Where did your interested in Photography come from?

First Camera Experience:

Every photographer's photographic journey begins with a spark of inspiration: their first camera. The gateway to my new and life-long passion. In my case, it was when I was twelve years old and my dad bought himself a black and white Polaroid Swinger camera, shown below.

I was brought up in Derry City, Northern Ireland, where there was a lot of unrest, to say the least, with regular rioting in the streets, or as it was euphemistically referred to: 'The Troubles'.

Then one day, and I have no idea why or where this idea popped out of thin air into my head. I was motivated to sneak my dad's Polaroid out of the house, gather a group of my pals from my street, and stage a pretend riot in our street so I could take a photograph of the action. Click! When that small blank white square of photographic paper popped out of the bottom of the Polaroid camera and I held it in my hand, all my mates gathered round and fell silent. All our eyes focused on that white square and as if by 'magic', a black and white image slowly emerged. It was so exhilarating to watch, not just for me, but for my pals too. Immediately they wanted me to take more photos of them playacting at rioting.

When that 'magical' first image appeared before me, something changed; it was as if my life took an abrupt right-angle turn. When I saw the power photography had for emotional storytelling, I was hooked for life. But where had that shift come from? And why then? No one in my family was interested in photography or the arts at the time.

Nor, at the time, did I know, or indeed was interested, in the mysterious goings-on inside me. However, looking back on it now, I realize it was that this first image did not belong to my parents.  Everything up to that point was given to me by them. This image came from me and no one else. It was why ancient people put marks on cave walls; it was self-expression, acknowledging that the world existed beyond their bodies. It was why art was born. It gave birth to what we know: we have identities separate from each other and things around us while ironically confirming we are also part of everything around us. 

Here is a list of famous photographers showing what got them interested in photography and at what age. 

Some notable photographers involved in American fine art photography: 

Ansel Adams, Age of Interest: 12. He got hooked on photography when on a family trip to Yosemite National Park, he used a Kodak Brownie camera given to him by his parents to capture the dramatic landscapes. This is where his lifelong obsession with nature photography began. 

Cindy Sherman, Age of Interest: Early 20s. She got hooked while studying at Buffalo State College, where she became fascinated by conceptual photography. She took self-portraits of herself dressed as different characters to explore identity and representation.

Diane Arbus, Age of Interest: Late teens. She was introduced to photography by her husband, Allan Arbus, and influenced by her interest in the lives of people on the fringes of society, she began exploring portraiture.

 Some important British photographers active in British fine art photography. 

David Bailey, Age of Interest: 15. His initial draw to photography was sparked during his service in the Royal Air Force, where he bought his first camera. He was captivated by the ability to capture the essence of people and fashion. 

Rankin (or his full name **John Rankin Waddell**), Age of Interest: Early 20s. Initially studying accountancy, Rankin realized his passion for photography during his university years, particularly drawn to portraiture and the ability to tell stories through images.

Cecil Beaton, Age of Interest: Teenager. He was originally drawn to and captivated by the glamour of Hollywood and the fashion world, inspiring him to photograph society and fashion, eventually becoming a notable portrait photographer. 

Some important European photographers active in European fine art photography: 

Henri Cartier-Bresson (France), Age of Interest: Late teens. His initial interest was in painting, but it ultimately led him to photography as a means of capturing moments and visual storytelling. He was particularly influenced by the spontaneity and immediacy of the medium, eventually becoming a pioneer in candid street photography.

Helmut Newton (Germany), Age of Interest: Around 16 years old. His initial attraction to photography started when he bought his first camera and worked as an apprentice to a photographer. He was fascinated by the glamour and the potential to capture striking, provocative images, which became a hallmark of his fashion photography. 

Andreas Gursky (Germany), Age of Interest: Early 20s. He initially studied visual communication and then pursued photography at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. His interest was sparked by the possibilities of large-scale, high-resolution images that explore the modern world and its vast landscapes.

Sarah Moon (France), Age of Interest: Around 28 years old. Her original attraction to photography came from working as a fashion model. She then transitioned to photography, where she was captivated by the ability to create dreamlike, ethereal images. Her work is known for its painterly quality and use of colour.