So, Why am I here?

[Hebert37]

So, Why am I here? Well, to make a long story out of nothing. Many years ago I started getting interested in photography. I'd get all pumped up to do something about it and do nothing. I have always been interested in it, had cameras from a Kodak Pony @ 1956, to Canon FTB, AE1, AE1P, on and on. Gave them all away to family, then get more, Minolta Max 5, used Canonet, used Pentax ME Super. I find I'm hooked on the latter two more than anything. I've been looking at digital, bought the wife one so I could try it out 😉 I really didn't get turned on by it. I retired a few years ago and have more time on my hands than I know what to do with. I keep going back to sites that address Rangefinder cameras for some reason. I feel a need for a Voightlander something like the R2A or R3A .
Well, now that I have all that off my chest, I'd like to get some help from you folk, if I could. Maybe I need therapy or something.
Thanks
Hebert

 

[scotty smith]

Ive found the Bessa R2 to be a very fun camera to use and actually use it more than my Leica M3 (heresy!). The CV lenses are much better than my talent, and I suspect if you get a setup you'll really enjoy it. CV has a kinda soulful simplicity that I appreciate.
Its cheaper than therapy, by the way....

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Well, I'm no Doctor, and I don't play one on TV, but I'd say that getting another RF (maybe a FLRF) and setting up a darkroom would be a great retirement activity. For me the trick is to just shoot, and not worry about inspiration right away...i find I need a few frames to get into it most days; to overcome my photographic inertia. Pick a project like a picture a week or a study of your neighbourhood and just go exploring.

Or build a canoe...that's my major retirement plan, only 30 more years to go!

 

[bobofish]

Heb,
Take your hat off and stay a while, and maybe you'll turn that frown upside down?
I'm fresh out of cliche's now.

Rangefinders scratch an itch that some people have, some don't. I suspect that you do indeed have a rangefinder itch, and that itch will soon have to be treated with a little thing known hereabouts as GAS. (roughly: Gear Aquisition Syndrome)

Used Leica's are great, as are new ones, but they are not in the cards for everyone. Bessa R's and their kin are great for the price, and allow you to get into the M lens network, now populated with Cosina Voigtlanders, Leicas, Zeiss M's, Konicas, and a bevy more.

Ask and ye shall recieve a great many answers, most of them will be good.

I forgot to add...As far as inspiration goes, sometimes getting a shiny new toy is all you need, but in general it's probablly not the best way to go, if for no other reason than that you will start to want to apply the same pattern to other things in your life, and your wife will likely not appreciate that.....

CP's idea of neighborhood shootabouts is a good one....find something you like, and shoot a few rolls here and there...look at the prints, and see if that interests you. Often the most mundane things make the most interesting photographs, and the things most enjoyable to photograph.
Cheers

 

[bmattock]

So, Why am I here? Well, to make a long story out of nothing. Many years ago I started getting interested in photography. I'd get all pumped up to do something about it and do nothing. I have always been interested in it, had cameras from a Kodak Pony @ 1956, to Canon FTB, AE1, AE1P, on and on. Gave them all away to family, then get more, Minolta Max 5, used Canonet, used Pentax ME Super. I find I'm hooked on the latter two more than anything. I've been looking at digital, bought the wife one so I could try it out 😉 I really didn't get turned on by it. I retired a few years ago and have more time on my hands than I know what to do with. I keep going back to sites that address Rangefinder cameras for some reason. I feel a need for a Voightlander something like the R2A or R3A .
Well, now that I have all that off my chest, I'd like to get some help from you folk, if I could. Maybe I need therapy or something.
Thanks
Hebert

I think photography therapy is a great thing! Bessas are lots of fun, and don't break the bank too much.

On a side note - if you feel that time weighs heavily on your hands, you might consider volunteer work. I'm a member of several fraternal / religious fraternal organizations and I find that they have more than enough things for me to do to keep me busy - as busy as I want to be and then some! Of course, I'm not retired, either.

You can combine the two as well. Do some good in the community and document it, that sort of thing. I take photos at all the functions I attend and help out at, and it is fun to see my photos in the local newspaper - an ego boost for me, but also the publicity is appreciated by the groups I belong to.

Here's a couple of examples, not to toot my own horn:

http://www.wilsonnc.org//whirligig/news.asp?id=164

http://www.wilsonnc.org/news.asp?id=63

I guess my point is that your lifetime of learning, education, and experience is probably deeply needed by your local community if you'd like to look around and find a place where you might be comfortable sharing it as a volunteer. It need not be a 'job' or a 'commitment', it can be as casual and relaxing as you want or need it to be, as your needs permit.

Just a suggestion!

And welcome to RFF!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Good call on Volunteering, it's the best paid work out there IMHO

 

[bmattock]

Good call on Volunteering, it's the best paid work out there IMHO

When my friends who are getting into photography ask me what to take photos of, because they can't find any inspiration, I always suggest volunteer work. It gets you levels of access that can be phenomenal - you pay them back for the access by giving them publicity that they might normally never get. You get to see a part of a world you never imagined. Try taking photos of mentally challenged children sometime if you're NOT associated with some group that works with them, and see how far you get - but how rewarding it is for you and for them to work together to create hopeful, optomistic, creative images that make everyone feel good. Just one example, there are thousands.

I taught myself how to write a press release - it's really easy, one page. As a volunteer for an organization, I can get permission to speak for the group to the press - no one usually wants to do that anyway - and I send in short stories, upcoming events, charity drives, and lots of photos. They don't publish them all, but they do publish some - and again, it helps everyone.

Sure, I have my ulterior motives - but it hurts no one and actually helps those in need, so why not?

Anybody can do this - and it's a great way to help in your community AND get recognition (if you want or crave that) AND find new inspiration for your craft.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Hebert37]

Well, I'm no Doctor, and I don't play one on TV, but I'd say that getting another RF (maybe a FLRF) and setting up a darkroom would be a great retirement activity. For me the trick is to just shoot, and not worry about inspiration right away...i find I need a few frames to get into it most days; to overcome my photographic inertia. Pick a project like a picture a week or a study of your neighbourhood and just go exploring.

Or build a canoe...that's my major retirement plan, only 30 more years to go!

Chris:
Thanks for the rapid reply!
One thing though...Do the canoe now! I built one back in the late 60s I think, from either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics plans. Cedar Strips and fiberglass. It's long gone now, but I had great fun with it!
Herb

 

[Hebert37]

Thanks Bill
I appreciate that.
Herb

 

[bobofish]

Somehow a conversation I had a bit ago comes to mind...

The other day I was talking to an older gentleman who has been a photographer for several decades...we got to talking about how when he was out photographing, he often wished he was fishing, and when he was fishing, he wished he was out snapping pictures.

I told him that the main difference between fishing and photography is that with fishing you get to eat what you catch, with street photography, much less so.

It seemed fairly witty at the time anyway....

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

'tis the season to be existential, ain't it?

Welcome Hebert.

 

[bmattock]

'tis the season to be existential, ain't it?

Welcome Hebert.

Well, we have to be something. A hundred years ago, we were facing great societal change, wrought by the Industrial Revolution. Art Noveau, Art Deco, Secessionist Movement, Photo-Secessionist, Avant-Gard, it was all breaking out, busting down, rebuilding art.

And now we have a new century, a new great societal change, wrought by the Digital Revolution, and Art rises up and responds with...nothing in particular.

Some outrage seems in order. Maybe a photographic Kandinsky.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ch1]

Well, we have to be something. A hundred years ago, we were facing great societal change, wrought by the Industrial Revolution. Art Noveau, Art Deco, Secessionist Movement, Photo-Secessionist, Avant-Gard, it was all breaking out, busting down, rebuilding art.

And now we have a new century, a new great societal change, wrought by the Digital Revolution, and Art rises up and responds with...nothing in particular.

Some outrage seems in order. Maybe a photographic Kandinsky.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Art is only recognized in the hinterlands after he has already left the cosmopolitan centers.

Within the narrow provincial confines of NYC I think one will find that the arts - traditional and digital and staid and performance are quite alive and doing quite nicely.

Those living in the backwaters should not suppose to speak for thos of us who do not choose to do so!

Livin' wid deArts as Dr Dre wud say!!!

 

[RML]

I taught myself how to write a press release - it's really easy, one page. As a volunteer for an organization, I can get permission to speak for the group to the press - no one usually wants to do that anyway - and I send in short stories, upcoming events, charity drives, and lots of photos. They don't publish them all, but they do publish some - and again, it helps everyone.

Bill, interesting. How did you go about to learn to write such press releases? I know your writing skills are much better and entertaining than mine but, heck, I can learn! 🙂