Want something expensive? feel you cannot afford it? Here's how I got enough money to buy a Leica:
I worked at a job that paid me a wage. I saved a small portion out of every paycheck for over a year. Had it auto deposited - directly to a special savings account. I sold some of my other gear on eBay and added those proceed to that special savings account...After a while, I had enough money in that account to buy a Leica. So I bought one....but, I kept the auto deposits going to that special savings account so, that when the time comes, I can afford something else too.
I recommend this approach to anybody who wants something that they think they cannot afford. It is very satisfying.
This too is my preferred way to get what I need, however, a regular or part time job is no possible for me.
I am an Enewetok Clean-up Vet, and my service on that extremely radioactive Atoll, when I was 20-21 y.o., pretty much killed my health by 1990, when I worked as a freelance photographer/assistant/b&w darkroom guy.
I ended up as the 'at home parent' to our two sons at about that time, and I worked as an election assistant to judge, in my local polling station which was only a couple of days, but that was it.
I also worked as an artist, first with wall space, then studio a couple decades later, years later, always with help from my family, or in really good months, my own earnings, then, 3.5 -4.5 years ago I lost my studio, due to budgeting by my Roseann and I, when it just became too much to handle.
My work sold well, but it was mostly in the days the studios were open to the public, on the third Friday of the month. and for the last year or so, I mainly was working on an abstract series on heavy Arche's W.C. Paper, with small drawings, silver point, paintings in W.C., acrylic and oils and coloured pencils as well as ink drawings with old fountain pens, etc. I had a good following of regular and new patrons, but the constant fatigue, and a number of other conic conditions limited my work to when I had 'enough energy'.
My intention in working on the series on Arche's was to make 100 pieces of half and full sheets for a show, so I did no sell these, as I put a lot of effort in getting these together and intend to keep working on the series, once I am able to have space to paint.
My pottery also sold well, but without a wheel and kiln, I could only sell off most of what I made in school, in the mid-nineties, in a couple of years or so. when my kids were old enough to attend all day school.
I have no been able to organize my 'home studio' well enough to allow printmaking and easel painting, but, my darkroom is up and running, and I still can get out for photography, though we have been isolating, however my car is down for awhile now and my Rozeann has a modest job as a cake decorator at a local supermarket chain, so much of the time, on her days off, we make local road trips in her van and she helps out as driver and assistant..
We do pretty good most of the time, and I'm happy and love my Rozeann and less am stressed than years ago, though I will always have my chronic depression, another gift of my service there, but under control for some time now..
The V.A. has mostly let the Enewetok Veterans die-off, as we were too small a demographic to have enough pull in D.C., but Kim Walh did the first of some major stories, about Enewetok, the internet allowed many of us to find each other and work together to support each other, and the last few years, it's story is getting a lot more attention.
The N.Y.Times did a big piece on us and the Governments deceptions, a few years back, just google, "Eniwetok Veterans, N.Y. Times'
and you can read some on the topic.
In the first of the year, after 40 plus years of denying we were even there, the V.A. slipped us onto the 'Atomic Vets list, overnight' but did no make any announcement about it, and many of use are now getting some more direct attention, though we have some way to go to get disability payments, as the VA is still the VA, but I like them well enough.
I do no draw any VA, or other payments, so I have manage within our resources, just as every other member of Photrio.com must, and I tried to sell some of my prints by other artist, to artist that were part of exchanges we had and newbees so I made the big Ask, for the Leica first on Greg's List, and later on camera forums I belong to,
I'm no poor mouthing, but you and others question why I posted this ad, so that's the basics of it.
Most of my kit was bought when I found really good bargains from individuals, when I was actively selling as an artist, and by scanning Craig's List and Freecycle,with occasional gifts from others.
What monies I do accumulate, go for small things, such as good used filters for my medium format kit, film, and chemistry with which I mix my own developers, etc.
Anyway, that's way too much information to put on the internet, but I have done similar, once before, so, there's little reason no to respond to your query, in this ad.
This is no a sob story for attention, just simply my situation, and I won't die or feel badly if I can no find what I'm looking for, but I do no mind asking as I have.
Cheers, Be Safe, Godspeed to all here.
