From being camera shy to being camera savvy… we shall not discuss selfie takers
Shooting everywhere
Smile, you are on camera! And before you know, a snap is clicked in a jiffy. Almost every second, around you someone is taking a quick snap, selfie or a rapid candid shutter speed on a digital camera. Whether it is the airport or a restaurant, kids birthday party or an adult bar hopping night. Cameras are blinking at greater speed. The shutterbugs are not professionals but having access to camera phones with mega pixels, this hobby seems to be the least expensive and enjoyable for people of all ages. For some news channels, they also become citizen-photographers who send ‘first pictures of disasters or events that matter to the world.
It takes hardly any time for it to go viral on the Internet.
A viral hobby
It looks like photography has become the world’s most popular pastime. Today no one is camera shy. Everyone wants to put up their pictures on social networking sites and a good impression online. While some amateurs do have an aesthetic sense, the rest forget all etiquettes, shooting at sight anything that may be objectionable to the person who has just been captured unaware. It is no longer astonishing to get hold of a high-end camera, aim and shoot. As an interesting hobby it adds value to the pictures. There is choice of landscape, portraits, nature or pets or even unusual events that one can take up. Digital panoramas can be transferred to the PC immediately. They can be manipulated, printed or uploaded on websites.
Memories flooding!
To deny that this is a well-chosen hobby will be wrong. Ever wondered what prompts so many people around the world choose photography as their favorite past time? An easy answer would be over flooding of digital cameras but there is a deeper meaning to it. We all desire to capture the fleeting moments or momentary beauty. How many times have you looked at beautiful sunrise and sighed, “I wish I could click this glorious dawn”. The fact is with little knowledge and some practice, the things of beauty around you can remain a joy forever.
The love for photography is infectious. With the advent of digital cameras with cell phones it has become a proverbial epidemic. The immediate connection with result and power of editing is what makes the attraction stronger. It is fairly easy to take it up as a hobby. The emancipated creative freedom, sans the shackles of deadlines is what makes hobby photographer deliver his/her best. No wonder, increasingly people are taking up the art as a medium to vent out stress. Yet it irks to know that for several decades photography was wrongfully denied the status of a complete visual art form. Is it because it is now easy getting started with a camera? Nevertheless, simplicity charms the masses. Let the complex technical procedures be the territory of professionals, great snaps are a click away. Its power to freeze and inject life into memories is unparalleled.
We may not remember our first snap but the joy of clicking anything and everything during growing up years stay with us. So, do those wonderful snaps from school, birthday parties, family holidays and college days. A hobby is all about the joy it brings with it. Someone who has flair for appreciating the beauty of the nature and sweet nothings that surrounds us is apt to choose the wonderful art as a pastime.
Once into this wonderful domain, one can discover that the art is not only about portraiture, memories and landscape. It needs greater integrity to take it to the level of photojournalism. Documentary photography is another artistic way of presenting stories through images. A good work can qualify as a historical document featuring any particular social, cultural or political era.
To many, photography comes naturally, others may join basic course to learn the intricacies. For some others who may be in profession like interior designing, animation architects or fashion designing find a great helping hand with camera work. Beyond this, it may also to earn extra money.
Fun with pictures
It takes a blend of passion; imagination and good understanding of technology to get those perfect snaps like those appear on glossy magazine covers. If that sounds voluminous, try action photography. If you are sports buff, do not let those magnificent moments of victory slip into oblivion. A perfect action snap has many takers. If jungles attract you, then wildlife photography could be your choice. It also presents a vast field for macro photography, which is known for its affinity to details as the images are taken from extremely close range. Many professionals find microphotography as an important part of their job. Some of them take it next level and develop it as a hobby. Thus, work becomes fun.
When you choose photography it is not just a creative way of spending free time. Learning the ever-evolving technology is fun. Once the basics are learnt carefully, the journey ahead is all about exploring the beauty of moments and surroundings. More importantly, it teaches one to see things from a different perspective.
For over a decade and half photography has changed. With the mobile phones offering multiple cameras everyone seems to have developed a new hobby as it is inexpensive.