This just happened and I need to write it out before I forget so bear with me for a moment. I was just leaving the city taking the bus home with my gear when an older man, maybe in his 70s or early 80s approached asking if I was a photographer. Now it should be noted that I had the Mamiya out today so I was carrying A large Think Tank bag with a huge Manfrotto Tripod clinging to the back. So clearly I look like a photographer. Well normally I don't talk with strangers but I had some time to spare and he was older and seemed pretty nice. He said he was a photographer and had been a teacher for 40 years at various colleges. We get to talking and eventually i shared some photos that I had recently processed and was pleased with. He liked a couple but also said that one was boring and just skip it. It was refreshing to see that honestly! I was surprised because nobody ever says anything negative to your face really.
He also surprised me by showing me his camera which was a small plastic Nikon Coolpix. On it were some really interesting closeup shots that were just art. Super abstract closeup images of magazines and figures and eyes with different creases and grain. He said that he used to shoot images with strong subjects but now he feels free to just shoot the way he wants. And he was so happy sounding. It was cool to see that. All the time he was just giving me advice. Saying to keep shooting and never give up. Shoot as much as you can. He goes on to say that it is not about the camera, just the image. If it's about the camera then you can hang the camera on a wall! And you shouldn't do that lol!
We exchanged information and he told me about some of the photographers he's met and that he always likes meeting beginner photographers! Now I've been shooting for six years now and feel very capable behind the camera. But I realized that to him, and in the grand scheme of things, yes I am a relative beginner. As he got off the bus he mentioned that he had a stroke three months ago and that's why he was shaky...
