What Does Photography Mean To You?

All photos taken with Lumix GX7

I'm not one to shy away from the fact that I'm not gifted in the technical department when it comes to photography. But what I lack in skills (I think) I make up for with an eye for a visually interesting shots, details and colour. Way back in my college days I took a short course in basic analog photography - which is how Hollie + I met. I enjoyed the process of creating images using a rattly old Olympus analog camera. The buzz of seeing my photos come to life using the old darkroom development process was like nothing I'd experience before. Out of nothing comes something very real.

Sadly, for reasons unknown to me I never followed on with analog (other than a Lomo Fisheye, does that count?), but it did spark up a new-found enthusiasm for photography. So I transferred my new skills over to my uni days and used my camera as much as I could - and it's never really left my side since 2008. I'm that annoying person who makes someone stop a car because I've seen something curious.

I never really set out to make technically sound images, rather just take photos of things that visually stimulated me. Packaging, Cars, Beer labels, People, Colourful Things, Buildings, Interesting Road Signs, Curious Books...just day-to-day stuff. Seeing images come together is one of my favourite things - the mix of colour, use of light or even happy accidents. It still gives me a buzz, just in a different way to when I was at college. Maybe it's a little bit less careless than it once was, but the freedom and naivety was what made in exciting.

While at uni I took a keen interest in product photography, which became the basis of my final campaign. I'm still obsessed by it, and feel it's something I should explore more. The surreal work of MarkusStudio has caught my eye recently, as did Charlotte Love's feed, counting both of them as my current inspiration.

To me, photography is a release, a freeze in time of something which piqued my interest. To savour the key (or even mundane beans on toast) moments in your life, and on many levels helps us connect to others. Like I mentioned, I don't worry about the technical aspect too much - I tinker with settings here and there, depending on light and subject but not much else. I try to frame things the way I like them, capturing interesting colours + shapes, and hopefully they have some form of visual story to tell. That's the plan, and I'm sticking to it.

That's not to say I wouldn't like to further my skills, of course I would. I know my photography would benefit tenfold from learning how to use each setting, and help me to get the most out of my camera's ability. Having grown up in a town which is generally considered a photographer's dream, I'm fortunate to have become friends with many photographers, and I've always had huge admiration for how they work - their methodical and critical way of thinking is something I've taken a lot away from in the past.

Which brings me nicely to Instagram. I'm definitely a person who has been caught up in the wave of #CommunityFirst, and I must say I'm happy I have. Constantly discovering new people each day makes for an enjoyable lunch break or wait for the bus - not just for photography, but for the mad collectors, road sign hunters, denimheads or the bucket loads of travel inspiration. Some of my current favourite Instagram accounts are; Matt Crump, Griffin Lamb, TrevLee + Sara Cath.

So it's my mission from today to dedicate more of my time to one of my main hobbies. To messing around with settings, creating my own area for product photography and to spending more time with the people that inspire me. Buckets Euro Road Trip coming soon!

Do you know your way around the settings menu or just make it up as you go along? Photography for kicks, business or a combination of both? What does Photography mean to you? Would love to hear you thoughts on this subject.

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