Longwatcher
10th of January 2005 (Mon), 13:32
Well I found out Friday that there is no more money for my current contract and not likely to be any before Sept at the earliest. I actually have two programs, one of which does have money until Sept, but I know that one runs out then. So I am trying to decide how much effort I want to put into getting another contract or if I should go into retired/retired status and actually work for my spending money. There is always the chance it might get funded later, but I don't hold out a lot of hope given everything I have heard about program funding.
On a annoyance note: Supposedly there is a war on, but I keep seeing all of the programs around me being cut due to lack of funding, which is why they have no more funding for that contract. Most of these programs are for advanced sensors that could help find things like little bombs hidden the road. I guess the tax cuts and spending on social security are more important then the war on terrorism. Not all is bad, just a lot of it is not making sense in everything they are cutting.
So the things I would like opinions on are; Do I have everything I might possibly need in terms of equipment if I no longer had any money to buy new equipment.
The below link is to my latest list:
http://www.longwatcher.com/photoequipment.htm
It does not include the couple of extra things I bought for my 1DsMKII, which I have now (like spare battery and Ec-b focus screen) and it also does not include the last 4 lenses on my list TS-E 24, 15mm Fisheye, 85/1.2 and 135/2.
My photography will be focused on people and pets (AKA portraits), but not weddings (unless I get real desparate or they do). If I don't have to buy any more equipment, I can live on my military retirement, so any money I make is just spending money after the cost of that shoot is taken into account. Just won't have money for equipment, unless I make money.
I may also make some money doing shoots for pay-per-view sites, but that is iffy at best so far. I also am not sure that I really want to do that full time, I tend to be a bit too artistic for most of those sites.
Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.
BTW: I am holding off on my lens purchases at this time, since I really want the TS-E 24 as my next lens (no rebate) and need to start conserving money now. And my girlfriend was right, I really don't need it for my next shoot, when I should be concentrating on the pictures, not the new toy. I can also live without the 15, 85 and 135 at this time. I am actually pretty happy with the results of my 16-35 now that I have a FF camera.
On a annoyance note: Supposedly there is a war on, but I keep seeing all of the programs around me being cut due to lack of funding, which is why they have no more funding for that contract. Most of these programs are for advanced sensors that could help find things like little bombs hidden the road. I guess the tax cuts and spending on social security are more important then the war on terrorism. Not all is bad, just a lot of it is not making sense in everything they are cutting.
So the things I would like opinions on are; Do I have everything I might possibly need in terms of equipment if I no longer had any money to buy new equipment.
The below link is to my latest list:
http://www.longwatcher.com/photoequipment.htm
It does not include the couple of extra things I bought for my 1DsMKII, which I have now (like spare battery and Ec-b focus screen) and it also does not include the last 4 lenses on my list TS-E 24, 15mm Fisheye, 85/1.2 and 135/2.
My photography will be focused on people and pets (AKA portraits), but not weddings (unless I get real desparate or they do). If I don't have to buy any more equipment, I can live on my military retirement, so any money I make is just spending money after the cost of that shoot is taken into account. Just won't have money for equipment, unless I make money.
I may also make some money doing shoots for pay-per-view sites, but that is iffy at best so far. I also am not sure that I really want to do that full time, I tend to be a bit too artistic for most of those sites.
Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.
BTW: I am holding off on my lens purchases at this time, since I really want the TS-E 24 as my next lens (no rebate) and need to start conserving money now. And my girlfriend was right, I really don't need it for my next shoot, when I should be concentrating on the pictures, not the new toy. I can also live without the 15, 85 and 135 at this time. I am actually pretty happy with the results of my 16-35 now that I have a FF camera.