We're all getting older...the "pros & cons" for us photographers

Hey gang,
I've noticed recently that the more grey hairs I have, the more friendly people are towards me when I'm out shooting.
I just wish some of said hairs weren't sprouting from my ears
There's more, but I want to hear from you....

So, please share the good and bad regarding aging, and taking pictures:

Are you finding anything photography-related more difficult or easier, as the months and years tick by?

Are there any tips the more mature POTNers can give the wee ones regarding "what'll come round the corner...."?

Is there anything that should be avoided, in your opinion....or anything highly recommended as the wrinkles become crevices?

Looking forward to reading your comments...if only I can work out how to make the font bigger on my damn computer screen!!!

Harder to manual focus.

Harder to hand hold long lenses.

I can still walk like a crazy man. I put in 78 miles in San Francisco in 6 days recently, but harder to take the photos.

I need either a tripod or IS to shoot successfully.

Sometimes I get out to shoot and forget what I went to shoot.

Being better able to afford these insanely overpriced toys.

rklepper wrote in post #10020950
Harder to manual focus.
Harder to hand hold long lenses.
I can still walk like a crazy man. I put in 78 miles in San Francisco in 6 days recently, but harder to take the photos.
I need either a tripod or IS to shoot successfully.
Sometimes I get out to shoot and forget what I went to shoot.

Now that's dedication...when you forget why you're even out there!

mbellot wrote in post #10020984
Being better able to afford these insanely overpriced toys.

Good point...though Missus Skygod would disagree.

And I've got another good one:
The older I get, the wider my "would be" selection of "women who I'd love to photograph" becomes....it's not that I'm a dirty old man, but I think that as we age, we see beauty as a whole lot MORE than just skin deep.

skygod44 wrote in post #10021016
Now that's dedication...when you forget why you're even out there!

Good point...though Missus Skygod would disagree.

And I've got another good one:
The older I get, the wider my "would be" selection of "women who I'd love to photograph" becomes....it's not that I'm a dirty old man, but I think that as we age, we see beauty as a whole lot MORE than just skin deep.

Or that is the justification your using for Mrs Skygod!

When you get down low and have trouble getting back up. Sometimes, even the getting down is difficult. It seems like as I have gotten older, it is a longer reach to the ground.
Not complaining, getting older is better than the alternative.

I don't see things like I did just a few years ago. Today I was putting connectors on a patch cord and couldn't see the colors of the wires to put them in the correct order. The colors seemed to blend together in a fuzzy group...

Jon.

Downside: teens get easily creeped out.
Upside: their moms don't.

cdifoto wrote in post #10034915
Downside: teens get easily creeped out.
Upside: their moms don't.

Nice...

As an "older" photograher, I'm discovering that I'm much more singleminded about what I really want to shoot and how I want to shoot it. Almost stubborn about it. There is a quality level I strive for and I get extremely frustrated if I feel I've not measured up to an opportunity on a given day.

Good because I'm not waffling about through life with no direction. I actually have an ultimate goal in mind and am efforting toward it.

Bad because it's probably limiting my willingness to try and photograph different things. Fortunately, I belong to a flesh and blood photo group and our monthly themes keep me looking around as much as possible for subjects that present themselves.

how old are you people? hehe... its scary reading this thread.

monk3y wrote in post #10035009
how old are you people? hehe... its scary reading this thread.

Indeed. I am 22, so this thread will provide some interesting insight on what lies ahead! Of course, by the time I hit the big 50 (is that even considered old?), we will be using photoshop CS15 that doesn't even require a starting photo to work its Content Aware Fill magic on. Just click a button and it'll make a perfect, award winning photograph from a blank white starting canvas!

sheawyatt wrote in post #10035147
Indeed. I am 22, so this thread will provide some interesting insight on what lies ahead! Of course, by the time I hit the big 50 (is that even considered old?), we will be using photoshop CS15 that doesn't even require a starting photo to work its Content Aware Fill magic on. Just click a button and it'll make a perfect, award winning photograph from a blank white starting canvas!

damn!! you're 22 and you have all that stuff?? I really have to get out of this country hehehe... btw, I am 27 and haven't experienced those mentioned above. so how old are you people? hahaha

neilwood32 wrote in post #10022512
Or that is the justification your using for Mrs Skygod!

Actually....for once....I have to say that Missus Skygod has been behaving herself recently and being rather more chirpy than at the back end of last year when I changed careers (and became utterly skint for a while). Hmmmmmm...maybe it's just because the money has started to come in again.......and there was me, thinking I'd done something right.

DVW wrote in post #10022528
When you get down low and have trouble getting back up. Sometimes, even the getting down is difficult. It seems like as I have gotten older, it is a longer reach to the ground.
Not complaining, getting older is better than the alternative.

Even at a little over 40, I can understand that. To the "truly" young, look after your knees and hips - if/when you begin to feel pain in them, trust me, life takes on a whole other meaning.

Jon Foster wrote in post #10034902
I don't see things like I did just a few years ago. Today I was putting connectors on a patch cord and couldn't see the colors of the wires to put them in the correct order. The colors seemed to blend together in a fuzzy group...
Jon.

Have you tried a new pair of specs?

cdifoto wrote in post #10034915
Downside: teens get easily creeped out.
Upside: their moms don't.

....and their Mums look a lot hotter from "this end" of the age continuum, too!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10034991
.....As an "older" photograher, I'm discovering that I'm much more singleminded about what I really want to shoot and how I want to shoot it. Almost stubborn about it. There is a quality level I strive for and I get extremely frustrated if I feel I've not measured up to an opportunity on a given day.
Good because I'm not waffling about through life with no direction. I actually have an ultimate goal in mind and am efforting toward it.
Bad because it's probably limiting my willingness to try and photograph different things. Fortunately, I belong to a flesh and blood photo group and our monthly themes keep me looking around as much as possible for subjects that present themselves.

Good to see you pass on some wisdom, Jay!
And I think the sentence I've emboldened is vital too. Life really does flash by, so please, everyone and anyone who cares to peek into this thread: Make it count for something good!

monk3y wrote in post #10035009
how old are you people? hehe... its scary reading this thread.

Well, I'm not as old as many, but older than plenty (and sadly suffering a few joint issues - mainly knees and hips due to a couple of nasty motorbike accidents 20+ years ago) - so my aim is to help people get THE MOST out of photography at whatever stage they're at.

sheawyatt wrote in post #10035147
Indeed. I am 22, so this thread will provide some interesting insight on what lies ahead! Of course, by the time I hit the big 50 (is that even considered old?), we will be using photoshop CS15 that doesn't even require a starting photo to work its Content Aware Fill magic on. Just click a button and it'll make a perfect, award winning photograph from a blank white starting canvas!

If that happens, I'll throw away my gear and stick to real canvas and oil paint!!!

monk3y wrote in post #10035539
damn!! you're 22 and you have all that stuff?? I really have to get out of this country hehehe... btw, I am 27 and haven't experienced those mentioned above. so how old are you people? hahaha

Leave your home country? Do it!
I did, and despite all my hearty digs at Missus Skygod, I'd never want to be anywhere else or with anyone else!

skygod44 wrote in post #10035622
Leave your home country? Do it!
I did, and despite all my hearty digs at Missus Skygod, I'd never want to be anywhere else or with anyone else!

I can't, I have quite a good/comfortable life here compared to others, I have my own businesses here, car, travel, can afford some nice things etc... no reason at all to leave my country to work for others... its just that I don't have enough money to buy myself all the gears I want yet hehehe

Pros of getting older... grey hair makes it easier to get access to venues, you get the "who're you shooting for" treatment, you are taken more seriously when you want to come photograph something. People get out of your way when there's a crowd if you're older and carry a big white lens. You can afford it (scr*w the pension fund ).

Cons of getting older ... lugging tons of gear around hurts your back, climbing ladders to mount remote cameras makes you sweat, once you're admitted to that great spot on the gym floor it's getting harder to get down on and up off the floor to get that nice low camera angle, etc... after a full day of shooting you're really tired and would prefer a drink and a movie instead of post processing the photos ... I ruined a knee slipping on a motorcross track, probably would have taken the strain OK if it had happened 20 years earlier. I don't like how my body gets more brittle with age.

I hope I still have time to work my way up to the nicer photo opportunities while I still have the strength and interest to take advantage. The pros outweigh the cons though, so far.