When did you almost gave up on photography

I don't know how one could 'give up.' I'd find it impossible to lose the enjoyment from seeing B&W print as long as I live. It would be like 'giving up' seeing.

Another way to ask it is, if you have a darkroom and hadn't used it recently, how old were the chemicals you poured out when you refreshed things?

ic-racer said:

I don't know how one could 'give up.' I'd find it impossible to lose the enjoyment from seeing B&W print as long as I live. It would be like 'giving up' seeing.

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I think what you're describing is the dividing line between those for whom it's a creative calling (no matter how hard or frustrating the path is) and those for whom it's a hobby/ avocation that lets them play with cameras.

Lachlan Young said:

I think what you're describing is the dividing line between those for whom it's a creative calling (no matter how hard or frustrating the path is) and those for whom it's a hobby/ avocation that lets them play with cameras.

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I think there is a third path - those who continue to get long term joy from photography. Even if all you do is take photos at dinner parties and trips to the lake and social events and annual vacations and whatever you enjoy participating in, if you enjoy that, you are eligible.
The analogy I think of is something else I get lifelong joy from, listening to all sorts of music. Listening has a bit of creativity embodied in it, but it is more an experience than a creation.

I haven't ever really given it up, but there were times that I did less of it. At one point, I hadn't really taken any pictures in a few months and had made some jewelry that I needed to photograph. That was almost the last jewelry I made as that got me back to shooting. In the last few years, I've done less than I want to do because we have a child and I am frequently busy with sports, scouts, errands, etc.. I kinda wish I had a personal assistant to do most of the errands and the cooking. I have more ideas than I have time.

Right now at the end of my MFA

Having kids vacuums most, if not all of your energies for a while. Spending time on forums, fiddling with developers, all of that goes away when you're living life minute by minute in expectation of the next diaper/food/what-is-wrong-with-him/go-the-f---to-sleep moment.

I managed to keep active by taking pictures of the adorable little brat with my digicam, but it took a long while before I could set myself up for film.

After I sat down and figured up how much money it has cost me over the last 20 years. I could be retired on all that.....except I'm already retired. Maybe I could be more retired.

After college, I bought a new fancy auto-everything camera and all my work (all b&w) went to..you know...and I thought "well, I suck after all" After a few years of not shooting I revisited some my previous work in college with the old Nikon I had borrowed from my gf realizing I didn't suck then..lightbulb... so I hopped onto this new thing called the internet and purchased the same old Nikon I used before and sure enough I suddenly didn't suck anymore. Then I got an M2...and I continue not to suck as long as everything is manual.

As others have mentioned, having kids can divert one's attention for a while. I got hooked in 1973 when I was in the army and was a real darkroom rat. After I got out I worked in photofinishing for several years but still did the bulk of my work in my own darkroom. When the kids came along my darkroom languished for a few years and I was shooting mostly snapshots and, eventually, digital, but really got back into it after I retired and started pursuing a BFA, which I am 2 classes and senior show away from finishing.

Through all of this I have kept my interest by trying new processes and techniques. I tried all kinds of camera techniques (time lapse, freeze frame, night photos, double exposure, pinhole, you name it) and all kinds of darkroom processes from black and white to color. I veered into graphics arts and started doing posterizations of my negatives and taking those into silk screening with photo stencils. Now I am playing in alternative process of cyanotypes, Van Dykes, Sabbatier, and mordencage. There is always something new to try to keep me motivated.

About ten years ago the local pro lab that I had been using closed. I was distraught. Almost immediately, I stopped using color film. I stopped using 35mm. I concentrated on large format and processed all my own B&W for the next four or five years and then just completely stopped doing photography altogether for a couple of years (bigger life issues). Time passed and I took up with small format again. I'm using color print film again and have found a new lab that usually does decent work for fair prices. I'm building a permanent place in my house for a darkroom. I have a drawer in the fridge full of fresh film and I'm thinking about unpacking some of the large format gear. Life is good.

For me when the children came, photography grew in a new way. There was always a camera ready to go with flash in the house. When we went out, the flash came off and the camera came with us.

I haven't thought of giving up, but I've rarely touched my cameras since my youngest went off to college and then COVID hit. Time to reconnect and start shooting again!

When a full time job got in the way and driving/modifying fast cars became my other hobby. Crashed the car though and had a realization that scene wasn't for me so back to photography I went.