It really isn’t, unless it is, but in this case, it’s not! Do you know anyone who is stuck in their ways? Who just doesn’t like things to change no matter what? I find that the older I get the more I don’t like change. Change a favorite recipe? Not happening! Give up a tradition? Not if I can help it, but my kids are making that more difficult! I know many others in my life who are the same. Why should we change things if they’re working? I’ve completed six decades of my life and like the things I like. I’m not going to apologize for it either, but I am trying to be a little more flexible about it.
As I was raising my boys I tried to teach them to think for themselves and not always follow the crowd. My favorite mantra for them as they were growing up was to “believe in yourself.” After they grew up and moved out is when I got serious about my photography. I needed to fill that time, that void, in my life that was created when the every day activities of being of mom, that I loved, were no longer present. I picked up my camera and tried to learn as much as I could. I was in my late 40’s and early 50’s at that point and loved having a hobby that allowed me the flexibility to work on my own or to meet people and shoot together and learn from each other. I used this new season of my life to apply that mantra I hadI used with my sons to myself!
I realized as I treaded the internet pool of rights and wrongs, that there really are no rights and wrongs in photography, merely styles. I quickly learned that my style wasn’t always the same as the mainstream. Did I let that deter me? Nope. Is it defeating to find someone who doesn’t like it? It could be, but I choose not to dwell on it. One advantage of being a bit older is that you care much less about what other’s think. On the flip side it is flattering to have someone tell you how much they like your work? It’s always wonderful to share with like minded people. You just have to find them!
Years ago, I bought my first Lensbaby lens, used. Several people in an online forum were talking about it and I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I didn’t fall in love with that lens. I put it away for a while until I took a macro class where the instructor used the Lensbaby Velvet 56. After I saved enough money I bought that lens and haven’t looked back. There’s just something about the look of a Lensbaby image that draws me in. Does everyone I know like the look? Nada, but more and more people I know are getting excited about Lensbaby products and to be honest, it does make it easier to go against the tide.
My dad will call every once in a while with a nice complement about one of my images. He says he feels something when he sees them. There’s an emotion or intensity there that he likes! My dad turned 90 last year, the same year I turned 60. I was surprised that he liked the Lensbaby affect. It’s not the photography he knew growing up, nor is it the photography I knew, but I like that we’re both openminded enough too look at life through different lenses!
While my journey through photography is most likely different from yours or the next person’s, it’s not too late for me or for you to explore new possibilities. I’m glad I took that macro class and was curious enough to try something different. I’m glad I didn’t allow myself to be coerced by those more mainstream than I to put away my Lensbaby, my blur, my bokeh and shoot in a more traditional style. I’m glad that at my age I wasn’t resistant to change and was willing to try something a bit outside my comfort zone. It wasn’t too late for me then and it’s not too late for you now. Go ahead. Try something new. What have you got to lose?
