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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> too old to start...?
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Showing posts 26 - 48 of 48, (reverse)
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 08/19/2005 04:34:57 AM · #26
Shall we all just quit then?
 08/19/2005 04:56:17 AM · #27
You were not replying to me, were you? :-)
 08/19/2005 05:08:10 AM · #28
Originally posted by Didymus:
You were not replying to me, were you? :-)


No;)

I was just thinking - anyone over the age of 20(?) Cannot possibly have anything to say through their photography. All that life experience; all those relationships; all that emotion; all that coming to terms with just being...useless when it comes to photography:)
 08/19/2005 06:00:51 AM · #29
I think most things in life come to us when we're ready for them. I'm 43 now. For some, it probably seems I must be half-dead already. For me, I think I'm only beginning to understand many important things in life. Maybe in the next 30 years I'll be able to figure out what life is all about. And I hope to express something of what I learn along the way in my photos.
Anyway, what I was going to say is that I only discovered photography for myself this April, when I lost my job and had plenty of free time on my hands. For sure, I had taken plenty of tourist and family snapshots in my life before that, but without a sense of purpose. I had never stopped to think why I was doing this or what exactly was it that I wanted to say. In this month of April I suddenly began to look at it in a different way. How or why did it happen? I don't know. I guess I had become ready for it. All of a sudden I realised that this is the most natural way of being for me. This is what I would be happy to do 24/7 for the time remaining. Granted, technically I was completely dumb, but I knew and accepted it and have been educating myself intensively ever since.
So, referring to the beginning of this posting, I think losing my job in March was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Why am I saying all this? Because I believe things will happen to you when it's the right time for them to happen and your age at that moment is completely irrelevant.
:-)

Message edited by author 2005-08-19 06:07:51.
 08/19/2005 06:26:04 AM · #30
kids?? old??? your five yrs older, hate to see how you react when you actually get old.

Originally posted by totaldis:
so i just spent like twenty minutes going through joey lawrence's portfolio. then i went through and looked at the people who were commenting on his shots. a lot of these photographers are < 18 years old.

im pushing the limits of 23 now and i know it seems sort of presumptuous for me to judge my own limits, but with talent like theirs at such a young age it seems like i'd need to devote a major portion of my time in order to match their skill. (a hefty compliment to you joey). so..... lay down on my psueo-suede couch and analyze my thoughts. ... that seems backwards... but you get the idea.

----edit----
btw, how many other ppl look at the talent of these, in all honesty kids, and feel a bit behind in the game?

08/19/2005 07:07:32 AM · #31
Originally posted by Didymus:
I think most things in life come to us when we're ready for them. I'm 43 now. For some, it probably seems I must be half-dead already. For me, I think I'm only beginning to understand many important things in life. Maybe in the next 30 years I'll be able to figure out what life is all about. And I hope to express something of what I learn along the way in my photos.
Anyway, what I was going to say is that I only discovered photography for myself this April, when I lost my job and had plenty of free time on my hands. For sure, I had taken plenty of tourist and family snapshots in my life before that, but without a sense of purpose. I had never stopped to think why I was doing this or what exactly was it that I wanted to say. In this month of April I suddenly began to look at it in a different way. How or why did it happen? I don't know. I guess I had become ready for it. All of a sudden I realised that this is the most natural way of being for me. This is what I would be happy to do 24/7 for the time remaining. Granted, technically I was completely dumb, but I knew and accepted it and have been educating myself intensively ever since.
So, referring to the beginning of this posting, I think losing my job in March was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Why am I saying all this? Because I believe things will happen to you when it's the right time for them to happen and your age at that moment is completely irrelevant.
:-)


I started in April too:) And as for the rest of your post - AMEN;)
08/19/2005 08:05:35 AM · #32
dude, your only 23. I know that those of us who are young have some tallent but there are many older people too. Just get behind the camera every chance you get. Take some classes, learn about the elements of design and how to use a light meter. Yes, joey is good. I would like to say that I'm just as good. I know I don't always post all my best work here but that is because I have to go to school too. No matter what game you play there will always be someone better than you but that is no reason to give up on anything. Just go for it, get behind your camera at least one time a day and don't be afraid to take chances to make an image. You will never know if a shot is going to work until you try it.
08/19/2005 08:27:40 AM · #33
when we start comparing our talents with other peoples' instead of admiring and loving what other poeple are doing the we start to fall downa dark path.
08/19/2005 08:41:13 AM · #34
Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:
when we start comparing our talents with other peoples' instead of admiring and loving what other poeple are doing the we start to fall downa dark path.

The path to the dark side?

Be strong young totaldis, let the Force guide you.
 08/19/2005 08:47:26 AM · #35
hah! an invigorating number of responses.
words of wisdom from the wise. i hadn't actually planned on giving up, i mean i only started in october of last year. i also didn't mean to compare my work to others, just maybe the level of talent...?
in any case im gonna keep shooting.
i think my biggest problem is i'm still just taking a lot of random shots of random things hoping to find a niche that i really like. i'm sure with the more i shoot the better i'll produce, I JUST WANT IT NOW! heh... i guess as long as i keep exploring different styles i'll adapt into my own style. thanks for the kind+generous words of wisdom.

-aaron
 08/19/2005 08:53:07 AM · #36
You are never to old to start!, I think it requires a lot of dedication and time to improve. If anything other peoples work should ispire you to continue. For me, the past year has been a great learning experience, all I think about is photography now. My photo teacher calls me her little photo nerd LOL :)
 08/19/2005 08:53:08 AM · #37
I think a good endeavour for people who are feeling bummed about their photographic potential is to start a Photo-a-Day project.

I was really feeling down and out about my seeming lack of photographic skill and imagination this past winter and spring. Couldn't seem to shoot anything properly and good photographic ideas were few and far between. Furthermore, I was getting really bummed (I know I shouldn't have been) by seeing all the great ideas and shots on DPC.

I decided to begin a Photo-a-Day project on my 35th birthday to see how it could help me. I've found it to be a very pleasurable experience so far and have found that it has stimulated me to try different things. It also has given me freedom from challenge topics and I find that that has stimulated me quite a bit as well.

I still have lots of trouble finding good ideas for DPC challenges, but my Photo-a-Day portfolio is growing and I am very proud of some of the images within it.

So why don't you try it? Some people can't find the time to do a Photo-a-Day project, so they have a Photo-When-I-Can project which is also very cool.

My Photo-a-Day project.
 08/19/2005 08:53:19 AM · #38
Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:
when we start comparing our talents with other peoples' instead of admiring and loving what other poeple are doing the we start to fall downa dark path.

Well said.

I think age is irrelevant to artistic enlightenment. I believe each person has their own set of potential, or talent, in a certain area that, depending on how they approach it and incessantly try to reach it, will show and come out. Depending on circumstance, and time, and place, people believe that at a certain time they will achieve artistic climax. This is not true in someone who continually strives to meet their absolute potential, which, paradoxially, can never be met, for one can only meet their total potential by observing everything and completely depleting their resourses physically, in material, spiritually, and mentally. The notion of who is "better" is purely objective.

Chance and fate led to the fact that I was lucky enough to have a grandfather of my own who had been photographing before there were zoom lenses. As a curious child who never had success in any other kind of art, my grandfather handed me a camera about two years ago when I was the age of 12. It is my personality to stubbornly drive myself as far as I can go when I find something that I have any interest in. And here I am today; not the best photographer I can be, but always trying. How age is a factor in this, I do not know: it could be that I have not experienced enough in life to make a proper statement, but I think that if you have the drive (and as previously said, the passion) then you can never be too old.

Curiosity is what drives an artist, as well as personal enlightenment, and a struggle to finally reach that unreachable point of artistic climax. It is our curiousity and wonderment that makes us artists.

Is one ever to old to ask a question?

I apologize for spelling errors ahead of time :)
 08/19/2005 08:59:17 AM · #39
ya know beagle i may just start that PaD project.
 08/19/2005 09:09:46 AM · #40
We all have talents that others don't. THere will always be somebody better than you at everything. It doesn't mean that you should get bumbed about something you love to do.

When I was 15 I had an art exhibit at a local college. I sold a drawing for $75 before I was 16. I won 12 art contest before I was 18. I rec an art scholorship for college. Then I got married and had three kids. I now have a mortgage, car notes, two jobs and a lot of stress!

I probably had the potential to be great. The one thing that made me stand out from everybody else, was my age. I was young. That brought me more attention than the actuall artwork. I think that Joey is VERY TALENTED. He will probably be famous one day at the rate he is going. But how many times have you read a post about his age? That is a small part of his popularity. The most part is this amazing work.

For 10 years I didn't draw, paint, sculpt--nothing. I was too busy being a MOM. Then about 3-4 years ago I picked up photography again. I don't feel that I am behind anyone. Or that it would be too hard to be at someone elses level. I just continue to learn and get better and better. I may not please the masses, but I love my pictures. Isn't that what really matters? That you love your work?
 08/19/2005 09:38:48 AM · #41
Originally posted by mandyturner:
I don't feel that I am behind anyone. Or that it would be too hard to be at someone elses level. I just continue to learn and get better and better. I may not please the masses, but I love my pictures. Isn't that what really matters? That you love your work?


A-men. At 31 I think I fall into the "old fogies" category. I just bought my first digital camera almost 2 years ago. I purchased my first DSLR last month. I am beginning to take my photography seriously for the first time ever. I look to Joey and the others as inspiration. Yes they are much better than I am. They also have a different style than I do. I feel that I have a "natural" ability that needs to be better developed. As many others have stated, I shoot for my pleasure. If I can please others with my photography, then that's just a bonus. You're never to old to do something if it gives you pleasure.

Personally I know very little about photography. I've had ZERO formal training or education on the subject. I have become addicted to DPC because I have become addicted to photography. I have a thirst for knowledge and this site has quickly become a huge resource for me...

My question is, should I not pursue photography because I see others half my age with more talent in their little finger than I have in my whole body? I think not!!! I will continue to rely on their "vision" for my inspiration and the advice of other older (for lack of a better word), more experienced photographers like bear_music and others like him for the vast wealth of technical advice I am lacking.

Make photos because you love it and want to do it, not because you are competing with a younger crowd.

EDIT: Added links

Message edited by author 2005-08-19 09:44:10.
 08/19/2005 10:32:28 AM · #42
Originally posted by NightShy:
... Man, who DOESN'T feel behind the game with Joey and Annah around? I think they should be illegal. :-) I just keep telling myself they are really old fat guys from Antartica. Hehe.


I don't feel behind the game. And I am an old fat guy.
 08/19/2005 11:14:29 AM · #43
Life will catch up with Joey and Anna soon enough. Muwahahahaa.

We all have our own ways of eliminating the competition...


** heads towards the elementary school **

< kidding! please, no hate mail >

08/19/2005 11:35:34 AM · #44
Originally posted by kpriest:
Life will catch up with Joey and Anna soon enough. Muwahahahaa.

We all have our own ways of eliminating the competition...


** heads towards the elementary school **

< kidding! please, no hate mail >


YES! no one is after me :) LOL
 08/19/2005 11:51:28 AM · #45
Originally posted by mandyturner:

For 10 years I didn't draw, paint, sculpt--nothing. I was too busy being a MOM.

Of course you did, you sculpted those kids into who they are now.

And regarding this thread, no one is ever too old to start anything. No one get's too old, they just think they are.

"Youth has no age."
Pablo Picasso
 08/19/2005 11:53:44 AM · #46
Originally posted by elsapo:
YES! no one is after me :) LOL

Shhhhhh!
 08/19/2005 11:54:30 AM · #47
Have any of you ever heard of Grandma Moses? Google her and you'll learn that age matters not. "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." Move on from here...
08/19/2005 12:02:51 PM · #48
There is no such things as "too old" when it comes to photography.
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