So, I am back at it in 2026, well, the end of 2025. Photography has always had a special pull in my life. So, why not take it seriously now that I have the time? I am not getting any younger, and I’ve heard it’s never too late to give anything a real try if you want it bad enough.
No excuses this time, and no stopping when life throws its obstacles in my way. God said life comes with problems, but He is bigger than them all.
I love photos, and not just my own(I am no narcissist, ha!). Actually, I am my own worst critic, and that is what gets me down some days. Some days, things aren’t in focus, images are too blurry, or I overdid it in the editing, and I shared it out in the world without taking a second look at it.
Photography, even as a hobby at this point, takes time and takes a lot of practice. That was my downfall before; little time, and the effort to learn more was lacking, to say the least.
But, not anymore!
Getting Older
I am getting older. I’ll be 55 years old this year. My wife loves to cook; it’s her thing. Hey, she is Italian, for crying out loud! Ha! As for myself, I have no real hobbies except reading, which I love. But photography, and being really good at it, still tugs at my soul.
Passion, that’s what I have for it. Even while I spent the last couple of years letting dust collect on my camera bag, with all the gear I needed sitting dormant inside of it. I still followed other photographers during that time, on Instagram and YouTube. Like Mark Denney, Nigel Danson, and James Poppsys, to name a few of my favorites.
Some days, it just got me feeling bummed watching them, wishing I could find the time to get out and snap some photos. The real killer, though, in the end, and I admit it, was laziness.
Now, I am starting over from the beginning.
Learning Photography
Back to square one will have me poring over the basics from light to focusing properly, to the exposure triangle, and what I think is just as important, composition.
Not to be haughty, but composition, for me at least, is somewhat natural. The exposure triangle and light, however, are the massive mountains I will have to climb, and climb them I will.
As far as gear is concerned, Mark Denney is right, my Canon 90D and the three lenses I invested in are quiet enough to turn pro with. So, I will stick with them and make them work for me.
Expensive gear is never the answer to great photography. If you don’t believe me, well, take a look at any Ansel Adams photo! No, gear and expensive cameras are not the answer to beautiful images, and the possible income-earning potential they carry. Actually, like my dad said once before he passed away;
“It’s not the tool, kid, it’s the carpenter…”
He hit the nail on the head with that one!
So, it starts, I start, all over again… This time, however, I’ll finish it.
