The non-photographer's spouse says...

[esearing]

the other day my wife sees some images on Facebook that were well shot at a workshop by an old friend of ours. The images were shot in great light with good post processing and had lovely colors and saturation. subject matter - seen it before.

She asks me - Why don't you ever take pictures in color? I have been shooting color for the past 25 years and only in the last couple of years found that I really love black and white even if converted digitally.

I've also gotten the disapproving comments about gear acquisitions that we all have.

What has your significant other said to you that made you realize they have no appreciation for your hobby which you are passionate about?

 

[Roger Hicks]

As I'm just off to pick her up from her current exhibition of hand coloured silver halide prints... not a lot!

Cheers,

R.

 

[FrankS]

"Why do you take pictures of people you don't even know?"

 

[FrankS]

It is what it is Helen. Males have issues to deal with too.

 

[daveleo]

A few years back on this forum I started a very similar thead about my lovely wife's very similar remarks.
I told her things like "It's not a picture of [_______]. It's a picture. And [_______] just happens to be in it."
And "It's not a pictue of a coffee pot. It's a picture of what I want the coffee pot to look like".
(You know .... artsy quotes like that.)

I do meet her half way and "take nice pictures" of family stuff. She loves those. But my favorite stuff? ..... she just asks "Oh, is that one for the art show?".

EDIT: As far as my spending $$$ on gear, my wife has never been negativel on that. It's just that she doesn't quite understand my personal favorite pictures.

 

[FrankS]

Sad that you'd make light of anyone's misfortune Helen, particularly based solely on gender.

 

[ferider]

What has your significant other said to you that made you realize they have no appreciation for your hobby which you are passionate about?

My better half is super supportive and surprised me last year with an M240 under the Christmas tree. And was worried that - as an old film shooter - I would reject the present. She shoots a u4/3 system and has a better eye than me.

I think you should consider listing yours in the WTT classified section.

Roland.

 

[Oscuro]

I'm with Helen. Or should I say, "we're with Helen on this one..."

The collective contains spouses, ex-and-current lovers, partners, parents, descendants, and other less categorizable relationships. Most of us are not professional photographers ( but some are) but all work in creative fields and are literate. Literate not only with the written, but the visual, aural, and other forms.

The comments I've heard have run the gamut from "interesting", "beautiful", I'd like to see that in colour," "that's pretty weak, go out and reshoot it," "powerful", "where did you find that?", "do you have time to shoot this layout for me or should we we subcontract?" "Get your fingers out of my eyes so I can shoot this thing,","Will, can you make dinner, I'm gonna need an extra hour or two on this", "can I have my fifty-two back, please?" "Weird, you shot that wide? Why didn't you go long and flatten it?"
"Your pictures are terrible lately. I liked you better when you were less constrained by your self-righteousness. Maybe you should have a double martini and eat some red meat for a while. Have an affair." (That last is verbatim, caught on a MOS guide track.) The accuser seduced the offender and the remain happily married some ten years later. His photos (and her filmmaking) are stellar.)

 

[gb hill]

My hours at work have been cut back significantly & thinking on stuff we might can sell, right off the bat the wife was saying,
"you are NOT selling any of your cameras" You worked too hard for them. I have a good wife.😉

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Same as with Frank.

 

[Hatchetman]

My wife is pretty understanding with my photography, but everything has to be tack sharp for her.

"oh, too bad you just missed the focus..."

 

[seakayaker1]

I have been fortunate and that my wife has been supportive of my hobbies. At times there may have been a look or two with some of my purchases along the way, but she certainly has had a chance to practice love, tolerance and patience with me. It has also allowed me to reciprocate and spend many hours walking through gardens and nurseries as well as quilting and yarn stores.

Certainly, for me anyway, the ability to practice love, tolerance and patience came easier in the second half of my life.......

 

[BillBingham2]

Until my wife got her iPhone and started using the camera I got a large amount of "comments" about vertically oriented pictures. Now I don't hear that at all.

Support from both wives has been very good all. The first got me an M6 shortly after we became DINKs. Number 2 has agreed to let me stop the car at any time on a trip to take pictures (safer than shooting while driving). As she is a bit focused on being early/on-time IMHO this is a bigger deal than the M6 was.

B2 (;->

 

[Timmyjoe]

Was lucky, was a photographer when I met my wife, so it's the only way she knows me. She has been blessedly supportive ever since. No complaints on this end.

 

[filmdood]

Years ago I committed matrimony. When we were married we set to decorating a new house. When it came to what is on the walls she volunteered "not any of YOUR photographs." Did I mention she is an ex-spouse?

 

[walnuts]

I too am one of the lucky ones. My partner and I met in art school, and share photography and cameras as a passion. However to appeal to Helens comment, one from my father;

My partner works in sculpture and collage, and made a small figure study from plaster, and collaged over it. Its a great piece. My dad walks in, looks at it and goes is that "is that...(long pause)...art?"

 

[isoterica]

My husband.. AHEM.. supports my hobby insofar as it doesn't empty the bank account gearwise. Photographically he will be working out in the yard and tell me to come out, he sees something I should photograph, or do I want to shoot inside the car engine (macro) since he has it open. When out of town he will take photos of what he sees to share them with me. It's more of a sharing thing with him, not art, but what I always hear is "Do you have your camera with you?" or "Can you get this it's kinda far away" or "I don't know if you are interested in this kind of thing but.."

 

[esearing]

I do think the OP might be airing abit of possible tension at home
but also like me a use of tongue in cheek

Nope, Just celebrated our 25th year of marriage and are generally happy. She tolerates my photography and gives me ample time on vacations to practice. But she isn't slipping Leica's or other gear under the tree or getting up at 4:00 am with me to drive up to the mountains to hike to a distant spot only to take 4-6 LF shots. Of course I don't hang with her on Friday nights during the "Say yes to the dress" marathons.

Those of you with artistic minded spouses are lucky in some ways and not so lucky in others. Your critics know what they are talking about and probably know what you really spent on that new gear. 😀

 

[Addy101]

Years ago I committed matrimony. When we were married we set to decorating a new house. When it came to what is on the walls she volunteered "not any of YOUR photographs." Did I mention she is an ex-spouse?

Why did you marry her in the first place? :bang:

Maybe it is because I'm single, but I'm always surprised the way some people talk about their life partners (I hate it when they call their partner "the boss""). Good to see that a lot of folk here describe their partner as being supportive - they might not understand what you do, but they care because you care.

So, don't post what your significant other said to you that made you realize they have no appreciation for your hobby which you are passionate about, but tell us how they support you!

 

[Addy101]

Nope, Just celebrated our 25th year of marriage and are generally happy. She tolerates my photography and gives me ample time on vacations to practice. But she isn't slipping Leica's or other gear under the tree or getting up at 4:00 am with me to drive up to the mountains to hike to a distant spot only to take 4-6 LF shots. Of course I don't hang with her on Friday nights during the "Say yes to the dress" marathons.

Your wife is very supportive, she doesn't understand what you're doing, but she is supportive anyway. But you go to this site to complain that she doesn't like it when you spend a lot of money on gear and you complain because she doesn't like your photography. What do you do for her? Why don't you hang with her on Friday nights? Do you support her as much as she does you?

Why don't you celebrate the fact that you have a great wife?