Why rather than How we make photographs

I don't (yet) have an answer to this one. At least I have a dull glimmer of the beginnings of an answer, but not one that I'm 'comfortable to share with the group'!

However, I would just like to thank Lee for passing the book "Art & Fear" to Les and thank Les for mentioning it here.

It arrived from Amazon this morning, I've reached page 15 in my lunch (half) hour and have already laughed, smiled wryly, frowned and nodded thoughtfully than I have over any book I've read in at least the last year, maybe longer.

I'm feeling more genuinely motivated to get my lazy harris / aching back into the darkroom and make some prints than I have for ages. I've also thought of a couple of ideas for projects which are a bit of a departure for me and (right now) terribly inviting (although that might just be as opposed to an afternoon at my desk typing up meeting minutes...)!

I'd say I've got my money's worth!

Thanks again,

Frank

I have a signed copy of this book. I remember reading it more than 10 years ago on one of my overseas trips when I was a younger whipper-snapper right out of university. I recall it was an OK book, but not as inspiring to me it is to some here. I never question why I do things I like to do, so I really have no fear about doing what I like to do or even trying something that I haven't. It's time that prevents me from doing things, not fear.

Regards, Art.

Good photographer have a good reason why he take each photograph, and for many different reasons many different photographs he take.

Poor photographer never have a reason why he take his photographs, or reasons are just a few. Actualy he do not undestand photography medium and why he work within the same medium. He just have a camera.

www.Leica-R.com

My Answer

Simple, but a number of reasons
1. To give me pleasure.
2. To give pleasure to others.
3. To Create memories.

And because I have strong indiviualistic tendency I like to work in a 6x24cm format, and because I also have a strong sense of the practical I won't work in 4x10inch or 8x20inch format. getting the film and cutting it to size etc just would give me no pleasure.

Since the dawn of time mankind has had a need to create, some practical, tools and utencils, some artistic, carvings and cave art, I belive this predisposition to creativity is in the geans of humanity, we cannot help ourselves. Some display this need one way some another, I make photographs.

Being a practical person I do not seek to analise the whyness of my need, I accept it and practice it to the best of my ability, always striving for the perfect one. I am a small cog in the vast machine, to question the perpose of the machine is as pointless as questioning life itself, accept and enjoy, we are a long time dead.

It is prehaps not an explination but it is an answer, at least it is my answer.

Haveing read the posts in this thread, many of them philosophical,deep and meaningful I see a common theam to them all, we have a need.

Regards Paul.