Advancing age and changes in physical condition

[Cholentpot]

I took up this hobby while I'm very young so I have a challenge when I'm old. I gotta keep the brain ticking, I've noticed my elders that have no real hobbies end up losing their edge.

I'm still diapering babies and chasing toddlers and capturing it all on film. Sure, I've already messed up a fair share of joints and that'll haunt me later on, but live with whats going on says I. Gotta say I'm impressed with the proficiency of my elders on this site using the internets and technology. Photography may have something to do with it. Good choice for a hobby.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I want to be able to do this well into my old age, large format and all...Turned 57 last week. I never smoked. Never did drugs. Don't drink. Eat fairly healthy, and visit the gym 3 days a week to keep the core strong.

 

[Down Under]

I'll turn 73 in December... where did the time go?

I had to cut short my latest trip to Southeast Asia in March when the Australian government ordered its citizens to return home. I was in Sarawak and it took me ten days to book four flights Sarawak-Singapore-Surabaya-Bali and finally Melbourne. It was a wild, uncertain, hyperactive time but I coped surprisingly well, the stress probably outweighed the physical exertion and mental effort involved - I did go to bed for a 12 hours marathon sleep when I finally made it home...

For my age I'm still in surprisingly good health, given the amount of good red wine I've soaked up over the decades - I don't smoke and still try to stay as active as the current crisis allows. I've slowed down a lot - I can still walk fairly long distances but I now find six-kilometer treks satisfy me physically as much as the ten-kilometer hikes did in 2018. So maybe wiser as well as older. I do come from long-lived relations, my mom is alive at 101, three aunts passed away in their mid-90s and my mother's father managed to hang in and stay at home until six weeks before his centenary. Who knows how long I'll be toting cameras around the globe or spending long hours scanning old slides, but for now, I'm doing okay.

I no longer carry two DSLRs and a backpack of lenses as i used to do - nowadays one Nikon and one or two extra lenses suit me fine. Or a Nikkormat and an extra lens. Or a Rolleiflex, a few bits and pieces and a meter. Nothing else.

I find photography keeps my body active and also occupies my brain. That and reading, writing, planning to set up a new small web site for my travel images (something I've wanted to do since 2006 but never quite found enough time, ha!), and my latest brain-kick hobby, playing Scrabble on my own. Two sets of letters and off you go. My partner works full-time even during this crazy crisis, so we do things at home and play these word-games together on weekends.

With more time than usual at home my motivation to get out and about and make images has diminished, but I still carry a camera on my walks and find I can muster up enough interest for a few shots. In May I was given an as new Panasonic Lumix GF1 with two lenses which has got me more keen to reshoot old images (as we all do, don't we, when we get new gea?r) and the quality from this small camera truly surprises me, tho' I dislike using rear screens to view and compose images and I'm finding it difficult to get used to the iffy clip-on electronic viewfinder.

My annual medical in July didn't turn up any nasty surprises and I'm grateful if conscious that it all could change quickly I hope to maintain my current level of fitness for a few more years until the time comes to buy a recliner chair, a new film scanner and a set of quality wine glasses to enjoy my (alas, by then severely diminished) consumption of good Tasmanian red wines. Life's small pleasures, long may they last.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yep, younger people need to understand that nothing can be taken for granted. You lose your energy, your vision, your inspiration your stamina your motivations and your desire. Those people who decide to leave making their artwork until they retire are probably in for a disappointment. At 68 I am still doing my photography and my body of work is growing. I did not leave it till I retired, I spent my life doing it. However now my vision is terrible, one eye won't even focus. My energy runs out much quicker than it did. I have to wear glasses to see anything and judging print quality is much more difficult. My advice is do your art work now and do whatever you can to maintain your strength and health.

Fred Herzog was taking pictures in early age and by his retirement his glory has hit him.

My father was kicked out from work at next to 80 age. After it his fit is declining.
Where I'm working people income is taken to support lavish style life of bureaucrats. They have pensions larger than salaries of working people. Retirement for me in where I'm now means living in poverty, because I'm not government worker, nor dentist.
Walking around neighborhood (if any) with cheap, old digital camera is retirement perfecto in Canada.

 

[jim10219]

I'm only 42. But in my years on this earth, I've discovered that you have to take each moment in life for what it is. You have to learn to accept that you're aging and learn to adapt. If you look for excuses as to why you can't, you'll find them. If you look for solutions to problems you face, you'll find them too. Maybe you can't do what you did before anymore. That's okay. Figure out what you can do, and move on, and don't look back. Approach each new phase in life with open arms. Don't try to live in the past or grow up too fast. Embrace the moment you're in. Each moment is unique, and you'll never get another shot at it.

For example, if you can't walk as far, then don't. Find things to photograph that are closer to you. If need be, take up still life photography in your own home. If you can't carry such a heavy camera, then either find a cart or person to carry it for you, or choose a lighter camera. Compromise can be inspiration. Limitations can spawn creativity. If you can't see as well as you used to, use that to your advantage. Make your photos about what you can see, not what you can't. Be bold. Be brave. Be alive in the moment.

There is no going back to the way things where. If you look to the past, you'll only find regret and despair. If you look to the future, you'll only find anxiety and trouble. Only in the present will you find true happiness. You may be tempted to remember good times and think that they're making you happy, but they're not. It's a temporary high that will produce a long hangover when you inevitably compare it to what you have now. It's the nature of memory to be inaccurate and incomplete. They're rose colored lies that we cultivate out of ego. You may be tempted to look to the future and think of all the good that may come. But it only serves to set you up for disappointment when things don't develop as you planned. Change is the only constant. And the way life changes is predictably unpredictable. You must keep your focus on this moment, right now, and ask yourself what it is that you need to make the most of it. Embrace the joy and the pain. Live your life as it happens. Your happiness depends on it. Otherwise your work and your life will suffer.

 

[AgX]

No, I can't pack my 8x10 Deardorff anywhere near as far as I used to, but I replaced it with an Intrepid 8x10 when wanting to go out on longer hikes. The full backpack is under 25 lbs and with a carbon fiber tripod I can go pretty far afield.

I cycle about 200Km a week, but schlepping a up to 25pound backpack on a hike is something I rather refrain from. Half of that is what I carry on a dayride. 25pound so far I only carried on short rides for bringing a transformer or so home on my back. Maybe I should start training on that...

 

[NB23]

I’m only 45 and I find myself sitting or stoping whenever I can. Which is shocking to me when I realize this... I used to walk all day, 10 miles, shoot like crazy, blisters on my feet...

 

[Vaughn]

Pack and tripod for the 8x10 is 60 pounds. When hiking out of the wilderness after a few days with the 5x7, my pack is around 50 pounds with all the food gone. I'll carry the weight while I can. It helps that I am tall and 260 pounds (have not been on a scale recently, though). Of course, this makes bike riding interesting, weight-wise. Touring (once, many years ago) with a 4x5, my total rolling weight was hovering around 325 pounds (body 220, bike 30+, gear/food 80). Man...I'd love to have those legs again that those 2000 miles made!

I certainly anticipate cutting the weight down (me and gear) -- I bought an electric cargo bike...so far great with the 5x7, but some work to do to transport the 8x10 or 11x14 safely/easily. The Ries A100 is not a great fit for bike transportation -- possible, but breaking down and finally getting a carbon fiber pod for the larger cameras is in the future. It is expensive getting old!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Pack and tripod for the 8x10 is 60 pounds. When hiking out of the wilderness after a few days with the 5x7, my pack is around 50 pounds with all the food gone. I'll carry the weight while I can. It helps that I am tall and 260 pounds (have not been on a scale recently, though). Of course, this makes bike riding interesting, weight-wise. Touring (once, many years ago) with a 4x5, my total rolling weight was hovering around 325 pounds (body 220, bike 30+, gear/food 80). Man...I'd love to have those legs again that those 2000 miles made!

I certainly anticipate cutting the weight down (me and gear) -- I bought an electric cargo bike...so far great with the 5x7, but some work to do to transport the 8x10 or 11x14 safely/easily. The Ries A100 is not a great fit for bike transportation -- possible, but breaking down and finally getting a carbon fiber pod for the larger cameras is in the future. It is expensive getting old!

What kind of electric cargo bike?

 

[Vincent Peri]

I'll be 70 in October.

I have peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage in my legs and feet. It causes me to be off balance when I walk. meaning I have to concentrate on maintaining my balance when I walk.

Despite that, I managed to get out one day a week to take photos, mostly in New Orleans' French Quarter. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a stop to that. Once there is a Covid 19 vaccine, I plan to get back into taking photos like before.

 

[Vaughn]

What kind of electric cargo bike?

Surley's Big Easy. A longtail cargo bike (400lbs load limit). Images below of it loaded with the 5x7 for the first exploration (25 mile ride, about 2/3 single track, 1/3 dirt and paved road). Had the camera in a side pannier, but too big a risk of whacking it against a tree, then I put the camera pack on top rack, with tripod on the side...better and easier access.

Pedal assist only (no throttle)...if you don't pedal, you do not go anywhere. Two batteries...range can be stretched to 150 miles or so with slower travel (Eco Mode) and more pedaling...practical use: putting it in Turbo to get up hills and keeping it on Tour for the rest and the speed at about 15 mph, maybe 75 miles. Depends on weight, wind, terrain, tire pressure and so on. At 20 mph, the motor shuts off and you are on your own.

Heavy bike -- steel frame and steel fork. Solid machine. Made in MN, I believe, motor from Germany. Riding it loaded and on hilly ground, the effort I have to put out would be equal to riding a light bike on flat ground. It is not a free ride...but almost an E Ticket ride.

PS -- I have been off the bike for any long rides for a few weeks -- bad elbow partly due to handle bars of the bike. After 300 miles on it (takes awhile for pain to sink into my brain) I realized that the angle of my wrist and elbows were all wrong. I have since bought and installed new stem and bars, and waiting for the elbow to behave itself and get out there again. The handle bars are much straighter and now slightly higher than the seat (same height before), which will take weight off the arms. The heavy smoke has curbed my desire to go out and do heavy breathing, so the arm is getting the rest it needs.

PS #2 -- the bike has a Walk Mode...allows you to walk alongside the bike and have it be powered up to 3.5 mph. So it can act as a motorized cart for the camera equipment. I used it a few times on trail sections too steep or rough to ride, but I did not have to supply much of the effort to get a hundred pounds of bike and equipment up the steep rocky hill.

PS #3 -- I sold my car to buy this (still have the campervan).

 

[Billy Axeman]

Are any of you in a wheelchair?

I'm in the process of informing myself about wheelchairs because I can only walk for short distances. My current (naive) philosophy is that a wheelchair keeps you connected to the environment, and you can quickly step out of it for taking photos (and for shopping in the supermarket), and some physical effort is needed to propel yourself which keeps you in shape. To be sure I'm on the right track I have contacted a technical adviser from Invacare (the distributor for Küschall and Alber) to get an idea what you can do with it, results pending. If appropriate I would probably buy a lightweight fixed frame Küschall KSL or perhaps the foldable model 'Champion', for short distances. Depending on the maximum distance one can cover with it I would probably also purchase an Alber set of electric wheels for medium distance. These wheelchairs are very small and light and you can easily switch between manual and electric wheels by choice.

 

[Bikerider]

I am 76 next birthday but my mind still thinks I am 25 years younger. I limit my kit when I go out to 1 SLR usually my Nikon F6 or D700 and 3 lenses which cover seamlessly from 20mm right through to 300, plus a few small items. These are all in one camera bag or a rucksack. I also take a Manfrotto 55 tripod fitted and B&S head and QR shoe head. It is fitted with with a 'rifle' sling. But I cannot do what I want to every time especially with my knees. I can get down but getting up is another problem..

 

[Besk]

I am 77 and still work full time. It is a job that keeps me outside and moving around construction projects about 4 hours per day. Have a small farm and a house to keep up. My health is very good at this point. Have found that I am not quite as patient in composing as I used to be. But, still 4x5 is my favorite format.

 

[jtk]

"Advancing age" ...I'm 77... I've lived multiple rewarding lives. I take fairly good care of myself because I love life.

Looking at my prints from 68' to today I see successes, failures, questions, new opportunities.

Covid is frustrating mostly because it has gotten in the way of explorations (e.g. determination to return to Taos and Tucson several times every year). It might be good to have a pickup truck with a camper shell, but thinking about that seems an excuse and my girlfriend wants airBandB.

I don't like heavy cameras, do like printing. Mirrorless digital has been a blessing, along with inkjet printing. I recently reviewed dozens of boxes of Kodachrome that I considered potential sources of art (nothing is art unless I print it).

I don't wander hoping to find an image, I go where I expect images.









b





a

 

[NB23]

This may be a fitness condition rather than medical. During this Covid crisis many of us are suffering from overactive knife and fork (and overfull wine glass) syndrome. I hope it will all pass and you will soon be back to your blistering treks.



Kudos to you, so well stated, especially so the last two sentences. My sentiments exactly. Here in country Australia, the locals say about anyone who is always tardy to appointments or meetings, "he'll be late for his own funeral". i well and truly intend to be very late for mine...

I may have explained it a bit wrong... i actually lost 30 pounds in the last 16 months, and I am very active, generally speaking. But I have noticed that I tend to be much slower then I used to be, and I tend to stop more often. Yes, it is indeed a fitness issue but then again, can I truly expect to be as fit as when I was 30? I guess I’m a normal 45 year old guy. Gym 2-4 times a week for the past 25 years, and all that stuff. One thing’s for sure; no more sudden sprints for me. I just got slower at everything.

 

[guangong]

We call 'em Grandkids

By younger I mean folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s. Of course my 6 yr old grandson, Lego meister, likes to hang out with me. But that will end at about 13 yrs of age...if I'm still around.

 

[Ariston]

How as your advancing age and changes in your physical condition affected your photography? I find I cannot do near as much physically as I used to be able to. Days of long walks with a camera are over it seems.

I didn't know how bad my knees were until I went on a seven mile hike in the mountains a few days ago with my son. I don't consider myself to be all that old, but I have inherited my father's knees (he's had one replaced).

I love venturing into the north Georgia mountains, but I'll have to pace myself more or prepare better next time. Time catches up to us all.

 

[George Mann]

SNIP

I have a manual portable wheelchair that has a Titanium frame, and weighs just under 25lbs.

It can be quite a workout to get around in it with all of your photo-gear.

 

[Vaughn]

At 43, after a few knee surgeries and my triplets were born, I gave up basketball...it was tough and added pounds to my body. But I needed to keep my knees in shape to be able to go backpacking with them. Bicycling has helped a lot (commuting to work for years, 19mi round trip) to keep the knees working.

A photo from a couple years ago with one of my boys...four or five days in the wilderness I use to work on the trails in back in the 80s. I just had the Rolleiflex with me...had to keep up with the kid (or try at least, he was patient). From Solomon Peak with Mt Shasta far behind us...the fire now burning has of burnt around the drainage directly behind us, as of the latest maps. The area directly behind the camera is already part of of the largest fire in California history and is moving to the northeast toward Humboldt County. A lot of trail and a lot of incredible places I spent ten years working on are in flames, and possibly the 100+ year old log cabin I worked out of for all those years...does make me feel a little older. Changes.

 

[Bikerider]

Help may be at hand, and I have been working on it for a few days and am using adapted advice I was given previously

I had a foot injury a couple of years ago which repaired itself with the aid of a physiotherapist's advice. That was the stand in front of a bedroom chest with my feet about 2 feet away and support myself on the edge. Keeping my feet flat on the floor lean forward taking my weight on my arms and you will find the tendons start stretching at the back of your legs just below the back of your knees.

I am doing this for 30 seconds with one knee/leg only, then swap over for another 30 seconds. I rest for 30 seconds and then repeat the exercise for 1 minute but stretching both legs at once. I was told this will hurt for a short while until the tendons an muscles get used to it, It seems to be working because I can now come down stairs without having to hold onto the rail and no discomfort. Going up is easier too so I will continue to do this when I can twice a day and see if this continues to improve. Two and a half minutes twice a day at no expense has got to be worth it.

Be aware though....I was told not to over do this in case it promotes injury elsewhere, but so far so good.

 

[Adrian Bacon]

I’m not *that* old at mid-forties, but am definitely wise to not packing things I probably won’t use if going out, and making do with what I do bring.

that being said, my biggest problem over the last couple years has been vision. I went from having very good vision to less good vision and more difficulty seeing in less light, reading small print, reading low contrast print, etc. very frustrating. My eye doctor has told me that this is not unusual and that I’m best off to roll with it and adapt. I’m resisting glasses as much as I can, but will have to do something soon for seeing fine detail up close as my near vision is very quickly going away. My far vision has gotten pretty awesome, which is great, but not that helpful when in the darkroom.

 

[guangong]

You are only old and out of shape if the sight of a beautiful woman doesn't arouse yearnings. Women look at pretty girls also, but only to check out what they are wearing.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

You are only old and out of shape if the sight of a beautiful woman doesn't arouse yearnings. Women look at pretty girls also, but only to check out what they are wearing.

Plenty of yearnings, here.

 

[R.Gould]

I will be 70 next month, and still fairly fit, just a problem with one of my shoulder's which can make carrying heavy bags of camera kit a bit of a problem, so I have put my Bronica and Mamiya outfit's in lighter and smaller bags, bit of a tight fit, but once the camera is out and just the lenses left it is fine,my 35mm gear is fairly light, normally just a camera body with a short zoom, with the Dynax's normally a 24 to 100, or 28 to 80, plus a 80 to 200 and a 300 lens, for my Manual canon's and Pentax just a few lenses up to around 200, but I have exchanged bags puttooing my 35mm gear in my former MF bags, I can still walk 3 or 4 miles if needed, but I do often leave my Manfroto at home and carry a monopod, and if my shoulders do get painful, I still have my Rollei's and Microcord, folder's and Barnack Leicas with the lense being so small and light they can slip in the pocket's the biggest change is that now I need both reading and distance glasses, so I keep a pair of readers in the car as I am always going out and forgetting to pick the readers up, and then can't read the Weston