Photographic projections: Why do I photograph?

This question came into my mind today: why do I photograph? Immediately the answers came like justifications.

First of all, I photograph because I like it and I photograph only what I like. If you ask any photographer this fundamental question you will get these answers, maybe not in these particular words. I have noticed that each passionate photographer photographs only what he or she likes.

What makes you to raise your camera to your eyes and start shooting? I will answer for you because it is easy. Everyone answers the same. It is because of the pleasure of seeing something or someone that you like. It’s that joy that sparks the flame of creativity that compels you to raise your camera to your eyes, compose some frames and click the shutter. Then, this joy is transmitted to your work, whether it’s photographical work, painting, sculpture, musical work or whatnot. This joy is the essential element in everyone’s lives that is constantly negociated and shared like a currency. This is what keeps us alive, this little thing which is actually very big for us. But in reality it is only a mere thing, so to speak, like a key that opens door or what have you. Everything is created on the base of simple, small things. Only we feel big and unbalance the Universe, this way. :D

I think life, creation, the whole Universe is sustained on this small speck of potentiality that we like to call “Joy”. This ignites many things in our lives that sustains us, really, that feeds us and keeps us alive and kicking, so to say. :) It motivates us to get up in the morning and do whatever it is that we do.

So, when we share this, we also get it back as a reward. You give joy, joy you will receive. It doesn’t really matter if you are feeding someone, if you’re giving someone money, or clothes, or shelter, or a good advice, or even if you’re teaching the uneducated, or quench the thirst of the thirsty, joy is always there like the real substance of all things. In reality you give joy and joy you receive. This is the essence of that divine principle the orientals are calling “Dharma”. It is in human nature to be synthetic and travel within, right to the core of all things, of all lessons. So this is what I have learned and culminated today through my practicing of photography.

So why do I photograph? It is because it gives me Joy. :D