Giving up photography

Rob-F said:
I've had dry spells lasting several years, but I always come back to photography. There were periods when I had nothing to say photographically. There were other times when I was busy with other forms of self-expression, like restoring my old house.

But to give it up? For good? Not unless I physically could not do it anymore. Or maybe if I suffred such a great loss that life lost all meaning. But then, photography might be the one thing I could still find meaning in.

Roger, what is, Tashi delek? Is it like, A la Prochain? Arriva Derchi?

A la Prochain,

Rob
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Dear Rob,

I think that's probably the closest to how I feel. The point is not to define yourself as 'a photographer' or 'a motorcyclist' or whatever, because if you define yourself like that, then don't do it for a while, you don't know who you are.

'Tashi delek' is normally translated as 'May it be auspicious', but my Tibetan isn't within a thousand miles of good enough to know if that's literal.

It's used as a greeting, and also (secondarily) in the sense of 'cheers' or 'prosit' or 'santé' when raising a glass.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
kind of feel like giving it up now. just had a photo show this month - spent alot of money on printing, didn't sell one print, and kind of starting to wonder where i am going with this. Photography has been my obsessive hobby for the past 4-5 years, but there has to be some kind of goal in mind when shooting. the months before the show were most exciting: going through all the negatives, scanning, making the choice of what will be in the show, then actually PRINTING them on good paper and seeing them "live" was great. The opening was great fun as well. But all of this is a very expensive hobby if its just for fun. Work has to be seen in my opinion. Otherwise its like a musician only playing for himself. There has to be some kind of audience, feedback, meaning.
 
Lilserenity said:
Death but I am trying to work out how to smuggle a Leica on me to the other side 😉

I have left instructions that in case of my untimely death (leaving a lot of unprocessed stuff behind) I be "grounded" with a M2 and a 35 and some bricks of Tri X. Don't know if I can bring it along - but at least I would be trying. Dont know if I have to prepare for hot weather developing or a darkroom with harp's playing though.
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A few years back, I was in a friend's funeral. It was a misty and heavily overcast day. Just as the people were advancing towards the cemetery, the sun suddenly appeared, and looking at the scenery I thought to myself "what a wonderful view" and barely stopped myself before taking my camera out. I was extremely angry with myself. Following this, I didn't shoot a single frame for perhaps two years. It is highly probable that I would have given up photography altogether if I shot that picture. But I'm sure nobody would notice or care if I stopped shooting anyway.
 
Photography is not just about the photography. When I gave up motorcycling I gave up an entire lifestyle and a group of riding buddies and people named Earl. Without photography I would be less inclined to travel or read certain books or hang out at certain places.
 
I love shooting and then rushing back home to develop my film too much to stop. I'm addicted to the process. I get temporarily burned out now and then, but I just can't stop for long.
 
Aperture64 (#71) What is it that we can do to talk you down off the ledge? Got me to look at your Flickr stuff anyway. Good images particularly your Skylands State Park set...
 
Funny you ask Roger, I've been given it thought before.

If I'd go blind, I'd probably get a wide angle lens and fast film for sufficient DOF and keep snapping, I'm pretty sure that if my hearing would take over only a bit (true guestimate focussing distance!), I could get shots in focus.

It would be a poor substitute for the real thing, but at least I would get to fondle my cameras without being pitied for dragging along empty cameras and never produceing an image again.

Arthritis or paralysis would only mean I have to pay someone to set the gear up and handle it, I'd still 'call the shots' myself.

I have an interest in photographing things that produce a certain horror or fear with my viewers. The controversy between depicting the remnants of life, despair and loneliness on the one side and the easthetic-driven process of focussing, framing, lighting and DOF on the other side intrigues me. I visit grave yards with a camera to find the shots I love.

Only death would do the trick. I'd probably die trying to photograph myself, like Aldous Huxley did die on mescalin to describe his own death.
 
Hi Roger,
Already a little older thread, but I only saw it today...
I only read a couple of comments, but I thought that I could give an opinion.
Before starting, allow me some background: Portugal has reached half a million (official) unemployed people (out of 10 million population).
Minimum wage around 400 euros a month (some Public company's CEO's earn 1.800 euros a day!).
Lots of precarious jobs.
Highly corrupted people on leading posts.
We have a "Socialist" government that long ago forgot the meaning of the word socialist. People are only numbers (that they can hide in statistics) and what we really need is TGV!
They tend to over see the hunger some people suffer.
Connections are much more important than competence or knowledge.

The list could go on and on...

Photographicaly speaking: the last 35mm Tri-X I bought cost 8 euros! (As a long time professional customer).
To shoot a 8x10 color transparency I need to order a minimum of ten boxes for over 1.500 euros.
The market for photo products schrinks and schrinks.
For example, I never saw a Zeiss Ikon camera around here (I mean: in Lisbon, here in Montemor surely not...).
RFF members should not take for granted that the world is the same all over ("Buy, sell, experiment, sell again, buy another one"...).

This list also could go on and on...

I don't wish to make a long post (as I always tend to do...), but In fact I am in a kind of trap here: I would hate to give up photography (a passion of decades), but I am beeing forced to do so, as I can't afford it! (Now I am even trying to forget about my condition as a professional photographer, I am only talking as a lover).
On the same time, this whole situation (and some of the directions photography is taking) makes me sometimes think: "What the heck! Why should I care? I give it up! It's over!"

Wish I can keep the flame forever burning, though!
Wish the sun shines again! This tunnel is getting too long...
Cheers,
Rui

P.S.: I read the email you received. I am very sorry for that. You don't deserve it!
You are one of the nicest (and knowledgeable) persons around!
But my, already not so short, life as taught me an evidence: the most arrogant people are always the most mediocre ones.
I've seen it in teachers, army officers, docters, writers, architects... Why not in photographers? (yes, I have seen that too. Could sing a song about it, if my voice would just come out).
From my former seven year-experience as a cab driver at night, I would say that that person was just doing drunkard small talk...
All the best, and excuse me for such a long post.

AL-MOST-LY PHOTOGRAPHY
 
Roger Hicks said:
What, if anything, would make you give up photography?
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What would make me give it up is if I tried to do it for a living. Having to produce images that meet others' expectations, and endure rejection and criticism, would just kill all the fun of it. I wouldn't want to do my profession as a hobby, or any of my hobbies as a profession.
 
If I somehow got a job driving professionally. F1 driver or test driver or car development tester. That's where my true passion lies, but still and motion imagery is not that far off, and I wasn't lucky enough to have parents that were both well pocketed and patient enough to help me develop a professional driving career.

I do think about it often though...
 
fdigital said:
If I somehow got a job driving professionally. F1 driver or test driver or car development tester. That's where my true passion lies, but still and motion imagery is not that far off, and I wasn't lucky enough to have parents that were both well pocketed and patient enough to help me develop a professional driving career.

I do think about it often though...
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Actually I just realised - that's a lie, I'd still take photos because I need that creative outlet. However, I could word it better with "I would give up photography to be able to take a decent crack at a driving career in Formula 1"
 
Giving up because of disappointing comments

Giving up because of disappointing comments

Hello Roger,

Having to do too much photography would be one reason, as for others in this thread. But harsh comments from people whom you look to for example are another more decisive factor for me.

I might have given up when I was finding my feet with my first Leica - a new M6 - and was given an earful by a school colleague about how he'd gone through my negatives in the darkroom and found them entirely devoid of exposure accuracy, life, and expression. What I had done was all worthless. The Leica was an expensive con since MF was the only way to achieve technical quality... ... so the comments went.

This was a sudden blow from an unexpected quarter, coming from someone I viewed as a friend and expert - he was an art and photography teacher. Looking back I think he may have been a bit jealous too, or at least unhappy with his own life.

I know I'm not a great photographer, but I'm very glad I stuck with it despite the harsh criticism. From soon after that event my photography really took off and, with the encouragement of another friend who is a darkroom magician, I began to capture people and events, or just people in the moments in between, to a much improved standard. Operation of the simple rangefinder camera became more and more instinctive and I think I developed a good sense of the right moment and good framing as I took more and more photographs.

It's easy not to notice the flaws in our heroes and to be put off by their comments.

Letting the obsession take over too much is another endangering factor for me, if not for everyone. In the last few months being busy with other forms of work and with outdoor exercise has probably been good for my hibernating photography, which I hope will emerge refreshed in a week or two.

Cheers,
Tom
 
After being a photography major, I gave up photography completely for 15 years. Concentrated on painting, sculpture and writing. Didn't miss photography at all. Then I had kids, no longer had the endless studio time and started taking snapshots of the kids... next thing I knew I was back into my fineart photography. If I found something else more satisfying I would do that, for now, photograhy is working for me.
 
I no longer recall what the circumstances were that caused me to put away my cameras, but from 1984 through 1996, I'd be surprised if I shot more than a half-dozen rolls of film.

However, I do recall the circumstances that led to me to pickup where I left off and start photographing again: Suddenly finding myself with a family. As much as I enjoyed having them around, I found UI craved the solitude I used to enjoy and photography (at the time, landscape photography) allowed me to indulge myself in that regard, as it gave me an excuse to get out of the house and hike around the desert for a few hours at a time.

Thirteen years on, the family is gone, but I still very much enjoy the time I spend making photographs. At this point, I can only imagine that death or a disabilitating injury will stop me from continuing to do so in some form or fashion. That said, I won't promise that the subjects that fascinate me today will continue to fascinate me tomorrow (for example, I can't recall the last time I headed out of the house specifically for the purpose of photographing the landscape), but IMO, that's part of the fun!
 
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