Life is about the possibilities - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/15/2005 01:15:51 PM · #1

After a very successful yet unfulfilling 15 year career in the corporate sales world I needed a change so I quit my job. I had no plan except that I wanted to find something fulfilling, something artistic to do with my life. I wrote a movie but found it was very difficult to let anyone read it. Not because I feared the rejection I might recieve but because it was a very personal story about a difficult experience in my life. I bought a motion picture film camera and began studying cinematography with the hope that I could bring this movie to life one day. I was soon confronted with the reality that learning about film while shooting 24 frames per second was a difficult and expensive proposition.

I then fell into a dark depression that continued for more than a year.

About a year ago I had an idea that changed my life. I saw my old 35mm film camera and thought it might be less expensive to learn about film by shooting 1 frame at a time. I took the camera to the shop and had it repaired and cleaned then I began working on a personal project I called "Finding Hope From A World Of Despair". The concept was to try to find something that symbolized hope and photograph it. This would force me to look for the blessings in my life instead of focusing on the depression I was stuck in.

I soon switched to digital so I could further reduce my expense and get instant feedback to reduce my photographic learning curve. I soon upgraded my Digital Rebel to a Canon 20d. Added a digital dark room and a small studio. Upgraded my lenses. etc... (so much for reducing expenses LOL).

So here I am a year later. Things aren't perfect. My Dog has Cancer and I'm not sure how to make money doing what I love but.... I'm still here. I'm learning everyday about living in the moment, trying to capture some of those moments and connecting with the subjects that present themselves to me as I continue my journey through this life.

I'm grateful that I found photography because it taught me how to find a way out of a world of fear and into a life of infinite possibility.

If interested some of my images can be found at //seenosun.com

I look forward to any comments / feedback.

Message edited by author 2005-11-15 15:21:27.

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

11/15/2005 01:36:39 PM · #2

Michael
I have every sympathy having resigned this year from a successful career because I felt it would kill me through stress. Luckily I have the support of my husband emotionally although since he also retired this year finances are stretched to the limit.

It sounds to me that you feel very alone - I may be wrong and you have a loving family around you - but you seem emotionally alone. I hope that through your photography you will also find emotional support from someone. I am sorry about the dog - again I have been there and know the pain. On a lighter note I was very impressed by your website. The shots are atmospheric and interesting and the brunette model in particular is very striking. Your macro pics are slightly different from most IMO and I think many would be of interest to commercial poster businesses. Have a look at this site as a way to make a little money. I have been recommended them.

Have you thought of writing a book using your film script as a base? Perhaps too painful to you as it is personal but what about approaching a "proper" author (no disrespect meant!) who would be able to be less subjective and perhaps alter it sufficiently to not make it "your" story but a third person?

Look at my signature and remember it!
Regards
P

elee3009

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/15/2005 01:53:35 PM · #3

Hi Pauline and Michael, just wanted to say I totally empathize with you 'coz I'm in almost a similar boat. Have been relatively successful in what was initially a very exciting corporate climb and career for almost 13 years but finding less and less satisfaction doing what I do. Except, I'm not old enough to retire, not rich enough to quit and don't have enough time to explore other real money-earning possibilities. Wish I could give you some really good advice but I can only share that I'm trying to allocate more time for myself and to develop my interest, skill and eye in photography to serve me one day. At the same time, I'm tracking and reading up on anything I can find in my other interest which is to turn sustainable development ventures into profit-making business. I truly believe there's a future there :)

Carpe Diem and To a better world for all of us,
E

11/15/2005 02:14:52 PM · #4

Pauline,
thank you for the reply. I actually am blessed that I do have a wonderful support network that was intrumental in helping me find my way. At the same time It can be hard to share everything with those closest to me. It's funny I am much more comfortable letting a stranger read my script than those who I am closest to. I believe that when you try to acomplish a goal like making a movie that it can be like climbing Mt. Everest. I'm trying not to focus on reaching the top but on taking the next step. I am trying to work on turning the screenplay into a stageplay so I can utilize the resources available in some of the small theatre groups in my area. I'm trying to partner with some people I've worked with in the community theatre productions I've acted in. I just finished a run in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". What a wonderful experience!

Thank you for the feedback on my images. The model you mentioned is actually the girl i'm trying to convince to play the lead in my movie.

Macro is the type of photography that I seem most attracted to. I've thought of trying to sell prints of those images to some high end commercial real estate developers in my area for use in their buildings. Thanks for the link - i tried checking out the site but it sent me to a login screen and i couldn't get past it. Is there a main page for registering with this site?

Thanks again for your kind words of encouragement.

Michael

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/15/2005 02:22:05 PM · #5

Elleen,
Good Luck with turning your passion into a success.
Keep Trying!
M.

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

11/15/2005 02:26:12 PM · #6

Sorry about the link! Forgot I had bookmarked the log-in!
Try again on this

Glad you have a good network of friends/family to support you. I know I find it hard to "let go" to those closest to me - it's too hurtful to tell them you are feeling so bad! Now I've rid myself of a lot of my worries I find I am talking to my husband about how I ws feeling. Last year I just wanted to bury them!
Hope the link works and the playscript sounds a great idea!
P