Compromises
I recently read an article where the author said that "as you get older life becomes a series of compromises" and I thought how true this is. I am in my late 70's and cannot comfortably carry heavy equipment any more - that compromise is easy, get lighter equipment! But I also have a balance problem that is getting worse and I cannot walk safely along uneven, or narrow pathways that have slopes. So what photography do I now concentrate on? Hills and mountains are out which leaves people, flowers, trees, gardens etc. I would be most grateful if anyone can suggest any other subjects that could widen my field.
Still life, 'through a Window', portraiture, 'From a bus', sitting in a deck chair on the beach, Macro, Liquid drops into a bowl of liquid. You may guess that I have been in this situation for a good few years and I also enjoy the exploration of revisiting my old photos and play with them for hours not only creatively i.e. using weird colours, different blending modes, plug-ins that add effects, but also using 'shape shifting' - cartoons and distortions. Hope you find something - during this period of almost 12 months when I have only been out to visit the doctor I have found many ways of losing myself in photography for many hours.
I finally concluded that I could no longer continue with heavy equipment so bought a Sony ML camera a couple of months ago. However, I have had almost no opportunities to use this camera and probably will not be able to make good use of it until at least March. Apart from the obvious garden birds, insects and flowers, table top shots as suggested above can be a good challenge. Also be prepared to do more computer processing which you may not have done in the past. Recently, I have searched some of my older images and found that I could improve a few of them using more powerful software now available.
Consider also making a high quality Photobook. I did this last year using Lightroom and Blurb and made a large hard backed coffee table book with around 100 of my favourite images. Most of these were competition images but I ensured that I included at least one of each close family member. The thinking behind this is that I will not be here forever. It is reasonable to assume than when I go, my old prints will be thrown away as they are too big and heavy. No one will want to keep the boxes of slides and the many negatives. I am sure someone will eventually format all my disk drives so what will be left? A handful of framed prints and a coffee table book. People tend not to throw away such books. The details are still stored at Blurb and a relative could still have further copies printed if they wished. You cannot guarantee the future of your images but time time spent producing the book was enjoyable and all who have seen it have been very complementary.
Dave
Consider also making a high quality Photobook. I did this last year using Lightroom and Blurb and made a large hard backed coffee table book with around 100 of my favourite images. Most of these were competition images but I ensured that I included at least one of each close family member. The thinking behind this is that I will not be here forever. It is reasonable to assume than when I go, my old prints will be thrown away as they are too big and heavy. No one will want to keep the boxes of slides and the many negatives. I am sure someone will eventually format all my disk drives so what will be left? A handful of framed prints and a coffee table book. People tend not to throw away such books. The details are still stored at Blurb and a relative could still have further copies printed if they wished. You cannot guarantee the future of your images but time time spent producing the book was enjoyable and all who have seen it have been very complementary.
Dave
If you can still get out and about in town (lockdown restrictions may delay this!), how about Street Photography / building / architecture / market places / local parks etc? Obviously this may not be easy right now, but as spring approaches hopefully things will relax so we can get out more.
i'm doing a 'Project-52' this year, and have set a theme for each week already. Most of the topics are ones I can do at home right now which helps!
Good luck!
Nige
i'm doing a 'Project-52' this year, and have set a theme for each week already. Most of the topics are ones I can do at home right now which helps!
Good luck!
Nige
There's a member here with similar problems, who in normal times simply takes himself into town, finds a comfortable bench, eyes up the compositional possibilities and then waits for people to wander into the frame. I'll send you a link so that you can have a look at the results. Obviously that's not possible when we have limited time out of doors and are supposed to keep walking...
As a practical aside, I am in my seventies, with severe scoliosis, which makes carrying weight painful. I have found rucksack-style bags a great help, as they balance weight much more comfortably. I have several lightweight rucksacks of different sizes, that I have fitted out with foam rubber padding for protection.
As a practical aside, I am in my seventies, with severe scoliosis, which makes carrying weight painful. I have found rucksack-style bags a great help, as they balance weight much more comfortably. I have several lightweight rucksacks of different sizes, that I have fitted out with foam rubber padding for protection.
Following an accident in which I lost a leg, my photography is Wildlife mainly birds. But I also like Macro, maybe these would be good for you to try too
