Would You Still Take Photographs if Nobody Saw Them?

This question was posed recently on a YouTube video. I thought it was an interesting one to consider.

As a question, it is linked to the answer to,

Why did you start taking photographs in the first place? 

or even,

How would you feel if you couldn’t take photographs for a month?

The question is asking about the essence of photography; what it means to each of us and how we would be if it wasn’t in our lives.

My answer to the question,

Would you still take photographs if no-one saw them? Is a resounding ‘Yes’.

For me, photography is about so much more than the finished image.

It is about how I feel when I go out with my camera to take photographs.

It is about the feeling I get when I find a subject or scene that I like, work on getting the best composition, frame the subject in the best light and consider the best perspective from which to take the picture, all before I finally press the shutter button.

During this time, I am fully engrossed in what I am doing, fully present in the moment and totally focused on capturing the best image that I can capture.

I am not thinking of anything else.

My daily life, with all its concerns and worries, is on hold for those few moments; I am not concerned about anything outside of this time.

I am attentive and engaged in the photographic process.

What would happen if I wasn’t able to create any photographs for a month, or two months?

I believe I would be a lesser person, not because no-one would see my images, but because I would be less observant, less attentive to the world around me, less curious.

When I am out taking photographs I am alive to the world; always watching, alert to changes in light, to perspective, and to the subtle nuances of my surroundings.

Without photography, I would create less and consume more, probably from screens.

Take away my creative outlet and my inner life slowly diminishes too.

I think this answers my question, because having an audience is not the primary reason I do photography.

I do not do photography for likes or praise or even just to show others.

I do photography to maintain my creative wellbeing because creativity requires an outlet, and my creative outlet is photography.

When I am out walking, even just walking the dog, I am always on the alert for potential images. They may be random subjects taken on my phone but they appeal to me in some way even though they are not worth sharing. It is the fulfilment of my creative desires that gives me most satisfaction.

Would You Still Take Photographs if Nobody Saw Them?