Uhh, well, I started photography in late gr.11/early gr.12. I'm not exactly sure why I decided to go serious with it, since I have always taken photos. Something in my mindset changed during that time I guess. It was a very emotional period, and a period of self-discovery. I think photography really aided in that respect.

To be honest, I didn't really know I was so prone to taking of people until you mentioned it now. I take photos of things that I find beautiful, spark my interest, or move me emotionally. So I guess it can be traced back to one of those reasons. I love my friends, and I feel happiest when I'm around them. I also love capturing moments in time. I love the basic idea of photography, as something that melts time into a single moment. Something that doesn't really exist in the real world. There isn't really such a thing as the "present", since every time we try to imagine it, it immediately becomes the past. I think that might be a quote from somewhere lol. But its true.

I own a canon rebel xsi (450D in the UK), and a minolta x-700. They are both decent cameras, and have done me well.

In regards to my nature shots, The reason why I take photos of nature is simple because I'm perplexed by its beauty. It also perplexes me that no matter how hard you try, a photo of this beautiful thing can never ever be as beautiful as the real thing. Because of that, I sometimes try to emphasize other factors to make up for it, or to make the photo beautiful in "its own" right... separate from the real thing. I try to make the photo beautiful in its own way. Key word there is try.

hope that helps.. and i hope it isn't too confusing. feel free to ask some more if you want.