Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/04/03

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Subject: [Leica] why we photograph?
From: dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings)
Date: Mon Apr 3 05:28:27 2006
References: <f951d2970604021345g5f5a0611pab0fa3d4c48d0ca7@mail.gmail.com> <9b678e0604021436x5e5e73edva38645dab6fc7b06@mail.gmail.com> <f951d2970604030409i28502bbbsa68be531437e5222@mail.gmail.com> <7060-SnapperMsg4EA12C31C056B5DD@70.221.74.111>

On 4/3/06, B. D. Colen <bdcolen@comcast.net> wrote:

> A. Why do you photograph?
> B. What's your primary subject matter?
> C. Why?

I've given machine-gun answers to these questions way back when you
placed them (months, a year or so ago). So I'll try and give them
thought this time.

a) Why?

Man, these questions are easier to ask than they are to answer.

Basically, I don't have a choice, well, I do. No one has a gun to my
head, but I still don't have a choice. I just have to.

Why do I have to?

I think maybe I see something in a unique way. That uniqueness might
be very trivial, but in some way or form, I am communicating a visual
that _I_ see and want to share.

Why do I want to share? I really don't know. Perhaps it's a way of
keeping a memory of me alive longer than I will be alive. Perhaps my
children will show their children or their grandchildren some of my
pictures and I will be mentioned decades after I'm gone. Vanity?

I also have things to say about some things but find I can say it
easier visually than verbally.

Kind of like my awkwardness now.

b) Primary subject matter?

I like to think it is people. It frustrates me that some of the
photographs that I have taken that are the most popular with others
are some nature shots.

Man-made artefacts. Subject matter that conveys the fact I am 1) a
foreigner always slightly out of place or 2) I am in the midst of the
people I love.

c) Why?

Because people mean more to me than places.

At least I tried.

Daniel


In reply to: Message from johnbeeching at gmail.com (John Beeching) ([Leica] Conil)
Message from don.dory at gmail.com (Don Dory) ([Leica] Conil)
Message from johnbeeching at gmail.com (John Beeching) ([Leica] Conil)