So here I am rapidly approaching the big 4 0. I know, it’s getting scary now. The question is, as it gets closer, do I embrace the midlife crisis that might hit me? Or do I find a way to fight it? If I’m going to fight it, how do I do that? What should I do? Find a new hobby, something to channel all this into? Or await the midlife crisis? For now, let’s see if a hobby can save me.
But what should I do? I’ve always been interested in photography. I’ve always liked to look around, to see things and take photos of what I see, but I can’t be a photographer. Photographers are artists. I’m not an artist, school taught me that.
The joy of art?
When it comes to art lessons at school, one of my memories is the art teacher sitting us at the art bench and giving us a paintbrush, some paper and paints. They put some music on and told us to paint what we hear. So, I sat there randomly flicking the paintbrush across the page in time to the music. Because that’s what I’m hearing; I’m hearing the beat, so I paint to that beat. However, three-quarters of the way into the lesson, the teacher comes around and tells me I have done it all wrong. I should be listening to music and being emotionally moved by the music. And then, after that, what it moves me to see, feel and hear should inspire me to paint. How was I to know that is what the teacher expected?
This reinforced to me that art is a niche world with set rules that I didn’t know, and couldn’t know. That art is something either you can do or can’t do. And if you progress through that at school, then you can progress into other interesting things, like photography. So, I thought, for now, I’ll put that on the shelf as I can’t do “art”.
Now I’m thinking differently. I want to take pictures. I want to capture what I see, to show the world how I see it. After all, what do I need to be a photographer? I need to see something. I need to point a camera at it. I need to capture that image. So yes, I can do this. I can find a way to be a photographer, to explore the world and to capture what I see.
But, if I’m going to be a photographer. Don’t I need all that kit, all that stuff? All that skill? Aren’t there all these programs now I’ve got to use? How on earth am I supposed to get started? These are all the thoughts going through my head as I look at what I wanted to do, as I think about stepping out and giving this a try.
That old camera.
For years I’d carried digital cameras around to take photos. I’ve bought phones that I thought would take good pictures and I have tried to capture what I could see. So, this has left me wondering, what is the difference between someone who enjoys capturing what they see, and someone who calls themself a photographer. I’m not talking about the guy you get at your wedding to capture your pictures or to photograph your baby. Those people you pay for your special occasion shoots, they are professionals. I’m talking about being a photographer as a hobby. Finding something, enjoying it and having a way to spend your time.
So, I’ve decided I will give it a go. After all, I’ve got a phone and it can take pictures. But once I’ve done that, what do I do with them? Do I gradually just clog up my phone with millions of images that I’ll never see again and that I don’t even recall taking. That just sit there looking all the same, or do I start exploring this world? Discovering what photography is all about and finding out more. Dipping my toe in to see what is there, and trying my best, attempting to learn a new skill. After all, ’m approaching 40. I hope it’s not too late to learn a new skill. I guess only time will tell. Am I the old dog that can’t learn new tricks or am I the dog who learns to drive? I feel like I am going on this adventure.
As I start this journey of trying to learn to take photos, I’d like to develop a new skill from something I’ve never had before. At this point, I’m a man who owns a basic camera. It takes pictures. But I’ve had no teaching, I just look around me and think. Ooh, that looks nice. Can I go from here to being somebody who can post pictures on Instagram that make people notice, to being somebody who can capture what they see and be proud of their art? Or am I really just a man with a camera built into his phone?
So, if like me you’ve toyed with the idea of a new hobby, like me, you thought this world of photography is scary and not for you? Why not follow along? Have a go, and see what you can learn. As I try to learn, who knows, maybe, just maybe, between us we will develop the ability to create a photo. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves toward that dark room stuff and all those chemicals. For now, let’s just concern ourselves with what we see on our camera screen; on our phones or the digital camera at the back of the drawer collecting dust. At the end of the day, if I’ve got the means to take a photo, then I can be a photographer, right? And if I can be a photographer, I can share what I’ve done with the world and I can be proud of whatever I achieved!
With every step I hope to learn, grow and fine-tune this, so that I could become more confident. I like the idea of sticking my photo up on the wall or maybe printing it and putting it in a frame and sharing it with a friend, just to show them what I’ve done and because I think they’ll like it. This isn’t about becoming a world renowned photographer, flying the world, and capturing the Alps from a helicopter, This is about being a person with a life, a job, a family, and commitments, but still taking that time to develop a skill. To pause to think, to look, to grow, and to take a breath. Admiring the world around me whether that’s at the beach when I walk the dog or at the shopping centre when I go out shopping (though I try to avoid doing that).But there are times we all have to go out and about. So, will this skill excite me? Motivate me and help me see the world in a new way, or will I crash and burn and make a fool of myself?
Taking the challenge!
As I stand here now, I think the only option is that this is going to go wrong. There’s no way these photos that I take can be anything great, but let’s see. Join me, and take that plunge. And as you do, share tips that you learn, and I’ll share the tips that I learn. After all, none of us know it all. We’ve all just got a smidge of knowledge, a little bit to share. So, teach me and help me, and I hope that in the same way that I can teach and help you. For now, that’s all I promise – if you share your work, I’ll praise it and encourage you, and hope you will do that for me.
Thank you
*I have taken all the photos shown above with my phone in the last couple of years to show where I am starting from.