The motivations that draw us to photography can vary greatly from person to person, and it’s quite common for them to change or evolve over time. It’s an activity that, in its early stages, almost always arises from a vocational impulse, the need to capture places, situations, or people that carry a profound meaning and that we want to immortalize. Precisely because of this ever-changing or living motivation that accompanies all creative pursuits, the impulse that leads us to pick up a camera and take photographs won’t be the same when we’re just starting out as it is after years of experience. The experience of a teenager buying their first camera has little in common with that of a professional heading to a photo shoot. These are completely different experiences.
This motivational approach to photography usually shifts gradually, but that’s not the case for everyone. In my own experience, photography has always been something relatively secondary. I’ve always liked it, I’ve had various cameras, taken many photos, learned to edit them, and have them more or less well organized. It’s an activity I’ve always devoted time and interest to, because I truly enjoy it, but it has never guided the course of my life. It has always been secondary and typically came behind other hobbies.
But this new stage brought about a completely different revival, quite far removed from the usual dynamic up until now. As I mentioned in a previous entry, photography used to be a complementary activity, shaped by external circumstances. If I went on a hike, it was something that accompanied the hike; if I went on a trip, it ran parallel to the trip; if there was an event, it was simply a tool to document it.
All of that changed a few months ago when I felt the need to bring more movement into my life. Having an introverted personality means I don’t naturally feel the urge to go outside. If you combine that personality with a passion for reading, video games, or any other home-based activity, you get the perfect combination to stay indoors indefinitely. And while I consider it a great strength to feel content without needing company or external experiences, anything taken to the extreme can become negative. So I thought it would be a good idea to motivate myself to go out by giving it a new purpose, through the development of my passion for photography. This time, it would no longer be a secondary activity, but the main one.
I have to admit that the idea worked perfectly, much better, in fact, than I ever imagined. It not only became an excuse to get out, but a genuine need, something I look forward to all week and enjoy like never before once the weekend arrives. Getting in the car and losing myself in places I never would’ve visited if it weren’t for this new project gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. The adrenaline rush when suddenly arriving at an incredible spot, or the dopamine triggered by the anticipation of the unknown, is unmatched by any photographic experience I’ve ever had. This new way of approaching photography, letting it lead me, fully prioritizing it, and making it the main reason for my outings, has completely transformed my motivation and turned the photographic experience into something that genuinely improves my life in many ways.
I’ve always enjoyed driving, but now I’m enjoying it twice as much. Waking up early on Saturday to make the most of the daylight has become a regular thing. Getting in the car without a clear destination, letting the road decide, brings a wonderful tingling feeling that stays with me all day. Getting lost in the mountains, discovering rugged landscapes I’ve never seen before, stopping beside a wooden hut in the middle of nowhere, approaching a group of wary horses, or admiring a massive dam emerging from the fog, these have all become common events I capture with a click of my faithful companion, the camera, which is always with me in those special moments. Photography is no longer about the final result, or about uploading photos to social media and counting likes. What truly motivates me now is the experience itself, and that mindset has allowed me to enjoy it more than ever.
I don’t know what your motivation is when it comes to photography, but whatever it may be, I’m sure it’s a positive one. Everyone enjoys it in their own way, and the most important thing is to do something that makes us feel good, that improves our lives in some way, and helps us leave a record of our journey through it. I think I’ve found the sweet spot, that perfect balance that allows me to fully enjoy what I’m doing. It may not be your sweet spot, and that’s okay. But for me, it’s become a major source of joy in my free time, in how I approach travel, no matter how small, and in how I give those moments meaning. It’s a broad vision of photography, one that goes far beyond the final image, and I believe that’s what has made such an impact on me. Maybe it’s something many people already experience, but because of my introverted nature, it took me a long time to discover it.
If you’re in a similar place, I encourage you to try this new perspective. Maybe it won’t work, but maybe it will, and you’ll be just as surprised as I was. Give photography a chance. Grab your camera, get in the car, and improvise a route. The outcome is unpredictable, but that, after all, is part of the magic. Don’t you think?
