Thoughts On Photography

Welcome to some of my thoughts about photography. I have spent a lifetime trying to learn the ins and outs of this fabulous hobby, profession, pastime, art... whatever label you want to put on photography. After decades of experience, I still feel like I can learn something new from photography every single day. This has to be one of the greatest statements about, and driving forces for, any learned skill. If it is something you can never fully master, it is something you will never stop learning from.

To see all the posts I have published on photography go to the photography tag on my blog. I am also working on a gear collection (coming soon) and I'm still exploring Nikon Recipes (though I still love Fujifilm Recipes the most).

Photography Background

I’ve had a camera in my hand since circa 1982, and have been studying and active in the art of photography since 1993 when I bought my first “real” camera, a Nikon film camera (gear pages coming soon). I learned how to shoot on film, and I’m grateful for that time and all that it taught me. Today I shoot with whatever I have in my hand at the time, sometimes digital, sometimes film, and most likely iPhone is always with me.

But I love Nikon cameras and use them almost exclusively. I really enjoy Fujifilm cameras as well, and someday would love to shoot with a Leica. I now have an extensive portfolio online available as well. Just click on "portfolio" at the top of the page.

Why Photography?

In the philosophical world, my photography ultimately has one purpose in mind, to glorify God. That’s about as high a bar as I can think of after all these years. In a way, photography, to me, has always been a simultaneous merging of art and life, and it's captured through the lens of the life we live. Images, captured in a fraction of a second, shows proof of our existence as human beings, and the beauty of our Creator.

To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event. ~Henri Cartier-Bresson

Photography is all about capturing a moment in time. Without that image, the moment would likely be lost to history. It shows the emotion, the pain and beauty that is this life. It shows the human spirit, and the willingness to look beyond our differences. I strive to incorporate these elements into my photography every time I press the shutter.

Photography Goals

My study in photography began in earnest in 1993 while taking some photography courses in college. For years I have tried to narrow down my interests to a specific genre or subject, but that has always been an elusive goal for me. Therefore, my photography focus looks like this… explore, share, and help.

• Explore photography through photo essays of real life images
• Share my work publicly in as truthful a way as possible
• Help others where and when I can to the best of my ability

I love photography and hope I never stop learning from what it has to teach me. As of 2026 I've created over 800,000 images, and every single image was a long labor of love over a long period of time.

Study the Photography Greats

Photographers are gear heads for sure, and you can learn a lot from other photographers, but this is one statement that always rings true...

When asked what is the best camera? The answer is always the same. The best camera is always the one you have with you. ~Unknown

I’ve studied the greats in the field like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Susan Sontag, Vivian Maier, and so many actively producing photographers and YouTubers like Teo Crawford, James Popsys, Evan Ranft, Matt Day, Tatiana Hopper, Sean Tucker, Roman Fox, and so many others. They have all helped shape my style and it continues to develop even after shooting for so many years.

Location Information

I have lived all over the country, with most of my roots in Alabama, and I call the Auburn/Opelika area home. Over the years I’ve loved my time living in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and various other places, but Auburn/Opelika will always be home to me. I’ve had the privilege of traveling all over the world from Australia to Uganda and everywhere in between. This has given me a unique perspective on different cultures and ways of life I could never understand without having been there, and it’s impacted my photography tremendously.

My Archive

You can also read my usage rights to get a better understanding of how my images can be used. If you would like to use any of my copyrighted images seen as "Scott Fillmer Copyright" for any reason, please contact me so we can discuss your needs.