What inspires you?
For me, photography is a form of communication and expression, it has enormous power to change the world for the better and to highlight the tragedy within. A photo can take us places that we didn’t know existed, or would never see in our lifetime. From the macro/micro world seeing insects in their environment, viewing microscopic fabric filaments, or capturing the wonders of the vast Universe of Stars, Planets, Galaxies, and Nebulae. Photography has the power to see and touch almost everything. Photos can be thought-provoking, they can bring a sense of perspective, to see the whole picture so to speak. They can be humorous and sad or can inspire us, they can touch everyone’s heart and soul. Photography is a very important part of all our lives, whether we produce content, or observe the work of others, such as the news for example.
For you, there may be a specific reason, or the motivation for choosing photography as a hobby, or even a profession. You may want to take pictures of loved ones and create fine prints to frame or create family albums. Small birds or local wildlife in the garden could be something you enjoy, especially if you are unable to travel often. Combining two hobbies such as hiking and photography is a great mix. Maybe you love to shoot vast open landscapes, bustling street life, markets, carnivals, art, or other social events. You may prefer capturing architectural structures or venturing into the stars with Astro-photography. Other inspirations can be for fitness and getting out of the confines of the four walls of your home. You may like to portray a story in your images or simply freeze moments in time for memories sake and reflect on these over the years as you grow old.
If you know what is inspiring you to start photography, or what type of photography genre you are passionate about, then you are in a good position to start thinking about important decisions regards camera selection, equipment, and accessories to enhance your experience and quality of your photography. Also, later on, you can start to see which camera settings can be beneficial for your specific type of photography.
The below quote pretty much sums up how I am whenever I am out and about, with or without a camera, and probably applies to many other amateur and professional photographers.
“One doesn’t stop seeing. One doesn’t stop framing. It doesn’t turn off and turn on. It’s on all the time.” — Annie Leibovitz
Now it is time for an introduction to photography, press next or click on Introduction to photography image to commence. (next is on the far right)