This past October I turned 70 and I still think about it from time to time. I had been steadily inching closer to the big day. Not with as much panic as I had experienced when closing in on 30 becoming a reality, but still with some trepidation. Then there was a surprise! I realized the day after my birthday that I felt the same … and behaved the same as I had two days earlier.
Interesting.
Well, it turns out one of things you can’t control is getting older. Forget it. Not happening. However there’s something you can control … whether you’re going to continue to be creative, do the work with a high level of passion, and live a full photographic life!
2024 was a great photographic year for me, which means I had a very full photographic life. I went beyond my personal goals for my input to Monalog’s Visions of America project. I also had a significant number of keepers I printed that now reside on this site, and a I saw a number of great shows. Revising my galleries here got me even more juiced than I was before! Not a bad for a year that had its share of distractions!
And now I’m pumped to keep going were I left off! I have a number of projects I want to work on and have done a fair amount of planning to make that happen. But most importantly I just want to make pictures, print the keepers and continue to live my photographic life.
So here’s the thing. There are people I know and photographers I know of that decided to pack it in when they were younger than me. Why? Maybe if you’re of a certain age you don’t want to shovel your driveway or mulch your garden anymore. I get that. Hire someone (if haven’t been deported), move to a different climate or get a condo, but for heaven sakes don’t give up on your photographic life!
I feel I am the happiest I’ve ever been with my photographic life and my productivity, and have no intention of letting up anytime soon.
In short, I refuse to be a geezer!
For those of a certain age, how about you?
Stay well,
Michael
Perfect Michael. Turning 81 in March and while photographing less love the feeling in my darkroom and the 4 generations of photographers in my family. Have still to print the glass plate negatives my great grandfather made in the early 1890’s.
Keep up the good work and grateful for your sharing!
Douglas,
Thank you for checking and your kind words. Keep up doing what you’re doing and maintaining your family legacy. The magic never ends if you don’t want it to!
Best,
Michael
Well, next milestone here is 84 but I’m still doing stuff — maybe not as much — or as quickly — as years back. Just in the past month or so acquired a 40.5mm female to female coupling plus a step-up ring to 49mm to more securely fit filters and a shade on to the external threaded knurling of my Ercona II 6×9 folder. Howzat fer strangeness?!
Dave,
I never would have thought it!!!! But who cares … it’s just a number.
Let me know if you are going to be nearby anytime soon!
Best,
Michael