Just a suggestion (and I suppose it really depends on why you enjoy it) but given your obvious talent I certainly wouldn't give up photography: if you need convincing, consider the reception your pictures get here.
I have no particular visual talent, so concentrated on the techniques of action/sports photography: recently it's been mainly village cricket, but the revelation (if that's not too strong a word) has been that using the big lenses for informal portraits of the players' families has given them (and by extension, me) as much if not more pleasure than any number of 'great' action shots. The ubiquity of the smartphone means that everyone has a 'family album', but people are still enthralled by a well-executed character study, especially if they can frame and keep it.
Thank you for the words of advice / encouragement - really appreciate it
I always used to be interested in photography, and even set up my own darkroom in my bedroom whilst at Uni for B&W printing. (Until I decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to sleep in the same room as the chemicals!) The hi-fi bug then bit and photography was relegated to a minor hobby. Fast forward many years and with the arrival of my first child, I decided I needed a more family friendly hobby than hi-fi (which for me meant travelling up and down motorways meeting members of this forum in hotel car parks buying and selling kit
- seriously, I really enjoyed those days and having met some great friends) so I decided to take photography up again. The rationale was that I needed a good camera for capturing the first years of my son's life anyway, so photography would be a good family friendly hobby. Fast forward 3 more years and the reality is somewhat different from the vision! Yes, I captured (and continue to capture) my son's early years with the camera, but as is my nature, I needed to see how far I could 'push it'. This lead to an interest in landscape photography - the reason? It's hard and I like challenges!
As it turns out, nothing could be less compatible with family life than landscape photography! Sure, in the early days I was happy to go out locally and capture local parks and lakes, but as the hobby developed, that suddenly wouldn't cut it. It doesn't help that I converse with some amazing landscape photographers on Twitter / Instagram who live in beautiful parts of the country, have grown up children and who have more time on their hands! It's this comparison with their work and competing with them in 'competitions' which has lead to frustration. I get one trip to The Lakes / Peaks a year and it's hard when you see weekly / daily pics from some of these guys from these locations. I think the straw that broke the camel's back was the recent snowfall. It was the perfect opportunity to capture stunning images locally. Unfortunately, I had food poisoning during it and had to watch from the sidelines whilst everyone posted amazing snow filled images. This is what has lead me to where I am.
That last paragraph perhaps over-dramatises the situation, as I have had a chance to take stock, get some perspective and mellow out over Christmas. The result is that I am going to be more forgiving of myself this year, and try and put the hobby back in its box. I will continue to do it, but in a more humble way with less delusions of grandeur!
(i.e. just do my thing with no pressure and enjoy it)
There was some discussion of printing a week or so back, and following a major clear-out/reality check I've decided that my Epson R1800 is just taking up space/gathering dust. Efforts to use cheaper inks were largely unsuccessful, so it's expensive to run but used to produce lovely 20x16" prints.
There's no box and it would be collection only from near Ashford, Kent. Pm me if interested - failing that it's eBay or landfill.
I already have an Epson P600, but that's a great deal for someone!
Lefty
Helen McCallum by Pete, on Flickr
frozen in ice by Jem Hayward, on Flickr
4th January by Pete Maddex, on Flickr
Leaf in gutter by Pete Maddex, on Flickr
3rd January
