Hipster vs. analog hobby photographer

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I am 55 years old and I use analog cameras. I don't care what people think of me ( except my wife and kids) I wear clothes to cover this awkward moderately obese frame of mine. Call me a hipster and I will look at you funny and ignore you thereafter. Who cares.
 
If you shoot film because it's cool to shoot film, then you're a hipster.
If you shoot film because you enjoy it, then you're a photographer shooting film.
 
Kingston said:
If you're young and into rangefinder cameras, chances are people will say you're a hipster.
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Exactly. Being older does have its merits here. I mean, I'm not really old, but way outside the hipster gray zone. When I'm shooting film, I'm just old-fashioned. :D

And another benefit of being my age: I don't even worry about these things anymore. When I was the OP's age, I was much more insecure than I am now. Let people talk if it spices up their dull lives a little... :cool:
 
I would say if you're younger and into any film camera you are going to get hipster comments; this is the usual thing if you show up with something that has become recognizably fashionable you'll be accused by someone of being fashionable. So be it.

Here's a quick hipster test (crude, since I don't know most of the shows/movies and absolutely none of the music that qualifies one):

Do you wear black/brown dress shoes w/ laces with no socks, and blue or black jeans?

Do you have more than one hat?

Do you disrespect people who work in beige office jobs / corporate world / mainstream lifestyles / expensive fashionable restaurants?

Do you pride yourself on drinking cheap canned beer? I realize in Europe this is iffy.

Piercings? Tattoos?

T-shirts and button-down shirts worn tight?

Do you currently own a pair of Converse All-Stars? Have you owned more than one pair? Would you wear them with black socks?

Do you think Barack Obama is a politician of the liberal left, despite all evidence to the contrary?

Mac? Linux?

Are neither you nor your girlfriend dominant in the relationship? Ie, are you both sort fo waiting for someone dominant and decisive to get there?

Would you be repelled by the idea of a regular weight lifting regimen?

Have you never purchased a physical CD? Have you purchased fewer than 20 even though you listen to a lot of music?

Would you never wear an article of clothing with the name of your university on it?

Do you think it would be great if you owned a Cooper Mini?

Do you ride an old / vintage bicycle of the not-ten-speed type? Does it have a basket?

Those are some questions and if you answered yes to a high number of them, then dude, just get used to it.
 
I keep thinking of more questions....

Do you know very little about World War II?

Do you roll your own cigarettes?

Have you ever heard the phrase "angel headed hipsters"? Do you know where it comes from (w/o looking it up obviously)?

Do you like these guys (you can listen to two different songs on this page...) Do you look like these guys? (I just heard them on the radio and said: HIPSTERS...) http://soundcheck.wnyc.org/articles/music-hub/2013/apr/17/gig-alert-water-liars/

Do you think it's important to save the planet? (As opposed to recognizing that the planet will be fine, it's just humanity that's going to get wiped out...)

Ok, more later.

PS I have three hipster sons and even the more sharp questions here are not without affection....
 
And to those of you over 40 -- there are PLENTY of hipsters over 40 in NYC. Age restrictions do not really apply anymore.
 
sparrow6224 said:
Do you wear black/brown dress shoes w/ laces with no socks, and blue or black jeans?
I reserve my dress shoes for when I wear a dress. And I always wear socks - unless I'm in sandals.

Do you have more than one hat?
None.

Do you disrespect people who work in beige office jobs / corporate world / mainstream lifestyles / expensive fashionable restaurants?
What can one wish more than the perfectly happy A4 life: wife, children, lovely house by the sea, primitive mountain cottage, etc,.

Do you pride yourself on drinking cheap canned beer? I realize in Europe this is iffy.
On the few occasions I consume beer, I prefer the more expensive bottles - preferably from local breweries.

Piercings? Tattoos?
Nope.

T-shirts and button-down shirts worn tight?
I wish...I don't think my figure allows it.

Do you currently own a pair of Converse All-Stars? Have you owned more than one pair? Would you wear them with black socks?
Never owned that.

Do you think Barack Obama is a politician of the liberal left, despite all evidence to the contrary?
No idea, don't really spend much time on American politics.

Mac? Linux?
I wish!


Are neither you nor your girlfriend dominant in the relationship? Ie, are you both sort fo waiting for someone dominant and decisive to get there?
Don't think I understand the question :p

Would you be repelled by the idea of a regular weight lifting regimen?
I try to work out three times a week - though mostly jogging and pushups.

Have you never purchased a physical CD? Have you purchased fewer than 20 even though you listen to a lot of music?
That's a tough one, I don't keep my receipts.

Would you never wear an article of clothing with the name of your university on it?
Two t-shirts and one fluffy, orange fleece-jacket.

Do you think it would be great if you owned a Cooper Mini?
Insanely impractical cars - but my girlfriend's parents have one which she borrows often.

Do you ride an old / vintage bicycle of the not-ten-speed type? Does it have a basket?
I've been wanting a basket for my bike, actually.
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My prognosis is good, it seems!
 
Calzone said:
Tom,

I'm 55 and don't look or act my age. I have a pony tail; I no longer wear an ear ring, but I pierced my own ear way back in 1973 when I was fifteen years old. I wear tight jeans, and wear expensive luxury brand glasses. I'm not at the point yet where my youthful trendiness looks stupid or inappropriate.

I went to art school in the seventies and that's where I learned film photography. Call me an old hipster but back then I was an art major just because I liked the crazy women in the art department.

Today I feel like a hipster because I just bought a Leica Monochrom, but deep down inside I'm still just an old analog photographer. Interesting the reversal and position of the OP.

Cal
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You crack me up, Cal. I live in the rural midwest now, but I've lived in various places around the US for 30 years. I'm 58 with a well-groomed beard and a long ponytail. I wear jeans, t-shirts and sandals. I enjoy the "old hippie" look (as completely differentiated from the "hipster" look) because, frankly, it's comfortable. I work out and ride bikes to stay fit. I don't really conform to any stereotype for my age or where I live. I am a self-described "eccentric." When people engage me about one of my self-indulgent activities, be it photography or bikes or any number of others, I just tell them I'm eccentric and that I revel in my eccentricity. It shuts 'em down every time, and I have GREAT fun doing it!

The bottom line is that I do what I do because I enjoy it and I choose to do it. I don't really care what anyone thinks. And I've found THAT is freedom. Somebody else can assess me and worry about where I fit in the stereotypical scheme of things. It doesn't bother me at all. I'm doing what I want and having a ball doing it! "Go where you wanna go and do what you wanna do with whoever you wanna do it with."
 
Calzone said:
Fred,

You have to know that I was likely the oldest person in the class and likely older than the professor, but one very young girl who was very pretty with smokey eyes said, "You look like an Asian version of James Bond." LOL.

Cal
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You realize, of course, that Sean Connery is eighty-two, George Lazenby is seventy-two, Roger Moore is eighty-five, Timothy Dalton is sixty-seven, and Pierce Brosnan is sixty years old now? Perhaps you should have asked for a little clarification. <grin>
 
hepcat said:
You crack me up, Cal. I live in the rural midwest now, but I've lived in various places around the US for 30 years. I'm 58 with a well-groomed beard and a long ponytail. I wear jeans, t-shirts and sandals. I enjoy the "old hippie" look (as completely differentiated from the "hipster" look) because, frankly, it's comfortable. I work out and ride bikes to stay fit. I don't really conform to any stereotype for my age or where I live. I am a self-described "eccentric." When people engage me about one of my self-indulgent activities, be it photography or bikes or any number of others, I just tell them I'm eccentric and that I revel in my eccentricity. It shuts 'em down every time, and I have GREAT fun doing it!

The bottom line is that I do what I do because I enjoy it and I choose to do it. I don't really care what anyone thinks. And I've found THAT is freedom. Somebody else can assess me and worry about where I fit in the stereotypical scheme of things. It doesn't bother me at all. I'm doing what I want and having a ball doing it! "Go where you wanna go and do what you wanna do with whoever you wanna do it with."
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Come to the Arles Rencontres. There are lots of ageing hippies there, and lots of younger people too who haven't bought into consumerist capitalism. Which is intriguing as there are also a lot of Leicas there. One of my friends (Richard Petit -- see http://www.galerie-photo.com/richard-petit.html ) recently sold his car to buy an M9 for an India trip (where he'll also be using LF).

Cheers,

R.
 
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