Photog9000
Well-known
Since leaving the news profession (a career change late in life) and somewhat forced into retirement, I have been working on the same concept. I sold off all my "pro" gear as I was not giving it the use it deserved (a pair of bodies, several fast zooms, more fast primes, etc., just gathering dust). I have lightened the load with a pair of Fuji X-System cameras (X100S/X-E1) and a couple of prime lenses. The only thing else in the mix is my dad's old Yashica Electro35 GS that keeps surprising me.
I still am trying to figure out where my "photographic life" is heading, though. I only spent about 12 years working in photography fulltime but there were another 20+ years on top of that where I was trying to find a way to be a fulltime photographer.
Now I am like you. My kids have been grown and on their own for a couple of decades. I watching grandkids start to graduate high school and move on to college (oldest is 20; youngest is 8). But I still want to do something more than just photograph family (I tend to get on some of the grandkids's nerves!
)So I am trying to learn from the old masters that inspired me in the beginning. Ansel Adams inspired me with his grasp of black&white imagery and its power. Henri Cartier-Bresson (and other early documentary photographers/photojournalists) inspired me with their image content. So I am trying to satisfy myself with "seeing" differently than I have been for the last few decades. This has been an ongoing process for the last couple of years and I still feel I have a long way to go. I enjoy the Yashica for the film (have 14 rolls that I NEED to develop :bang
but love the Fuji gear for its speed of focus (no, not like my Nikons but I am happy with it ) and high ISO capability without the increase in grain that I get with my Tri-X.I am going to try and keep going and see where the path leads me with the hope that I find the elusive Holy Grail!! :angel:
airfrogusmc
Veteran
And Peter keep on doing what your doing. It's finding what works best for each of us that is important. I certainly can't tell you what is best for you especially if you are getting the results you need to be getting and from your work I would say you are.
dave lackey
Veteran
Since leaving the news profession (a career change late in life) and somewhat forced into retirement, I have been working on the same concept. I sold off all my "pro" gear as I was not giving it the use it deserved (a pair of bodies, several fast zooms, more fast primes, etc., just gathering dust). I have lightened the load with a pair of Fuji X-System cameras (X100S/X-E1) and a couple of prime lenses. The only thing else in the mix is my dad's old Yashica Electro35 GS that keeps surprising me.
I still am trying to figure out where my "photographic life" is heading, though. I only spent about 12 years working in photography fulltime but there were another 20+ years on top of that where I was trying to find a way to be a fulltime photographer.
Now I am like you. My kids have been grown and on their own for a couple of decades. I watching grandkids start to graduate high school and move on to college (oldest is 20; youngest is 8). But I still want to do something more than just photograph family (I tend to get on some of the grandkids's nerves!
So I am trying to learn from the old masters that inspired me in the beginning. Ansel Adams inspired me with his grasp of black&white imagery and its power. Henri Cartier-Bresson (and other early documentary photographers/photojournalists) inspired me with their image content. So I am trying to satisfy myself with "seeing" differently than I have been for the last few decades. This has been an ongoing process for the last couple of years and I still feel I have a long way to go. I enjoy the Yashica for the film (have 14 rolls that I NEED to develop :bang
I am going to try and keep going and see where the path leads me with the hope that I find the elusive Holy Grail!! :angel:
I hear ya, Rich!
Not time to be put to pasture here either! But I do see shooting less and smelling the roses more as being in the near future. I love film and film gear.
But I also love the digital shooting but I am weary of computer work. Too many decades of CAD design and I just want to be out shooting! I need an assistant!
I wish you well as you follow a path that interests you. Please share how that is going along the way.
dave lackey
Veteran
Well, I sit here thinking about the gear wishing I could just carry a couple of X1 cameras around all the time. One shooting color and the other shooting black and white. But I couldn't part with the gear that I hoped to put aside for a simple life. No, I failed.
But, maybe I should fail a little bit more... a small Billingham with two Leica X1 cameras...yeah, that is doable. Borrow a DSLR when I need one...hmmm, A third bag with... no I must resist!
But, maybe I should fail a little bit more... a small Billingham with two Leica X1 cameras...yeah, that is doable. Borrow a DSLR when I need one...hmmm, A third bag with... no I must resist!
GaryLH
Veteran
Dave...I admire that got it down to 2 pairs plus the x1. As a gear head, the best I can do is shown by my signature....but if I really look at which cameras I use the most it would be these 4
- Sigma dp2 Quattro (b&w, still and landscape) plus one day a dp0 Quattro for pano
- Fuji xt1 (basically for everything else)
- Ricoh gr (everyday carry)
- Panasonic lx100 (replaced my lx3 and Fuji x100, sort of everyday carry in jacket pocket)
I have pretty well decided that the lx100 is the perfect vacation camera... Vacation is about enjoying your time w/ family..not to try to get that perfect picture. It is more about recording the memories. Well at least for me..
As much as I like shooting film, I hate scanning and my days underneath enlarger are behind me. So far I have about 7 rolls of 120 waiting for me to scan them in.
Gary
- Sigma dp2 Quattro (b&w, still and landscape) plus one day a dp0 Quattro for pano
- Fuji xt1 (basically for everything else)
- Ricoh gr (everyday carry)
- Panasonic lx100 (replaced my lx3 and Fuji x100, sort of everyday carry in jacket pocket)
I have pretty well decided that the lx100 is the perfect vacation camera... Vacation is about enjoying your time w/ family..not to try to get that perfect picture. It is more about recording the memories. Well at least for me..
As much as I like shooting film, I hate scanning and my days underneath enlarger are behind me. So far I have about 7 rolls of 120 waiting for me to scan them in.
Gary