oftheherd
Veteran
Looks like a lot of us started as kids because our fathers had good cameras they taught us to use.
I mentioned using my father's cameras. Of course as a child, he let me use a box camera for snapping away at the zoo or other things like that. He would let me stand behind him in his closet darkroom. He even let me develop a roll of film. Seemed more trouble than it was worth at about 7-8 years old.
It wasn't until about 7 years after his death that I first got the bug.
al1966
Feed Your Head
I got a polaroid swinger just before my 7th birthday, after I got that hungry beast I spent nearly all my pocket money on film. By nearly all I mean I did not buy comics, nor did I buy sweets and friends would ask if I wanted to see a movie and I would not go most of the time. I got a 35mm camera when I was 13, a rangefinder with a busted meter so I had to learn the educated guess method of exposure. so its 30+ years for me, 38 years to be more precise.
Sparrow
Veteran
Over 40 years, how scary is that?
Lilserenity
Well-known
Actually not all that long, yes I did have a camera when I was younger (10, it was a simple cheap 35mm camera after I was told that a Polaroid was too expensive. Mum was right of course! I seem to think I wanted a cat that year too... haha)
Anyway, I have only really been taking photography with some kind of 'seriousness' since late 2003/early 2004, and only really started pushing hard with it about 5 years ago.
Now I can't imagine my life without it.
Anyway, I have only really been taking photography with some kind of 'seriousness' since late 2003/early 2004, and only really started pushing hard with it about 5 years ago.
Now I can't imagine my life without it.
Alberti
Well-known
Wow, I'm surprised to be among the plurality of respondents... I got really interested in photography in 1963, starting with a Regula 35mm.
And WOW, I'm really surprised I 'm the only one just liking my shiny M8 and previously my equally shiny M2! And bling-ling lenses of course. As to photography, mastering the shot, I'm not sure at all
I started in 1968 at times using my brother's Contaflex/Tessar; later in 1969 he gave me a spare Nikon-F/105mm formerly used for street photography in Toronto. Then as a student in 73 I bought my M2.
I even made a point-source enlarger (point source head) in 1976 to get the real grain and best acutance.
albert
jwnash1
Well-known
I bought my first camera a Pentax Spotmatic w/ Super Takumar 50 1.4 in 1966. Camera is gone but still have the original lens along with many other Taks.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
My paternal grandfather was a keen amateur photographer who was killed on HMS Gloucester off Crete. When his widow and her two children left their house, all his camera gear was left in the attic. I often wonder who found it.
When I expressed an interest in photography in 1966, my father (who has never really been interested in photography) said, "You can't be a real photographer without a darkroom," and bought me one, along with a Pentax SV.
It might have been more interesting to phrase the poll in half-decades, from 'before 1945' then 1945-50, 1950-55, etc., to 'after 2010'.
Cheers,
R.
When I expressed an interest in photography in 1966, my father (who has never really been interested in photography) said, "You can't be a real photographer without a darkroom," and bought me one, along with a Pentax SV.
It might have been more interesting to phrase the poll in half-decades, from 'before 1945' then 1945-50, 1950-55, etc., to 'after 2010'.
Cheers,
R.
le vrai rdu
Well-known
i started exactly four years ago 
ChipMcD
Well-known
Based on this poll, I'd say that there are lots of geezers like me posting here.
back alley
IMAGES
and we need all the geezers to join our geezer group on flickr...over 60 and still shootin'!!!
antiquark
Derek Ross
Interesting how there's a small peak at 5 years. What does it mean? Do many people give it a go for 5 years, then quit the hobby? Maybe the average bank account is only sufficient for 5 years of camera/lens purchases. 
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I became interested in photography after I was given a collection of Modern and Pop Photo magazines to draw from. I always drew for as long as I can remember. I began to read them and became fascinated. Got my first camera, a Minolta SRT101, for my 18th birthday.
Mudman
Well-known
10 years or so. Got a Canon Rebel G for Christmas when I was 14 or 15. I paid for half the camera myself.
Tompas
Wannabe Künstler
25+ years -- started developing films and prints when I was about 14.
taskoni
Well-known
A bit more than a year. But feels like forever, my friends don't recognize me anymore if I am not carrying a camera
gb hill
Veteran
Hard for me to really say. I remember my mom's aunt gave us a Polaroid camera in the mid 60's. It took instant B&W photo's & I can remember the smell of taking this pink sponge thingy & wiping the photo after peeling off the back so it wouldn't fade to black. I was the one elected to take the photos or make the settings. Didn't get to use this camera very much because film was expensive. I wanted to take Photography in HS but I didn't have a SLR which were the craze during the 70's so I took a course in electronics instead. After graduation I joined the Navy & bought my 1st (real) camera. A Canon AE-1. I later sold that camera & didn't buy another for nearly 5 years. Then I bought a T series Canon slr & a complete darkroom. We went through a few years of renting so I never had time to set it up as I wanted. My wife bought me a Canon AE1program a few years ago & enjoyed using it but soon found it's way into the closet. % years ago I picked up the interest once again & bought a Canon QL17GIII, my 1st rf camera. I found RFF researching the camera on the internet. So really I guess you could say I'm a noob....still learning!
Neare
Well-known
A bit more than a year. But feels like forever, my friends don't recognize me anymore if I am not carrying a camera
Haha yeah I'm in the same boat. 6 months ago friends would have a little chuckle every time they saw me with a camera. Nowadays they get really worried if they don't see one on me and ask where it is.
Mesti3K
Member
Picked up photography in high school..lost it in college. Found and lost it in international travels. Cemented it in place about 3 years ago.
redisburning
Well-known
less than 2 years and it shows in my photos lololololol.
DNG
Film Friendly
and we need all the geezers to join our geezer group on flickr...over 60 and still shootin'!!!
I don't do Flickr, but, do you a facebook page?
I have 2 paid gallery/storage photo sites, that's plenty for me.
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