know. I hate the heat and mosquitos and humity of summer. My brother still lives in Blair so it makes for a fun trip.

Welcome! As to the questions: "I love the smell of fixer in the morning. It smells like, creativity...."

Maybe I should make this my signature.... Nah!

Is this heaven...... no it's .......my darkroom?


Welcome, Matt.



Michael