Category: Life

Year End Thanks

Life, My Community, Photography

As we approach another year end (wow!), most of us take stock of our year and what it has brought us. I tend to do that more often than annually, especially after a particularly stressful experience. This year, there hasn’t been a lot of stress, thankfully, although the challenges of getting older and of supporting family members getting older do bring their own moments of pause.

I like to make lists, of things I’ve done, things I need to do, things other people need to do. So it’s somewhat easy to look back at those now. I’ve actually accomplished quite a lot this year, but have decided that next year needs a whole new direction. Why? Read on.

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Give Nothing for the Holidays Except Yourself

Life, My Community, Photography

It is that time of year again when we turn our attention to purchasing gifts for those we love, to acknowledge their place in our lives and to say how much we love them. It’s a joyous activity for many; It is a classic dilemma and typically the source of much stress and consternation for most.

If you are as old as me, there does come a point though when many of us decide we have enough stuff and ask not to receive anything material again. Although I still like to hear about toys as much as ever, I’m there – I don’t need to own them. It’s a bit of an odd feeling. Yet somehow appropriate as you head toward your twilight of life.

Instead, I’m suggesting a new approach this year. Making yourself the gift. I don’t mean anything cringeworthy. Instead I’m talking about the gift of your time. If you are as old as me, it is now the one thing that means everything.

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Why AI is No Big Threat

Life, My Community, Photography, Tools, Career

Back in 2020, I did my first blog post on AI, commenting that while many saw its emergence as a threat, I didn’t. With the choices available to them, people like me could elect how much if any machine-learned automation might become part of our lives.

It’s five years later and I thought I would revisit that idea again, again from the perspective of a senior retiree. I do recognize that other lifestyles and financial circumstances might result in a different viewpoint, but this is mine.

Here’s how AI has impacted me in the last five years and how it might impact me in the future.

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What I Did For My Summer Holidays

Life

I remember being a kid and going back to school in September and on the first day, the teacher would always ask us to stand and talk about what we did for the summer. Coming from an immigrant family with limited funds, I had no fascinating stories to tell about far-flung destinations visited, or summer camps that I attended, or even the new bike I had received and rode endlessly. For us, it was about playing outside, with friends, and when it was too hot, being lazy and hanging out down by Lake Ontario or at the local splash pad.

That trend has continued for me into adulthood. I don’t travel in the summer, except locally. I don’t own a vacation home or RV or trailer. Instead, I make the most of my suburban home, creating a peaceful garden oasis with outdoor seating, a pond, bird feeding stations and perennials. I love it and it serves me well.

This year, I decided I needed to do the same inside, modernizing and updating the visible surfaces (ceilings, walls, floors) with new materials and colours. For most of the summer, my house was awash with contractors, and I was living in the basement, eagerly awaiting for the changes to be completed. Why would I post about this on a photography blog? Because I found the artistic choices made for the inside of my home are very much related to my current aesthetic as a photographer. Find out how.

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For Sale – Maybe?

Life, My Community, Photography

As you get older, the possessions you have collected over your life begin to be less important. Some naturally wear out, some become obsolete, and some you just lose interest in. I’ve been on a decluttering kick for more than a year as I approach the end of my 7th decade, and it has been remarkably refreshing. It’s an odd sense of starting over, of zeroing in on what’s most important. For the most part, I’ve felt very good with the choices made.

What has surprised me though is how difficult it is to re-home camera equipment and accessories. The consumer market is changing and has changed significantly. It’s been frustrating to declutter these items. Find out what I have tried and what success I have had. It might surprise you…

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What Does It Mean To Be A Professional?

Career, Expertise, Life, Photography

I had an interesting experience recently, as all home owners do. I had to hire someone to do some repairs on the house. I also took the opportunity to do some upgrades as well. The specifics don’t matter, but the quality of work does. The company I hired boldly advertised their services as delivered by highly trained, professional technicians. I hear that phrasing a lot, especially from those selling services, including photography, with the latter usually accompanied by the words “award-winning” as well. Of course it started me thinking of a blog topic, What does “professional” actually mean? Read on.

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When Life Gets in the Way of Art

Architecture, Life, Photography, travel

First, Happy Flag Day! To all my Canadian readers, we show the flag with pride today – first unveiled 60 years ago. Proud of the flag – and so very proud to be a Canadian!

As you read this, I’m in the final planning stages of a trip – to Los Angeles. Will be joining an avid group of hobbyist architectural photographers to try creating abstracts with this unusual source subject. A new twist for me on a typically formal subject, usually captured with full facades, straight lines and predictable angles. These images will be tilted, twisted and perhaps even distorted. It should be fascinating. I’ll report on the outcome separately, but I wanted to take note of a few unexpected considerations in my planning. Not life imitating art or vice-versa, but rather life getting in the way of art.

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10 Years

Interesting Stuff, Life, My Community, Nina Kirienko, Photography

Just watched a video by Thomas Heaton, one of my favourite landscape photographers, about his 10 years on YouTube and what it has meant to his life.

Well, that got me thinking. 10 years ago, I retired from working for a living for a salary. It was actually in June of this year, but I didn’t stop to dwell on it then. Year ends are usually time for reflection, so I think it’s time for mine.

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Gift Giving – 2024 Edition

Interesting Stuff, Life, Photography

Can’t believe it’s that season again – when we all struggle with trying to decide what to buy for those who are closest to us. We want to celebrate their importance to us and to celebrate how we feel about them. Apart from dealing with the commerciality of the season, this end goal is really, really hard because it means so much.

Gift giving seems to go through a variety of transitions over our lives. We go through phases of gift giving – initially, we give gifts that say something cute to a new friend or romantic interest but may just be a trinket or token; we then move to gifts that are trendy because everyone wants one; eventually, we indulge in financially more expensive gifts that say “you deserve this” and then, when we and our loved ones have all the stuff we need, ultimately, we look for gifts that are more personal, less commercial, perhaps even made with the hands of the gift giver.

At this stage of my life, I’ve come full circle around gift giving. Most of my family and friends have as well. What to do for those who really don’t need more stuff? Here are a few ideas.

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What’s Up with Retro?

Gear, Interesting Stuff, Life, Photography

I watched a piece recently in which a 20-something YouTuber extoled the virtues of a fixed lens, limited function camera that has been sold out since its release – the Fuji X100VI. His message was a simple one – it makes photography fun again. He is a professional photographer and it seems none of his other higher end Canon mirrorless cameras were fun any longer.

I saw something similar in my recent short career working in a camera store – young people in their teens or twenties with old film cameras they had found in the attic or purchased at a thrift store. They wanted to buy film and/or get a quick lesson on how to use them. In those cases, they often did not know anything about photography, but wanted to learn using these cameras, not something more advanced. When asked about the appeal of these devices to them, the answer was – I’m told they are fun.

I have only one question for both – why?

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