The Minimalist Photographer

Why Do You Want to Take Photographs?

At first, this may seem like a question with an obvious answer, rather like asking someone why they want to drink coffee. But this is one of those questions that seems to get harder the more it is grappled with. Let’s return to the coffee example for a second. There are several possible, easily defined reasons why someone may want to drink coffee. These reasons include taste, stimulative effect, and possibly social contact. Now try answering, with some level of clarity, the question of why you want to take photographs, and then write down your answers. The good news is that any effort you put into answering this question at any time during your photographic career will pay for itself many times over.

This ...