FYI: I'm not getting out of photography... :)

[Abel]

After the 20+ Buy/Sell Listings I made yesterday, the PM's started to roll in wondering if I was getting out of photography completely...

The answer is no, I am not getting out of photography. I am just lightening my photo kit a bit since I've accumulated so much stuff over the past 4 years or so.

I'm getting away from my sports and for hire type work so that I can focus on shooting just for me for a change. Selfish I know but that's what I need to do in order to get revitalized. Several months ago I decided I needed to print some stuff out so that I can hang them on my house walls. I then realized 95% of the stuff I had was assignment based, sports, weddings, concerts, anniversary parties, engagements etc. Absolutely nothing I could hang on my walls.. in my mind anyways!

I have had a passion for Photography for about 5 years now and have noticed it becoming more of a burden over the past year or so due to the large amounts of shooting assignments I chose to take on. Because of that burden I decided to put an end to those sort of assignments and get back to what it is that I love most... just plain ole photography... no obligations, no clients, no deadlines, no business inquiries etc... just me, my camera and no worries.

I realize I am selling enough gear to open up my own retail shop but the majority of the gear has not been used in a very long time. It's just a waste to have that gear sitting in a bag in my office not being put to good use.

My goal was to sell off most of my gear and retain a small basic kit that I can carry around with me on a daily basis. When I got started in photography almost 5 years ago, I had a Photo A Day Gallery. This PAD Gallery pushed me to use my camera every single day and in turn allowed me to learn a lot about photography in such a short period of time. For the past year or so a full month could pass by before I'd ever get to pick up my camera and go shoot something, and then when I did it was often for an assignment. Not Good. I am hoping that this small kit will help me get back to how it used to be...

My kit now consists of a Canon 5dmk2, 35 f1.4L and a 135 f2L. That's it. All of that in a nice little compact Crumpler shoulder bag that I can carry around with me so that I always have access to my camera.

Not having as many lens options in my bag allows me to focus on the photograph and the environment at hand and not let the techno-geek inside of me over think things. In other words, I now concentrate more on the visualization and composition of my work rather than spending time getting wrapped up on what other tools/toys/gadgets I should use...

Hope that makes a little sense.... hehee

Thanks to those that dropped me a line to check up on me and see if everything is ok, I really do appreciate it. Just rest assured... I am in a very good place and I plan to stick around here for quite some time... you cant get rid of me that easily!

I mean somebody has to take on the role of being the big, bad, grumpy, unfair, unjust, biased, heavy handed admin right?

[HOUSCOUS]

Well, that's good to know. LOL.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by Abel

I mean somebody has to take on the role of being the big, bad, grumpy, unfair, unjust, biased, heavy handed admin right?

Does this mean I didn't get the job?

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by Abel

I mean somebody has to take on the role of being the big, bad, grumpy, unfair, unjust, biased, heavy handed admin right?

Well, yeah...Of course......Ben

[groovyone]

Brave man with just 2 lenses. I'd go nuts.

[gardener]

Good on you Able. Sometimes it's hard to focus when you're surrounded by too much "stuff" that you thought you wanted but find you don't use when you actually got it.

[toverman]

Simple is better!

[brad]

Originally Posted by Abel

I mean somebody has to take on the role of being the big, bad, grumpy, unfair, unjust, biased, heavy handed admin right?

Well... my mother always told me to go with my strengths....

[photonewb]

I figured it was a closet cleaning as some of the gear was no longer useful with the new toy :D

[Robin Binder]

Makes total sense. In a sense, it's a way of growth. Regrouping, unloading the old and jump back in with some new stuff when you are ready. It only gets better; Feel free to pass on anything you don't want or might need to put in storage, I'll keep it dusted. lol

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by Abel

...
My kit now consists of a Canon 5dmk2, 35 f1.4L and a 135 f2L. That's it. All of that in a nice little compact Crumpler shoulder bag that I can carry around with me so that I always have access to my camera.
...

You sure you still don't want to do assignments? that's what I use mostly nowaday not a lot of wall hanger, but quite a few good folio shots with these 2, except I still don't have a 5d2 yet.

[tresorph]

know what you mean... about being the photog with bare walls. The BF and I actually went on a photo scavenger hunt this weekend, so it's not all about post processing "work" for me. Plus, it helped me scout new locations.

[CaptainTom]

I actually envy you for this move. You've cut it down to the best equipment and the KISS plan is good.

When I go out and shoot for myself I feel guilty that I'm not marketing, etc.

Don't worry, be Happy...

[blessings]

yeah...
photography for fun, its so funny and enlightening, you shoot and you know more about yourself...
photography for money, its not so funny frankly... you shoot and you get lost yourself sometimes...

[Charles Putnam]

If you look at the gear that people like Joe McNally and Scott Kelby have, it's a similar situation. They don't own every lens, every attachment, yada yada yada. They have what they know they'll use.

I think it's a smart idea. Santa (i.e. my wife) let me pick out my Christmas present, which was a Nikon 18-200 VR zoom. That replaced two lenses which I sold on Ebay (used part of the $$ to get an iPod Touch).