What Made You Pick Up A Camera

fionaB · 18-02-2007, 10:06

Was just sitting here thinking and I started to think to the first time i got into photography. Why did i first start to take pictures..... ok ..
i absolutely HATE having my photograph taken with a vengeance, so to stop folks at parties and nights out ect expecting you to look happy about doing something u hate, i thought well i will take the pictures that way i dont have to stand and argue with folks and explian how much i hate it...... the first time was lethal.. i wanted to take more.. and more........ and here i am today taking hundreds each week........ so...

What made YOU pick up a camera? Why did you get interested in this wonderful obsession of ours?

Fi

**Dabhand16** · 18-02-2007, 12:24

I had my first camera when I was around seven years old. (Yes, Charlotte - they had been invented then, AND flash powder had been long gone). I can't remember why I had this camera, I guess it was a present from my parents.

I still have it somewhere, a twin lens reflex Brownie, and another from around that time, a 127 Brownie that you could actually hold up to your eye and look through a viewfinder!

My gear has steadily been improved over the years, I just wish my abilities had kept up!

***Dave*** · 18-02-2007, 18:55

My father had always been an avid photographer, even taking over the bathroom for a darkroom for days on end

From this I suppose I was intrigued how everything worked. I was probably around 8 at the time.

It wasn't until I was around 14 that I started taking my own photo's & really only when my old man passed away, when I was about 20, when I inherited his Olympus OM1-n, did I start to learn the art of using a SLR.

I did try the darkroom in the early days, but got frustrated I couldn't get my Mono's like Bob Clarkes

Being impatient I also found the wait for films to be developed too much hassle, so didn't get back into photography until Digital started to bite hard ....... never looked back since

Liam O'Neill · 18-02-2007, 22:01

Exactly the same as Fiona, I too hate having my picture taken, and if I was holding the camera, I wasn't going to be in the family snapshots. I did get quite good (in a family snapshot way) over various family summer holidays and school trips, but nothing too serious.

Things being cheaper in the US, I bought a Canon Rebel 2000 on a university-inspired stay in the US in '99, both for the price, and to take "good" pictures of Boston. (Classic newbie mistake, assuming an expensive camera means your taking good pictures

) I kept it up for a few years, moving to Swansea and then Southampton, but between work and not loving the film experience, I basically gave up.
Then I found a by-this-time old Canon D30 for sale at work, really cheaply, just in time for Chirstmas. I took the plunge, bought it, and haven't looked back since.

lcraft · 19-02-2007, 08:34

The short version: I like art, and can't draw worth a damn.

Somewhat longer version:

My grandparents and great grandparents and great aunts took a lot of pictures. My parents didn't.

I have all these mountains of family history in photo albums and boxes of loose photos from the 1900's all the way up to about 1983.. then nothing much for 14 years... Partly times were hard for us and nobody could afford it - but even my grandparents managed to take shots during the Great Depression here in the 1930's... So really in my mind it was more that it was not a priority for them..

Anyhow, that's a time of my life that only exists in my head now and one other family member is left (my father) shares some of with me. My kids and wife can't look at it, we'll never be able to share that.. Literally.. I have eight family photos taken from 1985 to 1997 two are polaroids and the rest are shots friends had taken. It hit me while dealing with my mother's death and funeral.. No pictures.

Anyhow, then... I'm making sure my kids have what my parents had and I don't...

With some bonuses, like video... I'd trade a lot of things away to have old 8mm films or even cruddy 1980's VHS videos of my family. Can't get that stuff back at any price..

Victoria · 19-02-2007, 10:13

When I was around 18 I went on a trip to Melbourne with a friend and found myself at the very famous Ramsey Street from the soapie "Neighbours" with no camera to prove I'd been there. I went out on the last day of my trip and bought a cheap film 'point & click' because I didn't want to get caught out again!

Anyway, I get home and start taking photos of the dog and anyone that would stand still long enough. I tried my best to take good shots with this camera only to be foiled by the parrallex error at every turn. With a little research I discovered I needed an SLR to take the kind of photos that I desired and it bloomed from there.

Digital has certainly been the biggest leap forward for me and now there's no looking back!

**Markulous** · 19-02-2007, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victoria

When I was around 18 I went on a trip to Melbourne with a friend and found myself at the very famous Ramsey Street from the soapie "Neighbours" with no camera to prove I'd been there. I went out on the last day of my trip and bought a cheap film 'point & click' because I didn't want to get caught out again!

I'm surprised that, even tho' your an Aussie (and so given to behavioural aberrations!) that you admit to even visiting "Nayyyboors"

For me it was a box Brownie I was "lent" (I think I borrowed it - permanently!). Then a Zenit E (built like a tank - and weighed the same!). Some of my best shots taken with that - then pics became increasingly worse as I progressed through various Pentax "modern" film cameras!

fujitsu1522 · 19-02-2007, 14:42

Hi there I'm new to Pixalo, great forums, I remember my first days of Photography, I was given a Nikormat EL f1.4 lens, In 1977, Previous to that I used an old Pratika, I remember photographing My niece who was two years old, she was sat on the door step with two pints of Milk between her legs, not much smaller than her, I then bought the chemicals and darkened out the bathroom, and developed my own negs, black and white, Photography was very exspensive then, what a magical moment it was when I made my first print, cost me a small fortune in paper and chemicals and all the bits that went with it. I used to take my film to a local lab, and my prints never came out how I would expect them to, It was only later on and lots of money wasted, that I found out it was the lab that was at fault, exhausted chemicals. I think Photography prob grew from seeing my fathers images from India, Egypt, etc, Old war pics that I still have, The second the button is pressed History Is in the makeing. Its magical.

fionaB · 19-02-2007, 15:49

it seems a huge amount of folks have been into it since they were younger........ I am obviously a bit of a late starter.............lol still havent moved up to DSLR yet!

daveyuk · 19-02-2007, 17:58

I had my first camera when I was about 10 (feels like a life time ago) but really got into photography in my mid teens then had a break to go off do other things. Then got back into photography in my mid to late 30's and still going strong!!!!

Although digital is good there's nothing like watching your photo appear on a white peace of photo paper in the darkroom.

P-E · 19-02-2007, 19:01

I only got in to photography approx 3 years ago.

Never had any interest at all up until then and it happened quite by accident when I decided to sell some items on Ebay..........needed something to obviously produce a digital image so went out and bought a Kodak compact.

fujitsu1522 · 19-02-2007, 22:23

We are showing our age, well you get there before you know it, young in the brain, but the body starts to show it, you never think that will be you, but one day you realise it is!

Howard · 20-02-2007, 01:30

Wonderful question!
When I was about 10, say around 1956, my grandmother sent me a kit with a camera and photo developing equipment. It was such cheap camera that a Kodak Brownie was top of the line compared to it, but I took some photos with it and had them developed (my mother wouldn't let me play with the chemicals in the kit) and loved them. I didn't do anything else until I was in my 40's (lack of money,marriage, divorce etc) when I bought a Canon SLR. I don't remember now which model. My daughter lost the camera and equipment and I wasn't able to do anything more until the last 4 yrs. Now I have a Digital Rebel and trying like crazy to make up for lost years.

jinxy · 20-02-2007, 03:12

i started to really enjoy photography at school while i was studying it there. after i finished school i didnt pick up a camera for a fair while unless i was drunk and wanted pics of friends.(got a few shockers to) anyway when i became a mum i took so many photos not wanting to miss a minute and it has only been really the past year that i have gotten back into it and working on different styles.

18-02-2007, 10:06	#1 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,344	What Made You Pick Up A Camera Was just sitting here thinking and I started to think to the first time i got into photography. Why did i first start to take pictures..... ok .. i absolutely HATE having my photograph taken with a vengeance, so to stop folks at parties and nights out ect expecting you to look happy about doing something u hate, i thought well i will take the pictures that way i dont have to stand and argue with folks and explian how much i hate it...... the first time was lethal.. i wanted to take more.. and more........ and here i am today taking hundreds each week........ so... What made YOU pick up a camera? Why did you get interested in this wonderful obsession of ours? Fi __________________ Canon All The Way http://www.fionabrimsphotography.co.uk

18-02-2007, 12:24	#2 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,761	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera I had my first camera when I was around seven years old. (Yes, Charlotte - they had been invented then, AND flash powder had been long gone). I can't remember why I had this camera, I guess it was a present from my parents. I still have it somewhere, a twin lens reflex Brownie, and another from around that time, a 127 Brownie that you could actually hold up to your eye and look through a viewfinder! My gear has steadily been improved over the years, I just wish my abilities had kept up!

18-02-2007, 18:55	#3 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,710	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera My father had always been an avid photographer, even taking over the bathroom for a darkroom for days on end From this I suppose I was intrigued how everything worked. I was probably around 8 at the time. It wasn't until I was around 14 that I started taking my own photo's & really only when my old man passed away, when I was about 20, when I inherited his Olympus OM1-n, did I start to learn the art of using a SLR. I did try the darkroom in the early days, but got frustrated I couldn't get my Mono's like Bob Clarkes Being impatient I also found the wait for films to be developed too much hassle, so didn't get back into photography until Digital started to bite hard ....... never looked back since

18-02-2007, 22:01	#4 (permalink)
Liam O'Neill Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 138	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera Exactly the same as Fiona, I too hate having my picture taken, and if I was holding the camera, I wasn't going to be in the family snapshots. I did get quite good (in a family snapshot way) over various family summer holidays and school trips, but nothing too serious. Things being cheaper in the US, I bought a Canon Rebel 2000 on a university-inspired stay in the US in '99, both for the price, and to take "good" pictures of Boston. (Classic newbie mistake, assuming an expensive camera means your taking good pictures ) I kept it up for a few years, moving to Swansea and then Southampton, but between work and not loving the film experience, I basically gave up. Then I found a by-this-time old Canon D30 for sale at work, really cheaply, just in time for Chirstmas. I took the plunge, bought it, and haven't looked back since. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/viewfromtheroadside/

19-02-2007, 08:34	#5 (permalink)
lcraft Quite Chatty Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 96	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera The short version: I like art, and can't draw worth a damn. Somewhat longer version: My grandparents and great grandparents and great aunts took a lot of pictures. My parents didn't. I have all these mountains of family history in photo albums and boxes of loose photos from the 1900's all the way up to about 1983.. then nothing much for 14 years... Partly times were hard for us and nobody could afford it - but even my grandparents managed to take shots during the Great Depression here in the 1930's... So really in my mind it was more that it was not a priority for them.. Anyhow, that's a time of my life that only exists in my head now and one other family member is left (my father) shares some of with me. My kids and wife can't look at it, we'll never be able to share that.. Literally.. I have eight family photos taken from 1985 to 1997 two are polaroids and the rest are shots friends had taken. It hit me while dealing with my mother's death and funeral.. No pictures. Anyhow, then... I'm making sure my kids have what my parents had and I don't... With some bonuses, like video... I'd trade a lot of things away to have old 8mm films or even cruddy 1980's VHS videos of my family. Can't get that stuff back at any price..

19-02-2007, 10:13	#6 (permalink)
Victoria Getting Comfy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 204	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera When I was around 18 I went on a trip to Melbourne with a friend and found myself at the very famous Ramsey Street from the soapie "Neighbours" with no camera to prove I'd been there. I went out on the last day of my trip and bought a cheap film 'point & click' because I didn't want to get caught out again! Anyway, I get home and start taking photos of the dog and anyone that would stand still long enough. I tried my best to take good shots with this camera only to be foiled by the parrallex error at every turn. With a little research I discovered I needed an SLR to take the kind of photos that I desired and it bloomed from there. Digital has certainly been the biggest leap forward for me and now there's no looking back!

19-02-2007, 14:42	#8 (permalink)
fujitsu1522 Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 115	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera Hi there I'm new to Pixalo, great forums, I remember my first days of Photography, I was given a Nikormat EL f1.4 lens, In 1977, Previous to that I used an old Pratika, I remember photographing My niece who was two years old, she was sat on the door step with two pints of Milk between her legs, not much smaller than her, I then bought the chemicals and darkened out the bathroom, and developed my own negs, black and white, Photography was very exspensive then, what a magical moment it was when I made my first print, cost me a small fortune in paper and chemicals and all the bits that went with it. I used to take my film to a local lab, and my prints never came out how I would expect them to, It was only later on and lots of money wasted, that I found out it was the lab that was at fault, exhausted chemicals. I think Photography prob grew from seeing my fathers images from India, Egypt, etc, Old war pics that I still have, The second the button is pressed History Is in the makeing. Its magical.

19-02-2007, 15:49	#9 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,344	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera it seems a huge amount of folks have been into it since they were younger........ I am obviously a bit of a late starter.............lol still havent moved up to DSLR yet!

19-02-2007, 17:58	#10 (permalink)
daveyuk Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,150	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera I had my first camera when I was about 10 (feels like a life time ago) but really got into photography in my mid teens then had a break to go off do other things. Then got back into photography in my mid to late 30's and still going strong!!!! Although digital is good there's nothing like watching your photo appear on a white peace of photo paper in the darkroom.

19-02-2007, 19:01	#11 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,430	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera I only got in to photography approx 3 years ago. Never had any interest at all up until then and it happened quite by accident when I decided to sell some items on Ebay..........needed something to obviously produce a digital image so went out and bought a Kodak compact.

19-02-2007, 22:23	#12 (permalink)
fujitsu1522 Getting Comfy Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 115	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera We are showing our age, well you get there before you know it, young in the brain, but the body starts to show it, you never think that will be you, but one day you realise it is!

20-02-2007, 01:30	#13 (permalink)
Howard Quite Chatty Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa U.S Posts: 58	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera Wonderful question! When I was about 10, say around 1956, my grandmother sent me a kit with a camera and photo developing equipment. It was such cheap camera that a Kodak Brownie was top of the line compared to it, but I took some photos with it and had them developed (my mother wouldn't let me play with the chemicals in the kit) and loved them. I didn't do anything else until I was in my 40's (lack of money,marriage, divorce etc) when I bought a Canon SLR. I don't remember now which model. My daughter lost the camera and equipment and I wasn't able to do anything more until the last 4 yrs. Now I have a Digital Rebel and trying like crazy to make up for lost years.

20-02-2007, 03:12	#14 (permalink)
jinxy Getting Comfy Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: south australia Posts: 118	Re: What Made You Pick Up A Camera i started to really enjoy photography at school while i was studying it there. after i finished school i didnt pick up a camera for a fair while unless i was drunk and wanted pics of friends.(got a few shockers to) anyway when i became a mum i took so many photos not wanting to miss a minute and it has only been really the past year that i have gotten back into it and working on different styles.

20-02-2007, 06:09	#15 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,710