raid
Dad Photographer
I am glad to see that a better future is waiting for you, Mitch. I started this thread not implying that a "photography take-over" is negative; just the opposite. It can be a very positive take-over.
Raid
Raid
Is Photography or Equipment Collection taking over your Life?
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emraphoto
Veteran
an interesting question... gear collecting and gear talking was taking over my life in a terrible way. i have taken photo's seriously for 15-20 years. real seriously for the last ten. worked in a studio, learnt lighting. worked for a wedding photog, learnt weddings. concentrated on gallery work, sold some work in gallery's. worked as a stringer, learnt that media folks make sh*t money and the work kinda sucks. shot on 120, 35mm, 4x5, 5x7 and digital. hung out with folks that talk, dream, eat photography and gear. gear, gear, gear. buying, selling renting, buying. it got real crazy... real crazy. contax, leica, hasselblad etc. etc. etc. so much time and effort was spent on gear.
then i had an epiphany!
recently actually...
yesterday i sold my last bit of dslr gear. it's all gone... my 645, t4, d1x, m6ttl. today i bought an ricoh gr d. that makes 1 ricoh gr d, 1 epson r-d1 (stuffed away for that "just in case the r-d1s should act up"moment), 1 epson r-d1s, 1 35mm f2.5, 1 50mm 'cron, 1 25mm f4 (the moneys heading your way guy) and that's it. i swear before you all now i will buy nothing more for 24 months. every single ounce of energy i spent on researching, buying, fondling and talking gear will be instead spent on aquiring subject matter, style and breaking all the rules i learnt.
it had to happen...
cheers
john
i still can, of course, live vicariously through you all. and frank's bronica did make me a little weak in the knee's... sorry frank.
then i had an epiphany!
recently actually...
yesterday i sold my last bit of dslr gear. it's all gone... my 645, t4, d1x, m6ttl. today i bought an ricoh gr d. that makes 1 ricoh gr d, 1 epson r-d1 (stuffed away for that "just in case the r-d1s should act up"moment), 1 epson r-d1s, 1 35mm f2.5, 1 50mm 'cron, 1 25mm f4 (the moneys heading your way guy) and that's it. i swear before you all now i will buy nothing more for 24 months. every single ounce of energy i spent on researching, buying, fondling and talking gear will be instead spent on aquiring subject matter, style and breaking all the rules i learnt.
it had to happen...
cheers
john
i still can, of course, live vicariously through you all. and frank's bronica did make me a little weak in the knee's... sorry frank.
dostacos
Dan
I have had several "all consuming" hobbies over the years, but Photography seems to bind them all together. My Bessa's have opened up a whole new variation of photography.
I plan on staying with rangefinders at least until I find a wheelchair that can get me on the beach then my DSLR will need the canon 70-200ism lens but that is a story for another day
I plan on staying with rangefinders at least until I find a wheelchair that can get me on the beach then my DSLR will need the canon 70-200ism lens but that is a story for another day
raid
Dad Photographer
Photography has been my main full-time hobby for about twenty years now. It kept me out of trouble, as they say. I did so much photography [and associated traveling] when I started my career as a Professor that a senior Professor referred to me as the new guy who will not cut it due to "his traveling". This turned out to be untrue. I balanced between my time consuming work at the university and my full-time hobby. No regrets. I feel that photgraphy has enriched my life.
Raid
Raid
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I realised today as I was packing my cameras for my house move how much they mean to me ... each camera carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a large plastic storage container for the journey ... it was all a bit tedious really ... but I do love them! 😛
pesphoto
Veteran
Keith said:
I just went thru the same thing Keith. Good luck with the move.
Now i have to find which box my cameras are in.
As for the topic of the thread actually, life seems to be taking over my cameras lately.
Xmas
Veteran
Keith
I just found a pola filter under funiture in my last checks of the furnished flat as I moved out, it is the things you dont pack at all that are the problem.
Does this mean that we wont get to see your neighbour again?
Noel
I just found a pola filter under funiture in my last checks of the furnished flat as I moved out, it is the things you dont pack at all that are the problem.
Does this mean that we wont get to see your neighbour again?
Noel
GeneW
Veteran
Strictly amateur, but the word means 'lover of' and I love photography. Been at it since I was a teen and it's always been a passion. I like taking pictures, looking at pictures, and playing with gear.
It hasn't taken over my life, though. I've incorporated it into other things I do, like walking, birding, shopping, etc, although I also go out strictly for shooting at times. It has taken over my closet though! 🙂
Gene
It hasn't taken over my life, though. I've incorporated it into other things I do, like walking, birding, shopping, etc, although I also go out strictly for shooting at times. It has taken over my closet though! 🙂
Gene
iml
Well-known
I don't think about collecting equipment much, I've recently had a clear out so I'll only be left with cameras that get regular use, a couple of M mount RFs, a couple of 50mm lenses and a 21mm, a couple of fixed lens portable RFs, a TLR, and a small digital SLR for colour. I'll add a 6x7 RF at some point too, otherwise I have enough cameras and lenses and have no great desire to acquire any more. I don't like too many choices when I'm out shooting.
I think about photography a lot, and when I'm not shooting I spend a lot of time printing, or processing, or scanning, or looking at other peoples' pictures, or reading. But I have other interests too, music, philosophy, art, reading, friendships, and I don't think I'm obsessive about photography. I just like to spend a few hours every week doing nothing but taking pictures, with no distractions or other concerns, and a few more hours doing other photography-connected things. I'm lucky enough to mostly be able to do that. It definitely helps keep me happy.
The best way to avoid photography becoming a source of anxiety rather than an immense pleasure is not to obsess too much about expensive equipment, in my experience.
Ian
I think about photography a lot, and when I'm not shooting I spend a lot of time printing, or processing, or scanning, or looking at other peoples' pictures, or reading. But I have other interests too, music, philosophy, art, reading, friendships, and I don't think I'm obsessive about photography. I just like to spend a few hours every week doing nothing but taking pictures, with no distractions or other concerns, and a few more hours doing other photography-connected things. I'm lucky enough to mostly be able to do that. It definitely helps keep me happy.
The best way to avoid photography becoming a source of anxiety rather than an immense pleasure is not to obsess too much about expensive equipment, in my experience.
Ian
DougK
This space left blank
I go through phases with most of my hobbies; lately I've been working on my cooking skills. I haven't touched a camera since the "shoot on the solstice" event (disappointing photos that day... nothing I'd particularly consider publishable). Right now I'm too busy trying to help my fiancee plan our wedding and packing up the house to even think about taking much time out for photography. I'm definitely taking a camera on our honeymoon, though -- how can you go to San Francisco and not take one?
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Photography is a way of life... a commitment to excellence... a kind of calling. The labels "serious amateur" or "pro" don't mean all that much. Some 20 years ago, I was a working PJ, and a quit when a divorce and health concerns rocked my infrastructure.
Those who really knew me said, "But, you can't take photography out of Mike Goldberg!" We go through phases, and often our GAS reflects where we are, and what we're interested in at any given time. This feels like a natural process. I went through a P & S digicam phase, returned to SLR and R/F work, and now am into dSLR. Yes, I will sell some gear, but not much loved classics like the OM-1 system, M-2 and Bessa R.
I don't anticipate film totally disappearing in my lifetime. Note the thread "The end is near?" ... directing us to the June CR issue on digital gear. What's important here is one's intent, vision, mind and heart, and how that is expressed in pictures... whatever the camera, medium and techniques.
Cheers, mike
Those who really knew me said, "But, you can't take photography out of Mike Goldberg!" We go through phases, and often our GAS reflects where we are, and what we're interested in at any given time. This feels like a natural process. I went through a P & S digicam phase, returned to SLR and R/F work, and now am into dSLR. Yes, I will sell some gear, but not much loved classics like the OM-1 system, M-2 and Bessa R.
I don't anticipate film totally disappearing in my lifetime. Note the thread "The end is near?" ... directing us to the June CR issue on digital gear. What's important here is one's intent, vision, mind and heart, and how that is expressed in pictures... whatever the camera, medium and techniques.
Cheers, mike
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