Learn Hardcore Russian: Друг увлекается фотографией и делает красивые снимки. - A friend is into photography and takes beautiful shots.

увлекаться is a reflexive verb meaning “to be keen on” or “to have a hobby.” The suffix -ся makes the verb reflexive, showing that the subject is doing something to or for themselves—in this case, indulging in an activity they enjoy.

Why is фотографией in the instrumental case?

Because увлекаться always asks the question увлекаться чем? (“to be keen on what?”) and takes the instrumental case. Here фотографией is the instrumental form of фотография.

Why is there no possessive pronoun before друг? Doesn’t it mean “my friend”?

Without мой, друг means “a friend” in a general sense. If context implies “my friend,” Russians often drop мой. If you want to emphasize possession, you would say мой друг.

In делает красивые снимки, why are красивые and снимки in their nominative forms?

The verb делать takes a direct object in the accusative case. Since снимки (photos) is inanimate, its nominative plural form снимки is identical to its accusative plural. The adjective красивые agrees with that form (nominative/accusative plural).

Can we replace делает красивые снимки with снимать or фотографировать? What’s the difference?

Yes.

снимать снимки (“to shoot photos”) is colloquial and very common.
фотографировать (“to photograph”) is correct but slightly more formal.
делать снимки (“to make shots”) is also widely used.
All three mean roughly the same, with only minor stylistic nuances.

Can we say занимается фотографией instead of увлекается фотографией? Are they the same?

You can.

заниматься фотографией (“to be engaged in photography”) is more neutral.
увлекаться фотографией stresses personal passion or hobby.
Both verbs take the instrumental case.

Do we need a comma before и in this sentence?

No. When two verbs (увлекается and делает) share the same subject and are joined by и, you do not place a comma:
Друг увлекается фотографией и делает красивые снимки.

What’s the difference between увлекаться and интересоваться (or любить)?

увлекаться implies a hobby or deep passion.
интересоваться means “to be interested in,” more casual curiosity.
любить is “to love” or “to like,” often used for preferences or affections, not specifically hobbies.

Could we use фотографированием instead of фотографией?

Yes. увлекаться фотографированием uses the noun фотографирование (gerund) and is grammatically correct but feels more formal. Using фотография in the instrumental (фотографией) is more colloquial when talking about a hobby.