Lost Inspiration for snapshots ...

[dee]

Since retirement, now 71, I seem to have lost the inspiration for my considered snapshots.
Much of this is familiar from the roller-coaster of what I believe, from understanding the so called symptoms and behaviours is mild autism plus the disruption of being unable to resolve boy/girl/me?

The cameras are still important as safe / constants, and the X-Pro1 is so similar in handling [ if not focusing ] to my Minolta SRTs.

My Kontax hybrids with the constancy of a 1930s Contax body one of which with a late Kiev shutter, and another with 1957 Kiev meter and controls, still resonate with that sameness and constancy which seems so crucial to me.

Currently, I have moved on to the Dinky Toys of my childhood and feel that I am certainly regressing somewhat.
I have no idea what will follow!!
I have enjoyed a Pale blue with cream interior New Beetle for a year now - with the familiarity of 'wings' and the echoes of my favourite Porcshe 356 ... it's more a 30s elegant tourer than any hint of sports car.

I have been fighting my glitches including severe undiagnosed childhood deafness for so long that it became a habit.

I guess retirement took away the one element that I was good at - creating people-friendly interiors because anything uncomfortable screams at me.

I am letting go of the attempts at 'normal', recognising that I can 'hear' better with the tv sound off and subtitles - my brain effortlessly hearing accents from decades of 'lip reading' which means I pick up and copy accents at times!

Respect
dee

 

[Big Ursus]

Hi Dee,
I understand how the loss of old routines, like going to work, can change a person.

Can you say why you first wanted to take snapshots? What did you take pictures of?

Do you take photos of your toy collection, or of your car?

 

[dee]

I was working in London and never lacked inspiration .. always had a camera with me , I seem to have lost that .
Thanks Big Ursus - gotta try something else !

 

[retinax]

Just an idea that popped up in my head reading your post: If you miss your work, maybe you can steer your photography in the direction of interiors? As you're a professional in that field, there could even be some money in that, should you want to earn some despite retirement.

 

[Richard G]

I love trying a new camera. Someone gave me a Pentax and a 55 Super Takumar. It is so different. I saw a video recently of Ralph Gibson out with a 135mm on a Leica. That's hardly a walk around lens for most of us, but I've tried it. If you have the autistic's attention to detail you might enjoy collecting architectural details.

Good luck. Let the ball come onto the bat. (Not that an Australian should be making cricket references just now...)

 

[jsrockit]

Since retirement, now 71, I seem to have lost the inspiration for my considered snapshots.
Much of this is familiar from the roller-coaster of what I believe, from understanding the so called symptoms and behaviours is mild autism plus the disruption of being unable to resolve boy/girl/me?

Time to find a new adventure... and fast. I hope it works out for you... 🙁

 

[daveleo]

Hi Dee.

We share some common ground. I am 73, retired and deaf.

Retirement is a tough transition. It removes the structure of your days' agenda. Leaves this empty space that has to be filled, removes the expectations of "what should happen today". (Removing the harsh demands of work can be good; but the feeling that no one else actually cares what you do today, can wear heavily on a person.) Can be very un-nerving to get a grip on, and transition into a "new life".

Being deaf can be pretty awful most of the time. But in fact, I love removing my implant processor and watching movies with subtitles. Once your brain gets acclimated to that, it's wonderful. I can watch any movie in any language (with English subtitles), while my poor "hearie" friends are stuck watching only movies in English (because they can't deal with subtitles). Also, the bliss of total silence can be very relaxing at times (ask the guys who buy noise cancelling headphones to block out the world).

Not diverting your thread to myself. Just sharing common experiences.

Life goes on, whatever. I suggest to stop worrying about who you are; "normal" is a cruel hoax.

 

[Franko]

Dee,

I'll be seventy in three months and have been retired for two years. The key to happiness for me was setting a new goal and going after it. I signed up for art classes at our local university and am in my fourth semester. It's what I wished I had done fifty years ago but life got in the way then. Friends told me that I would know when it was time to retire and they were absolutely right.

It sounds like you've already been in an "artful" profession. If there's something that has been calling to you perhaps it's time to go after it.

All the best to you,

Frank

 

[charjohncarter]

From the above comments, it should be reassuring that you have considerate and friendly voices on RFF. Whatever you decide to do, stay here and run your guest by your online friends.

Someone said to do interiors with your camera, I think it is a good start even if you end up doing something else. I do photos for my town's theater group. I don't get paid but then they couldn't pay me. I had never done that kind of photography, now everyone but me thinks I'm the expert in town.