Winter sunset over Big Cottonwood Creek, UT
You know what I’m talking about. Why do you photograph?
Whether a green amateur or a full time pro, you have to ask yourself now and again why it is that you create imagery. Is it for money? Love? Cyber back-pats? Creative survival? What is it?
As I’ve transitioned from casual amateur to serious hobbyist to full time pro over the years, I’ve thought long and hard about why I photograph. The motivating factor has changed across the years, from a carefree occupier of time, to a burning desire to improve, to a simple desire to prove (something to someone, somewhere, anywhere) to a means of putting food on the table for my family. In the end, however, the simple answer is this: I NEED TO PHOTOGRAPH. It is every bit as much a part of me as my fingers typing this very blog post.
Within every true creative, there is a relentless desire to…create. A feeling akin to that of an athlete’s muscles aching to be used and abused, this hunger to create is innate and restless unless satiated on a frequent basis. It matters not whether there are stock requests to fulfill, commercial clients to satisfy or workshops to teach. At a certain point, you must ask yourself why you do it. If the answer isn’t one of creative necessity and passion, then when it gets bad, you won’t have enough to keep going.
I think many a pro would be lying if they said there wasn’t a glamour factor to it all. Yes, it’s great to get compliments and adoration and words of encouragement, but that won’t sustain a photographer through the peaks and valleys. The image above was one of, if not my very first five-star shot. If you’ve followed my work, you’ve likely seen it many times before. I can remember the feeling I had when I uploaded the images of my CF card and saw it on the computer screen. I was elated. And yes, I still get that feeling every time I go out to shoot and come back with a keeper.
Ask yourself why you do it. Hopefully you discover a truth you may not have known before. And hopefully, that truth fuels your photographic fire for years and years.
Tags: Adam Barker, Adam Barker Photography, AdamBarkerPhotography, Landscape Photography Utah, Photo Tips, Photo Tips AdamBarkerPhotography, Singh Ray Filters, Utah, Wasatch Mountains
I do it because I am an admirer of beauty. I love to capture a beautiful moment between people, or stunning scenery in the world around me. Being able to share the beauty I see with others is very rewarding.
And that’s what it’s all about Stephanie.
The folks I photograph are outdoor athletes – often moving fast. The challenge (and the reward for me) is expressing something of what it felt like to be there with them as they sweat, jump, corner and explode into action.
Dave–
Apologies for the late response on this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!