Getting harder than ever so might be selling my macro gear

[Paul]

My knees moan like banshees when I kneed down nowadays, and seeing as most of my stuff works at bery low levels, I think it may be getting time to change my hobby from photography to something more family orientated.

In light of that, I may be selling all my gear if I can get the right price.

I'd rather not split things up, so what is going is as follows:

Canon EOS 70D

Canon 100L 2.8 IS macro lens

Venus 60mm macro lens

Canon 18-135mm lens

Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens

Yongnuo 560 flash gun

Venus K800 Flexible Twin Flash

Manual macro rail

Manfrotto tripod

Several batteries & a charger

Some memory cards

Bag that keeps it all in

Little odds and sods

 

Not sure what price to ask yet...

 

 

Paul.

 

[ChrisLumix]

If it's just a matter of your knees, why not just 'refocus' (forgive the pun!) your photography interest to a different kind of subject matter? I find, being scooter-bound, I have to take what I can get, being unable to move to more advantageous shooting positions, or out into the scenic countryside. I've a lot fewer options but I still have some, so it's not a total write-off (yet!)

[colinb]

I am really sorry to read this Paul, you have posted many stunning images over the past few years (I especially liked many of your Bee and Wasp pictures) but I do think maybe Chris has a point and perhaps just a change of style might help keep your hobby alive? It seems a shame to give up on the obvious skills you have.

[Paul]

Cheers guys - it wouldn't be the end of me - I would maybe get a small compact and use it as a family camera - but I only like macro - people, landscapes, that kind of thing has never interested me and I tend to get naff results anyway if I try those genres!

Secondary to the aching limbs would be the money it would generate for family things too, so a sale would benefit the wife and daughter and house too...

 

Paul.

[kev7d]

Well it's a shame Paul.  But you have one heck of a great portfolio of bug shots to look back on. 

[Paul]

I know m8, thanks.

Nothing decided yet - not sure on what I'm doing as such even now...

Paul.

[Kobione]

Paul your macro work has been stunning and inspirational for me for ages. You certainly have some skills that could perhaps be utilised on a different subject focus. I hope you come up with a solution that fits all aspects that you are trying to address, and that you still enjoy your hobby.

[FUJI]

Hi, Paul,

As an truly past kneeling old fogey (79 in earlyJan:) I have been unable to get down to bug shots for years, but have posted a whole series of half decent macro studies before I put my SONY A55 and my macro gear to bed last year......they weren't switched on this year because of my vision problems.....I won't give them up though.

I discovered that, instead of kneeling, I could get many of the bugs such as hoppers, woodlice, centipedes etc up to my level, by seeding the garden with old logs, just left to rot away over the years......after a time, they become home to and amazing variety of macro life.......for a shoot I would occasionally lift one up on to an outdoor workbench, when there would be the usual scurrying and attempts to hide, but if the log is placed in a shallow tray or washing up bowl, there us no where to go.....a bit like a dry aquarium.

Also, I can use a spade to lift a clod of leaf covered earth on to the bench to seek out Springtails, Slug and snail eggs etc, never mind becoming quite adept at recognising which curled up or discoloured leaved might hide a nest of spiders, wood-lice or Larvae etc.

Just recently, ( see my latest posts) wet bedraggled wasps have been desperately seeking food and shelter on the prominent Ivy blooms, all at eye level or higher.

I wish that you lived a bit nearer to me, I could show you a few of my tricks to get the bugs up to my eye level, besides motivating you not to sell up, but to move on within your physical capabilities.

As I said I am practically one-eyed now, so rely more on the tiltable viewfinder on my M4/3 GX7 ......I really should have dug out my macro gear this year but eyes, plus a complete office refurbish, and tidy up left me no time or inclination for macro.

Sadly, too, you will lose on your investment in that specialist gear, and, I think you migh regret selling it by the time next Spring arrives.......

Have a long hard think........ because if you really can't be motivated to enjoy ...Street....Portraiture.....Landscape.....Astronomy......Underwater....or any other genre of our hobby, you might be at a loss.

Besides all the above.....

All of us will greatly miss your regular incredible MACRO posts on TIPF.

FUJI

 

[Korky]

Don't give up, Paul. Keep going and keep producing those stunning macro images.

I have dodgy knees, dodgy shoulders and dodgy thumbs (yes, thumbs), but the buggers aren't going to stop me enjoying getting out for a good walk and taking photographs. OK, I now walk 5 or 6 miles when I used to walk 8 or 9, but none of us are getting any younger!

Modify the way you work, find a way around the problems and (when you have to) make friends with IbuProfen!

Korky

[Paul]

Thanks for the support everyone.

To know you really enjoy the photos is wonderful to read, and truth be told, I really don't want to sell anything - and if I can see my finances right (I spend to much and the family do too - I just upgraded our telly for e.g.) and I was thinking about recouping some of that outlay...

But if I can stay attached with my gear, I will...

At worst, then I can get a top quality compact or bridge to keep the juices flowing, even if I don't have the specialist stuff...

Paul.

[VWGolf]

I'm sorry to hear you're thinking of giving up, Paul, and hope you change your mind.

I hope some of what the others have said help you to reconsider how you re-jig your macro photography so that you are able to do it without the kneeling.  I suffer with arthritis and sometime have trouble carrying my gear, never mind holding it all steady to take pictures.  My knees are shot and I can't remember the last time I was able to kneel, but somehow I managed to compromise - even if it does mean someone having to haul me up when I've sat on the floor to take  pictures.

Would it perhaps be slightly easier to macro-photograph things that aren't whizzing-around insects?  Maybe close up household items, plants, jewellery, watches, all sorts of things that won't buzz off when you get your camera out?

I know you say you're not interested in other genres of photography, but don't write them off.  You have a family - persuade or bribe them to let you photograph them, they may enjoy your hobby if you get them to model for you, candid or otherwise.  The next generations would probably love your family pictures.

And looking at your list of equipment, all it seems to need adding to is a cheap pair of flash triggers and you're set to photograph all sorts of things.  Off-camera flash is a doddle, once someone's shown you how to use it.  And I'm sure plenty of people in here, including me, would be happy to give you advice.

Good luck, whatever you chose

 

 

[Paul]

I've not made up my mind - things mat not change at all......   

Paul.

[Denis]

I'm just going to throw my tuppenceworth in,

I think you have produced some of the most stunning close up images I have ever seen. And while bugs are not my favourite genre, i admire the obvious skill sets you have. You are probably responsible for many others to take up this type of photography too.

Good luck in whatever YOU choose to do Paul

[Paul]

Thank you Denis, much appreciated...

Watch this space....  

Paul.

[Clicker]

Just thought I would pop in here to see how you aer doing Paul....   I hope you have decided to carry on with your fabulous  work in the Macro world ... I for one would miss the stunning images you have  graced this Forum with.  Do  please  let us know   how you are ... as we miss those ugly bugs !  

[Paul]

I'm still around sweetheart - just the bugs are not!

I still have all my gear and hopefully it will stay that way, and once the weather comes back to being warm I will start finding things to do. It's all quiet on the Preston Front!

 

Thanks for thinking of me.

Paul. x

[FUJI]

Hi, Paul,

Boy! I am so pleased that you didn't sell, you would have regretted it greatly.....we all have times in our lives when, because of health,wealth or just life in general, knocks us fir six. It is really good to learn that you have bounced back.

On theory, I should have lacked up Photography on having serious retinal surgery, currently I am struggling with severe double vision, both eyes see ok but I see two of everything, with one image down at an angle........with my temporary corrective specs on, the double vision is corrected but I'm literally one-eyed because the prescription is out of date.....I am due to see an Orthoptist in two weeks, hopefully to get a prescription that works.

The tiltable viewfinder on my GX7 is the reason I bought it.....a real Godsend.

Nothing will stop me taking pics, painting or woodworking, even though it can hurt like mad, my grip is shot .....arthritis is cruel, but don't let it beat you.

FUJI

[Paul]

I suppose none of us should give up what we love. 

Sometimes it's harder to find the inspiration but it never really dies.

I'll be back when all my fave subjects are I'm pretty sure.

 

Paul.

[Clicker]

Really pleased to see how optimistic you sound again Paul .. Roll on the warmer weather eh ... 

[Phil]

So we'll look forward to the weather warming up 

[Paul]

Yea, be afraid, be very afraid!!! LOL

Paul. 

[Rogerw]

Come on Paul , who the hell would I look up to , spring is coming and I look forward to your work mate , I just spent 26 darn years doing astro imaging and it hurt like hell to give it up, but I have found new interest with this kind of Photography,like you I can't get down  well if I did I would not get up lol , so Macro was done bending over lol , so now a bad back , but give up , to hell I will, keep with us and keep us admiring your work Paul .

[Paul]

Ok ok, lol....

Paul 

[Kobione]

Paul I always look forward to seeing your fantastic stuff, and hope to see more as you get more activity.

We have been a bit the same, our inconsistent weather has resulted in a real lack of subjects for me, and although I could never reach your standard, I still enjoy finding and snapping those things.

[Paul]

I'll find my focus again I'm sure (bad pun intended)..  

The weather is a major pain though for macro... All will come good in time...

 

Paul.