Hobby – Live Laugh RV

Hobbies are wonderful considering they can provide entertainment, knowledge, social engagement, physical activity, or merely serve as a diversion. We may intentionally set out to engage in a given hobby or perhaps we’re accidentally introduced to a hobby. Such is the case with me and bird photography.

An accidental birder?

I never set out to be a birder, and quite frankly, I don’t consider myself a birder. I’m merely a gal with a camera who became fascinated with photographing shorebirds during her Texas Gulf Coast travels.

A birdwatcher, also known as a birder, observes or identifies birds in their natural habitat.

The more time I spent exploring the Gulf Coast, the more shorebirds I encountered. The more birds I encountered, the more photographs I took. The more photographs I took, the more I wanted to learn about these birds.

I stop for pink.

The first time I glimpsed the stunning pink hue of the Roseate Spoonbill had me yelling at Al to stop the truck. We were driving along Fulton Beach Road along the Gulf Coast in Texas when a shimmer of pink in shallow pond water caught my attention.

I had never seen such a beautiful, yet weird, bird in my entire life or such a beautiful shade of pink. That was just the beginning of my journey into photographing birds …. the beginning of my interest in birds as a photographic subject.

The makings of a Craniac

And then there were the cranes I stumbled upon; particularly the endangered whooping crane. I think we can all agree that they are magnificent birds. I became obsessed with cranes, so much so, that we made a special trip to the International Crane Foundation located in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

I was officially a Craniac and couldn’t get enough of these rare beauties!

I never imagined I’d develop such a passion for photographing birds, but I find that they make such an interesting subject to photograph that it’s almost impossible for me to pass up the opportunity to make at least a few images …. or more like a few hundred images when I encounter these entertaining beings.

Is it possible that I am indeed a “birder”? Nah, I’m still just a gal with a camera who merely enjoys photographing beautiful subjects.

Stay tuned for more bird images in future posts. My friend, Terri, has declared February as “Feed the Birds” month for her Sunday Stills Photo Challenge, and boy, do I have some bird images.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of connecting with a blogging pal. He had recently purchased a new Panasonic camera at my recommendation and was interested in a little help navigating the camera’s settings. Since I’ve been shooting regularly with a variety of Panasonic cameras for the past six years, I was more than happy to assist.

Actually, I loved the opportunity, and we had a fantastic outing where I think we both learned a few things. It’s always fun shooting with another photographer considering we all see things differently. We might be photographing the same subject, yet our images won’t look anything alike.

As my new friend and I were discussing this fact, I made the comment, “As photographers, we all see things differently, and therefore, create our own unique image”. My friend was quick to respond to my comment by saying, “Oh, I’m not a photographer”. I immediately knew why he said that and could totally relate.

For years, I have felt uncomfortable referring to myself as a photographer. I consider myself more of a snapshot taker, picture taker, novice, newbie, amateur, beginner … photographer wannabe.

What is a photographer?

So, after pondering those thoughts, I did a little Googling and this is what I came up with …

Photographers create memories and make special moments unforgettable. (check, that’s me)
Photographers produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. (again, check)

Okay, well then maybe I am a photographer according to these two sentences. But then I dove a little deeper.

A photographer is a person who takes photographs, especially as a job.
A photographer is a professional who focuses on the art of taking photographs.
Photographers are artists with a camera.
Photographers can work as fine artists, wedding/event photography, or sell their photographs to commercial clients.

Hmm, we’ve got some keywords there that definitely don’t apply to me. Therefore, I am not a photographer but merely a snapshot taker … or am I? I’m so confused!

Professional vs. Amateur

Have you ever entered a photography contest or read the rules for one of those contests? They seem to always use the terms Professional Photographer and Amateur Photographer making a decided distinction that there’s more than one kind of photographer.

Perfect example; The Washington Post sponsored a photo contest a while back. As I read the rules, this sentence really resonated with me.

Only amateur photographers are eligible. Professional photographers (i.e., anyone who earns more than 50 percent of his or her annual income from photography) are not eligible.

The distinction has nothing to do with the quality of a photographer’s work, but rather with his/her income, and both amateurs and professionals are considered photographers.

Conclusion

After my research, I think I finally feel comfortable calling myself a photographer … an amateur photographer that is because I am most definitely not a professional photographer.

Whether it’s a hobby or a profession, we all love this thing called photography. The difference is we either sell our images or give them away. Does it really matter to those admiring a beautiful photograph? So, snap away on that iPhone, point & shoot, or nifty mirrorless camera, and embrace calling yourself a photographer. After all, it’s so much easier than referring to yourself as a snapshot taker and a heck of a lot more fun too! 📷