Why take photograph's?

With the new technology available to us there are so many photographs created every day that it can make one question the relevance of what is being created.  It begs to question, Why take photographs?

The simplest explanation is that one wants to document their lives and that which is around them.  Once George Eastman introduced the Brownie camera photography was available to everyone and digital cameras have only extended that reach.  In the hands of the general populace the idea of recording family and friends became common place. The snap shot was the record of many around the world. This is the greatest use of photography today.

Then there is the commercial use of the medium.  The idea of taking photo's for profit has been part of photography since it's inception.  Government's and corporations hired photographers to document and record their holdings.  People hired photographer's to immortalize their likeness. Newspapers and magazines had photographers document social conditions and world events. Advertisers used photographers to sell and promote their products. A large part of images today are used in these areas.

Another area is that of Fine Art photography.  This is the area where those use photography to express their ideas and thoughts.  It is one of the more subjective genres in the medium as a definition is hard to establish as tastes very across cultures and individuals.  This can be highly personal work to commercial in nature and thus makes it the most challenging.

So in this age of unlimited imagery again why do we take photographs?  I do so because it is an enjoyable pastime and it allows me to explore and express myself.  It is always a challenge and I feel that I explore all of three of these areas.  I suppose all those who love photography do so as well.

May 8  My son Cool had the day of his life as he auditioned for YTV's "The Next Star"  He had the chance to meet some of the celebrities from the program and to showcase his singing talent.  It was an incredible day and I was so proud of him as I took some snapshots with the iPhone.

May 9  Exploring with the extension tubes on the 24-70 mm lens on the Canon 7D.  Documenting the water drops on the Tulips in the front garden.

May 10  Performers from Kerala, India at the Archie Boyce theatre. Canon 7D, 70-200 mm lens.

May 11  Creating a shot for Mother's day with a Rose and Candy box.  Canon 7D.

May 12  Canadian Quarters using the extension tubes on the 24-70 again.

May 13  iPhone close up of a spring bloom.

May 14  Another iPhone capture of spring flowers.

May 15  McDougall Memorial Church about an hours drive west of Calgary was today's iPhone subject.

May 16  Downtown Calgary architecture proved to be interesting this day.  iPhone capture.

May 17  A walk around the neighbourhood yielded these two photo's. iPhone

May 18   I cleaned the living room carpets and Luke had fun jumping around the empty room.

May 19  The Tulips in front of the rock in our front yard made for an interesting study.

My family also had a chance to meet a very special Bishop from India who is a Vatican ambassador to the United Nations.

May 20  The cloudy sky provided and interesting background for this silhouette of my bike

and then provided this rainbow as seen from our backyard.