Why Photography Matters

A local woodland hosted the marriage of a young couple by an old tree in early September.

I knew the tree, standing on a mound surrounded by young birch saplings. I wondered how the tree would look light painted to help it stand out in the crowd. I ventured down in daylight to find a composition.

A large pyramid tent stood by the tree, prompting me to want to return before someone took it down.

I returned to the tree close to midnight. It was damp and dark, with no moon to light the wood, and I wondered what on earth had brought me to this place at this late hour.

It was photography.

Photography has inspired me to explore spooky places. I've visited graveyards, lonely beaches, and dark woodlands at night.

During my first attempts at capturing the Milky Way, I strolled to the top of Slieve Croob (534 m). As I left a quiet car park in the middle of nowhere, I must have startled a group of young people. They didn’t stick around to see what I was doing.

That’s hobbies for you. And I had no luck on the night with the Milky Way, but managed a shot of the Mourne Mountains.

Dark, lonely places make me feel nervous. But when I pick up the camera and focus on composition and settings, I forget the darkness.

The night's peace and calm, a bird's squawk, and distant human sounds all bring quiet to my mind. In some ways, photography is a form of mindfulness. Instead of the usual mental noise, I focus my attention on the surroundings and the task at hand.

I would miss a genuine experience if I took photos during the day or stayed at home to watch television.

Finding my way with photography

When I look at my collection of photography gear, I wince at the expense.

I must have spent over £10,000 on camera bodies, lenses, and accessories. And time. Lots and lots of time on learning and practice.

For someone who loved taking photos on holiday, spending thousands in the last five years is a big jump.

When my dad died in 2010, he left me a small amount of money. I can’t recall what I did with it, but I did spend £400 on a new camera to replace my first digital one, the Fujifilm FinePix F30.

Despite my ambition, my new Canon G11 remained a day trip and holiday camera. Roll on nine years and a journey to South Africa. A journey along the Garden Route, safari, and Cape Town. For a journey like that, I needed a real camera, and the Canon 80D joined us on the trip.

South Africa made me realise how much I needed to learn. My biggest lesson: Avoid aperture priority for animals, animals that move.

I had crammed in countless hours of videos on camera and exposure basics pre-trip. But my lack of experience showed.

At this point, my main concern was getting a decent picture.

After a trip right before the pandemic, I saw that the Canon 80D had turned into another holiday camera. Its weight and size, along with the kit lens, dissuaded me from taking it out when at home. This was the time I discovered the benefits of eBay for short-lived tech purchases.

Finding my genre

In 2020, I was a long way off finding my preferred style. I was trying all types of photography. It felt like a rite of passage. Landscape, street, daytime, nighttime, nature, and architecture. And with every genre, I had, of course, to buy another lens. That’s how the expenses increased.

One idea changed everything for me. A smaller, lighter camera with smartphone-like computing power would be ideal.

The search led me to the Olympus / OM System line-up. I had seen some references to OM System by DP Review, but in a short time, the OM-1 would become my camera of choice. The new computational features opened up many possibilities for me. One creator that inspired me was School of Light's Denis Smith, which focuses on light painting, balls of light, and much more.

Something about light painting pulled at my heart. To this day, I am unable to explain why. You know when something clicks.

At the risk of sounding like a vampire, nighttime is my favourite time for photography.

But I don’t only go out at night. I love the beauty of our countryside and the nature that surrounds us. I explore hidden trails and long-forgotten pathways. WalkNI.com is an essential piece of the toolkit.

The Photography Mindset

It may seem odd for someone aiming to be a good photographer, but the experience now matters more than the photo.

Don’t misunderstand. There is something magical about capturing what the eye cannot see. Long exposure and light painting photography let us step into an ethereal world. It creates a sense of timelessness, allowing me to immerse myself in the surreal for a few hours.

But few people see my photography. Pictures might get a glance on Instagram. I was grateful for the positive feedback at a local craft festival when I displayed some of my efforts. The real prize, yet, is the experience of the moments. Nature’s moments, with the elements or beneath countless sparkling stars in the night sky.

The sights and sounds hidden from the everyday routines. These are priceless experiences. Often lonely, but priceless.

Let’s take a ride

Parking at the entrance gate after midnight on a quiet country road can seem suspicious. Walking the long lane to the church ruin and graveyard by moonlight is spooky. I remember questioning my sanity but also feeling grateful for the full moon lighting my way.

I wanted to take moonlit photos of the old church and create light-painted effects. I was there until 3 am and loved every moment. It also taught me one thing. There’s more to fear from the living than from the dead.

This picture means a lot to me. I was trying to cope with a loved one’s difficult diagnosis. It was getting to me. Under the full moon, I saw a strange halo above the ancient stone circle at Ballynoe. The camera’s viewfinder emphasised the halo, prompting me to act without delay.

Here I am, under what I later learned was a fogbow, at the heart of the ancient circle. I'm saying a prayer and counting the exposure time. The Big Dipper sits top right.

Pictures can lie too. Long exposures create a dreamy, timeless feel. But they can also blur reality. I captured this image along the promenade at Newcastle, County Down - late on a Friday night. Ahead, peace and the sound of the waves. Behind me, someone helping her drunken friend go to the toilet on the grass below the apartments. I mentally focused on the sea.

Key Takeaway

Unless your photograph is hanging on a wall, people might see it but will forget it in seconds. That’s why the experience of capturing and creating is where the real value lies.

If you post pictures for ‘likes’ or attention, you miss the true value of photography. Experiencing the world through various times and seasons lets worries fade away. Even if it’s for an hour or two.

Live the experience.

Thanks for reading this far. If you found this story helpful, please consider buying me a coffee. It would mean so much. 😊