Spouse appreciation thread...

Congratulations on the bag and having a wife who is smart enough to get you something you wanted.

I've been married for 32 years. Unfortunately that's four marriages and three ex wives. if my current (and last) wife had been the first I imagine I'd only have had one. She's into photography though not into gear, but understands and supports my occasional GAS. It is rare that we don't both have cameras when we go out. The secret, if you can't get it right first time, is perseverance or a thick skin😀
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
Chris, she took my two newborn twins, and I can't have them for lots of years because they're small and need their mother, and I must send her half my salary every month while they grow up.
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I'm so sorry to hear that. Don't you have visitation rights with the twins?

For another perspective, I was married for 27 years then lost custody of my three daughters when the marriage ended. Although I don't pay half my salary to my ex-husband, I still pay child support each and every month. Thank goodness that will end in February when my youngest daughter turns 21.

The laws that are supposed to be favor of the mother obviously didn't work in my case 😀

Ellen
 
Both my ex-wife and current girlfriend have been incredibly supportive of my photography. Despite all the woes associated with a divorce, she still supports it and understands the not inconsiderable expenditure over the years we were together.

My girlfriend has been key in helping me move my work forwards, not through criticism of the photography per se, but helping me make sense of my own head and what I am trying to achieve. She was the first person to be able to tell me why I photograph what I do in the way I do by knowing me like the back of her hand. And thats before I knew and she was right. She's a very special woman and I try not to overload her too much. She's a talented aspiring writer so we are kinda in the same boat, taking shifts!

In fact its worth noting that all the women, including mother and sister, have been supportive. Its the male relatives who have dismissed it as a monumental waste of time :O

Any woman who considered my photography to be 'just a hobby' or a waste of time, well, that would be the end of the relationship there and then, because she clearly would not have the first clue about what makes me tick. And yes, no matter how beautiful...
 
ornate_wrasse said:
I'm so sorry to hear that. Don't you have visitation rights with the twins?

For another perspective, I was married for 27 years then lost custody of my three daughters when the marriage ended. Although I don't pay half my salary to my ex-husband, I still pay child support each and every month. Thank goodness that will end in February when my youngest daughter turns 21.

The laws that are supposed to be favor of the mother obviously didn't work in my case 😀

Ellen
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Hi Ellen,

Yes, I can visit them, and I do it as much as I can, but as they're just one year old now, they can't be away from their mother, and this will be the way things go for a few more years... Of course I've offered myself to take care of them, and I hope it happens in some time... They're boys and need a father too... They have a loving and dedicated mother, so at least I'm not worried about them that way. We live thousands of miles away, so I see them less than I'd like to... I think once I get to live with them in a few years, I'll feel better... Great to hear you're ending all that now...

Cheers,

Juan
 
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My wife has been very tolerant of so many things I have no ground to stand on with respect to complaining. She accepts my photography and supports it to a point that is quite reasonable to her. It's been tough but we've been together 20 years, married for almost 18. I hope I'm around to see another 30 or more.

My Ex-Wife and I both gave each other at the 5 year mark (having lots of cash at that point, at least compared to where we started). She got a rock (much bigger diamond ring) and I got a new M6. I've sold the M6.

Ari, you're a very luck man. Now go and show your wife how much you love her! DO NOT DELAY!!!!

B2 (;->
 
Any woman I have been involved with have supported my interests... if they didn't I wouldn't be with them. Of course, it can't be all about me as well... so, I have to keep things balanced.
 
Spouse Appreciation thread in the Bags Forum?

Spouse Appreciation thread in the Bags Forum?

Ironic that the Spouse Appreciation thread was placed in the Bags Forum, isn't it?
 
Congratulations! Now if I can just figure out what a Billingham Hadley Pro is I'll be doing fine. Whatever it is, I think I need one. Now!
 
p.giannakis said:
I've been married only for 21 months but last Xmas my wife bought me a IIc with a collapsible Elmar.
Definitely a keeper.
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Sorry, just have to ask. Which is a keeper the IIc & Elmar or ...............

Bob
 
Steve M. said:
Congratulations! Now if I can just figure out what a Billingham Hadley Pro is I'll be doing fine. Whatever it is, I think I need one. Now!
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It's a very nice, and rather pricey, camera bag.

Or, to put it into lingo that some of our colleagues here can relate to... it costs about the same a two months of child support payments. 🙄
 
Hey Ari, how's that for spouse appreciation ? I bet you're appreciating your wife a lot more now after hearing all the doom and gloom here 🙂
Photography is my most expensive hobby, so far no one has gifted me anthg related to it. My sister wanted to buy me my weight in film until I told her how much it costs, that's as close as it got 🙂

I now propose a single's celebration thread, if I wasn't single there's no way in hell I could have afforded that Leica ! 😉
 
I've received photographic gifts from just everyone! My uncles, my father, my mother, my teachers, every girlfriend and my ex-wife, friends, other loved and admired photographers... The first one was my first Nikon, from one of my uncles when I was twelve (changed my life slowly), and the last one, from my mother, a custom hand made leather bag for my three Voigtländer rangefinders with lenses on, even considering the size of my Leica Summicron 90... She asked me to send her a several views painting of a good design I had to imagine... That was so beautiful... I feel all her love everytime I carry it... Oh, and a few days ago, a sweet Leitz double gift from a RFF member I prefer to keep in secret forever... Thanks a lot!

Cheers,

Juan
 
Entertaining thread!

It is always lovely to read about the relationships that last. Even if they are in the BAGS section of the forum. Lucky the thread comes up on the main screen, I never have found it otherwise!

I am lucky to have found a mate who is as tolerant of me as I am of him. His latest "thing" is marathon running. I tolerate him buying expensive running shoes every month and falling over them when he leaves them all over the house. He tolerates my photography hobby. It is all his fault that it has become rather expensive. He bought me M9 for my birthday! Silly man and lucky me.

We have been together for 23 years and have 2 lovely sons. We laugh alot, talk alot, spoil each other rotton and we keep life simple. Seems to be working.

I have never married either.

Though I feel like I am an expert. My collective parents married 9 times all up! I think I learnt something from observing all that.

Cheers

Helen
 
kermaier said:
Holy crap! I had no irony in mind when I posted this. I just remembered having seen a poll here a while back about spouses attitudes toward photography. My impression of my wife's attitude was along the lines of "grudging tolerance, as long as the camera mostly stays pointed at our kids". I just wanted to update that with a shout-out of thanks for a thoughtful birthday present.

Folks, this makes me disappointed, and I'm now sorry I started the thread.

Is there a way for me to delete it?

Ari
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Not to worry, Ari. This thread has gotten a lot more interesting! 🙂 My wife and I will be celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary in July. Yes, she hates having her picture taken, but ... YES! ... she's supportive of my photography hobby (as long as the GAS doesn't get out of control). She got me a Patterson tank and reels a couple of Christmasses ago, and has not begrudged my takeover of the spare bathroom for film developing. I have much to be grateful for! 😀
 
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