It clicked!
One morning, at the age of 61, I woke up and decided to take up photography. It was as simple as that. I never had a hobby in my life, and being totally nontechnical I had a fear of all those switches and dials.
I did not regard myself as creative at all, and knew if I didn’t start now I likely never would. Luckily, my wife had a digital camera that had sat in a cupboard for years, rarely used, with lenses and a tripod —all I needed to get going.
I plunged into my newfound craft with a passion —not knowing what the heck I was doing!
I immediately turned to that great online resource known as YouTube. I was amazed at how many channels there were, with advice on every conceivable aspect of photography.
This was both a blessing and a curse. Some said I should just practice on automatic mode (letting the camera make all the decisions) while others said the sooner I learned manual mode (me taking control of the settings) the better. What to do?
I bought an excellent beginners photography book which guided me in a logical manner, and whilst some of it was a challenge, by attempting the exercises I began to at least know what I didn’t know! Plus, there were videos embedded that, by using my cell phone QR scanner, helped me learn in a manner that suited me best.
I knew I had a tendency to give up very quickly, or not start at all—this time would be different I told myself.
I allowed myself to take my time, to learn at the only pace I could (slowly!) and not stress too much over poor images. I knew I could be my own worst enemy and was determined not to give up.
Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you get. I went out as much as possible. Many, many photographs were out of focus or were over or under exposed. Gradually, my photographs began to actually resemble the scene I had in front of me. I tried my hand at every genre I could—street photography, landscape, nature.
I discovered an in-person beginners photography class and signed up. Here I met a great photography teacher, Ron Pogue, who was incredibly helpful, explained things in simple detail, for whom no question was stupid and, above all, was patient.
For someone lacking confidence this was ideal. I began to understand why my images were too dark or light, and why I was missing focus. This gave me a burst of confidence as I could then see progress.
I realised I had an unmet need to be creative and I had finally found a means of expression.
I literally saw the world through new eyes—the changing sky, the colours of nature, people walking by on the street. I noticed how watching movies and looking at art changed—I could see what the artist was attempting, looking at their compositions. The camera angles and colour schemes in movies fascinated me. It is no exaggeration to say I “woke up to life”.
I had always enjoyed walking. Now, my walks with a camera took on a whole new dimension. I get up before dawn to capture the sunrise. I go out in rain because I know there will be a different kind of image to be had, particularly in the city.
The camera I learned on was very old in photographic terms, but the Canon 350 D will always have a special place in my photographic life.
I quickly learnt that mirrorless cameras were now the norm—lighter, (which is a huge bonus) with better specifications.
After much research I bought a good beginner’s camera, the Sony a6000. Photography can be expensive. However, there are scores of used lenses available online at much less cost than new ones, and older vintage lenses, too, which are even more affordable.
I have met some lovely people through this new hobby, from other newbies in the beginners’ classes, to lovely chance encounters with the public, and other photographers. I have not only faced my fear of the technical aspects, but have been able to approach total strangers and ask if I can take a portrait photograph of them. One hairdresser came out of his barber’s shop when he saw me taking photos outside and invited me into his totally unique barber shop!
A few months into my hobby I took another leap and decided to create a beginner’s website. My intention was for other beginners to learn along with me. I used a web hosting company that made setting up a web site simple. Looking back, I wonder what on earth I was doing, but it is now a permanent record of my creative journey. I am glad I did it. It is www.battleswithbokeh.com
So where to from here? Well, as I age, I know I need to make the most of my time. I try to practice mindfulness in my life and will continue to explore how this inspires my photography.
I intend to get better at editing (a whole new world of technical challenges believe me!), to continue to look for more interesting compositions, and grow my technical skills, such as abstract photography.
I hope to do more classes and meet others in person. I will keep up the web site, but perhaps change the focus (no pun intended!) from being a site for beginners. Most important though, I aim to keep going and enjoy myself! If you have contemplated taking up photography, I would encourage you to do so—it has the potential to create a whole new world! If you would like advice or support, I am available at battleswithbokeh@gmail.com
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