Just looking for a little accomodation.....

Dragan

Recent conversations have led me to believe i am in a very lucky place when it comes to excercising my love for photography.

I have a girlfriend who will happily model for me at the drop of a hat, i have a family that is consistantly interested and passionate about the photo's that i take, i have a massively supportive circle of friends who are always offering lifts in cars to various places whenever i go and see them.

As such, the people in my life are very accomodating of my passion.

Are you as lucky or do you find yourself swimming against a tide of disinterest?

dakar

Interesting question, my family circle probably lag a little behind yours in terms of passion per se, but I would say are definitely interested in what I do. I think it depends on what I'm producing to a certain extent.

For example, I set up a half-arsed attempt at a little studio at home at the weekend to get some shots of my (gorgeous:D) six month old daughter. I got some great shots, lovely b/w A3 prints, serious brownie points from Mrs. dakar and the grandparents as well as my own personal satisfaction. So definite support and passion on that one.

Also at the weekend, I rigged up a little set-up to take a series of shots of lego men to illustrate DOF at various apertures to the newer members of the local camera club. This time, although Mrs dakar was interested (and an added bonus now understands what an aperture is and is now primed for the explanation of why my next lens will cost how much!:))I think there was a little more bemusement in her tone.

Sometimes, my fascination with photography seems to be tolerated as an entertaining foible or mild character flaw particularly when I come in brandishing a print of my latest masterpiece and get the ultimate put down 'That's nice, dear':eek:

There's also general amusement in my circle that I'm taking myself off to a haunted castle with a bunch of mad people off t'internet. Mrs. dakar is of the opinion that everyone on planet internet is either Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining' or his twin brother. When I pointed out to her that I wasn't a crazed axe murderer and I was going, she just raised one eybrow!:)

(Incidentally, if anyone off to Tullamore this weekend is a crazed axe muderer, can you just let me know now, so I can put my affairs in order!)

RoryW

dakar wrote: »

There's also general amusement in my circle that I'm taking myself off to a haunted castle with a bunch of mad people off t'internet.

This reminds me of a quote from Criminal Minds where they said that statistically serial killers have a significant interest in photography

challengemaster

Fajitas is a bit of a serial/crazed tea-bagger, but a killer/axe murderer... Doubt it!

Sorry for the off topic-ness Dragan - I'll edit this when im finished my homework to have something addressing the question

Red Hand

Forget about the context of photography OP, you are lucky full stop.:)

Fajitas!

Well, I have to say, I've managed to land into 'good' photographic situations since before I was properly interested in photography - Good looking friends, with interesting interests, grew up with most of my friends in bands. Then into art college, more interesting characters, even more interesting nights out, and friends studying fashion/textiles design, and so on.


All my friends are well used to my passion of photography by now, and it's no hassle to grab one to take a few photos by now.

My dad was the reason I knew how to hold a camera in the first place, and both parents have an interest in what I shoot... Even if I don't always have an interest in showing them :pac:

Landed on my feet really

ThOnda

Well, my hobby was tolerated and partly supported. It was supposed to keep me away from geeky stuff and computers. Muhehe :pac:
Some people are still willing to look at my pictures. I don't know why, but I think it is just family politeness.

Dragan

Jeremiah 16:1 wrote: »

Forget about the context of photography OP, you are lucky full stop.:)

Believe me i know!

I think like Al i am lucky in that i have interesting friends who are into interesting things and are always dragging me here and there to see this and that. My friends are very much a window into new things for me, in fact it was one of them in particular that i have to thank for introducing me to photography in the first place.

Also, the fact that a good view of my friends like photography and are interested in what we do as a group means we have had some great discussions on the subject and sorting out a trip to somewhere is never a hard task.

Bui

Interesting thread, I like it. I think I have to say I have it pretty good; my father is a photographer so grew up with a darkroom in an outhouse and an avid and lasting interest on my parents part, not to mention accomodating; my boyfriend is as into it as I am, which works really well for messing around in the evenings with lighting set-ups and modelling etc (not to mention gear sharing....) and I have one or two highly photogenic friends who simply love being posing for the camera, not to mention the slightly unwilling but ever accomodating flatmates I have had in the past.

I also have a good few friends in bands who are always happy to provide passes and am the auditor of ucd photosoc this year with my boyfriend, giving great scope for planning trips, practical sessions and talks etc (with the added bonus of allowing for endless opportunities when it comes to any gig /event /guest speaker in ucd).

All in all, all I can complain about is not having as much time as I would like! Nice thread.

AnCatDubh

A few contributors mentioned parents and its interesting that from what i gather - never really talked to them about it (irish son syndrome ) but i see that my parents have a great interest in what shots i've taken, a lot of it tends to be centered around the grand children which is understandable but destination shoots seem to interest them too.

My nearest and dearest is really supportive but wouldn't be overly comfortable being asked to pose or the like. She wouldn't mind if i remortgaged the house to buy some new kit and doesn't complain when I get lost for a while in a camera manual, photography magazine, or boards site. The 'yung uns' are at varying stages from sticking the tongue out at the camera every time its pointed in their direction (very frustrating) to being quite happy to stay still for a little time while Dad thinks he's David flippin Bailey for minute - eh.... all things considered - I'd have little to complain about i guess.

As Bui mentioned more time would be nice but feck it you've got to live too and unless you live in a megapixel coocoon it usually involves earning a few bob, being taxi, banker, security guard, confidant, father, good guy, bad guy, friend, foe, etc.. I would think that as your life progresses through natural stages that your available time to photograph (which is very little with me at the moment) will increase as young uns grow up, move away, come back, have young uns of their own, bring them back etc.. While I look forward to having a little more time to devote to the wonderful joy of photography I don't want it to happen any sooner than it will naturally occur. I might think or say that i wish i had more time on occasion but in reality and on balance I don't believe it. Its all situational and there's living to be done and responsibilities to be fulfilled. I just hope i don't kick the bucket before i'm 40 or i'll be very annoyed with myself (but hey - i'd be dead so.... )

I think you've got to have an interest (or two or three) that flavours everything else that happens around you. For some it will be golf, or gaa, or soccer, or drink, or foods, or adventure pursuits perhaps - i think for many here it will be photography as at least one of the flavourings they add to living and all the better if such flavouring colours and enhances the living of everyone around them.

I also think that if you were 'maad into' the photography and everyone else around you detested it then you'd probably have a few other issues in your life to be sorted.

For me anyhow - things are good and hopefully it will continue that way.