What is the effect of photo-abstinence on you?

I'll go nuts.
Simple as that.

Strange thing is, if you asked me the same question five years ago, I'd just shrug my shoulder.
 
I am getting nervous, cranky, ill-tempered and start to fondle my cameras and lenses.
Until my wife sends me out on a short photo-tour. 😉
 
i take out my leica m3 and cycle through the speeds. I also exercise the shutters of my old manual cameras and large format lenses, It is strangely comforting
Nik
 
Hi, it´s horrible i really feel getting older! I´ve been waiting 2 months for my M9 to clear customs, add that anxiety to my ageing feelings!!!!!

Bye!
 
I can't really remember my last bout of photo abstinence. I shoot something every day, even if it's the Balloon Sunrise people in the sky, or cars on the street on the way to work.

I did have a few times a few years ago when my then-girlfriend didn't want me 'taking so many photos'. Used to annoy the heck of out me. I'd go into internal fits of 'oh my god, I missed the best photo just then!' Then again, my near compulsive photography must have been annoying, too. 🙂
 
When on holidays I like shooting, but have been told I'm no fun to be around with (since concentrating on photography and not my company).

So one day the camera stays home and I'm available to the rest of the party but the other day I reserve the right to shoot.

Its either that or get cranky all the time from running into nice things to shoot and not being able to because somebody bugs me about it... 😱
 
I'm glad I don't have this problem: I am comfortable using any camera in my possession. Although there are some that I like more than others, I do not feel an "abstinence" issue (I'm trying to use the same word here to mean what it's actually trying to mean in the OP, even though "abstinence" means something else to me).

It is also an interesting thing to learn: no wonder why there are some who feel religious about a certain brand or a certain camera, and will defend it or attack it with all their might.
 
tic said:
Not doing photography can lead to increased GAS... Better snap pictures than buy more stuff...
Click to expand...
Yep. I have the same problem. Since I can basically only shoot on weekends, I spend all week obsessing about different cameras (this week was nikon f and leica 😱) Then on the weekends I go out and shoot with my Pentax Spotmatic, which results in happy feelings about it 😀. I too find when suffering withdrawal symptoms that "exercising" (perhaps over exercising) my cameras is therapeutic. Thing is my spotmatic has film in it, so I can only exercise my Yashica GSN. No joy in using that unfortunately.
 
When I realize the the business of life has ovetaken me, I grab the M3, Retina IIa or maybe even the Zorki. A handheld Gossen meter, a few rolls of Tri-X, Delta 100 or Reala completes the emsemble. If possible I will make a day of it.
Just getting away from the technology that we are enslaved to helps me relax and regain perspective.
 
I have plenty of time for photography, but really need to get to new areas to shoot. Living here for 4 years has sort of exhausted what I would normally like to take photos of, other than portraits. What I miss even more is having a selection of good galleries to see new or traveling work.

The local museum has a nice show once a month, but I miss big cities where you can go down one block and visit several galleries, which have a different feel than a museum. Checking out good work, whether it be painting, sculpture, photos or other art, gives me a real creative boost.
 
Take a photo a day. Just bring the camera and find something interesting. Yesterday I found a photo right next to the mailbox. I took an exposure and brought it home with me.

It makes me crazy to drive past photo opportunities when I can't stop as happened yesterday. I do make mental notes and later write those places down to visit again.

Anyway, I absolutely understand.
 
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