other hobbies

[under13]

I do not develop the film myself. And yes, I do plan to upgrade to a DSLR next year some time. I am actually doing research on cameras now and am leaning heavily toward Canon EOS models mainly due to more accessories and options available.

Cant go wrong with canon or nikon! I like the T1i, as it has HD video

[Asahel]

>>Photography (Using a Nikon N75 film SLR)<<

Yay!  My film Brotha!

>>am leaning heavily toward Canon EOS models mainly due to more accessories and options available<<

What??? Don't you know it's bad karma for a Nikon guy to cross over to the dark side?  Don't do it Anakin!  

[DWBass]

It's funny, I didn't set out to buy a particular brand. What had happened was........my son is taking a photography class and I had to buy him a 35mm film SLR and found him a Canon EOS Rebel Xs off the local Craigslist. Nice camera. As I was learning and playing with it, I decided to search and get one of my own. Saw several Canons and Nikons as well as other older manual cameras and saw the Nikon. Got each one for $50. His Canon came with a Zoom lens as well. Mine just came with the standard lens but I got a flash unit, filter and lens cleaner. Both came with fairly new bags.

In speaking with some Pro Photogs I know, they all pretty much dig both Canon and Nikon but they said Canon has more to offer as far as lenses and accessories (aftermarket brand availability as well). When I do go DSLR, I plan to have a simple 2 lens setup, maybe a small lighting setup and backdrop setup which we'll both share. We'll see how good I get. I may try to do some weddings and other affairs. I'm always having screen shots in my head and I know what I like to see visually in photos (I'm always critiquing photos I see, LOL). I'm always the guy who sets up the band's stage show so I think I'd be fairly good at it. As long as I have the right tool to facilitate my vision!

[under13]

I really dont think canon has that much more accessories and lenses than nikon. As for aftermarket, both tamron and sigma make nice lenses for nikon and canon. But since you guys already have canon you may as well buy stay loyal to them so you can use your old lenses.


And I plan on going doing pro work and events as well....

[Asahel]

I'm only joking, you know that.  

Both Nikon and Canon are alright.  The important thing is to understand that you are really buying into a *system*, so if you go Canon, you're going to be investing in Canon glass which is the most important thing.  The camera is just a light-tight box.  Ah, but brand-name flame wars are humorous and entertaining so I'm just trying to keep tradition alive.  

I have Nikon glass, and it is going to take "an act of God" for me to switch systems... the quality of Nikon lenses is just legendary.  Capa was a Nikon guy, John Shaw is a Nikon guy, and I'm sure that's the camera Jesus lugs around...  

Ok, ok, I'm stretching it, just a bit.  Camera brands are just like the brand of your axe, or the strings you put on it... Just go out and express something beautiful.

I like events, but I'm staying clear, no, I am staying away from weddings like the plague.... The first time you run into the "mother-in-law from hell" you will understand what I mean.  But, if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, weddings might be just the ticket to the thrill you're seeking.  And sometimes there's more drama than the hottest soap opera, which I don't watch anyway.  It's just good campfire material.

Enjoy you gear folks, and good light to y'all.

Asahel

P.S.  - For those getting into photography, be warned that it is as GASeous as your music profession/hobby.  Be careful.   

[under13]

I like events, but I'm staying clear, no, I am staying away from weddings like the plague.... The first time you run into the "mother-in-law from hell" you will understand what I mean.  But, if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, weddings might be just the ticket to the thrill you're seeking.  And sometimes there's more drama than the hottest soap opera, which I don't watch anyway.  It's just good campfire material.

Enjoy you gear folks, and good light to y'all.

Asahel

But the money is good, right?

[Asahel]

But the money is good, right?

It depends on your niche, and by extension, your price structure.  If you want to develop your craft to the point that you can have an exclusive (IOW "highly paying) clientele, then you'll be fine.  I'm talking photogs that charge anywhere from $5k-$10k and up.  Become a PPA member and look at what some of the most successful photogs are doing.

Digital is both a blessing and a curse, because mostly anyone with a digital camera thinks that s(he) knows what they are doing... and they are underbidding the market.  A lot of people expect jobs for either peanuts or free because "uncle Joe" has a digital and he can just snap away for free.  And Sears offers complete portrait packages for $29.99 (or something like that).

If you're thinking about just becoming your local church's photog and just snapping away at a few events for your friends and even (gasp!) brothers and sisters in Christ, then either:
a) Ensure you are doing it for the Lord, and/or
b) Be prepared for LOTS of frustrations and the the continuous struggles to not let clients take advantage of you.
Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, do NOT let people take proofs w/o paying.  And do NOT give your work away... you'll be surprised how greedy people get when what you do for them costs them nothing...  

Ah!  And always, ALWAYS, get a release so you can use your work for marketing purposes.

What you'll love the most is when you get all your expensive equipment on location, and when it's time to do formals people will step in right in front of you to take photos of your setups.  And then the bride will not want to purchase your photos because "uncle Joe" has candids of all your setups... Of course, the photos won't be as technically refined as yours (there's more to photos than just snapping away and sending to Walgreens for processing), so they'll come back to you so you fix all the photos where the bride's dress looks green...

Photography is mostly a hobby for me these days.  I am thinking on setting up a web page to do some poster sales, and I still do portraits every now and then.  But I have learned to say "NO".

It's not impossible... so don't let my words discourage you.  Weddings is just a game that I decided I'm not going to play.  You'll have to do a few yourself to decide if that aspect of photography is up your alley.  And if the Lord should open that door of opportunity for you, then rest assured that there is no man on this earth that can close it.  It's better to follow your dreams and fail, than to never pursue them and then be sorry you never did.

(Edit) I forgot to add that weddings these days is primarily a team effort, so be sure you find one or two other folks you can team up with so all the possibilities at the wedding day are covered (at bride's home, pre-ceremony, ceremony, different angles, candids, reception, formals, etc).  And find yourself a good lab.

Blessings,
Asahel

[MikeGee]

i just got into cooking. lovin it.

lol. I find myself in the food market thinking about buying a really nice kitchen knife. I have never wanted to do that before. I just got into  cooking too.

[under13]

If you're thinking about just becoming your local church's photog and just snapping away at a few events for your friends and even (gasp!) brothers and sisters in Christ, then either:
a) Ensure you are doing it for the Lord, and/or
b) Be prepared for LOTS of frustrations and the the continuous struggles to not let clients take advantage of you.
Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, do NOT let people take proofs w/o paying.  And do NOT give your work away... you'll be surprised how greedy people get when what you do for them costs them nothing... 

Ah!  And always, ALWAYS, get a release so you can use your work for marketing purposes.

What you'll love the most is when you get all your expensive equipment on location, and when it's time to do formals people will step in right in front of you to take photos of your setups.  And then the bride will not want to purchase your photos because "uncle Joe" has candids of all your setups... Of course, the photos won't be as technically refined as yours (there's more to photos than just snapping away and sending to Walgreens for processing), so they'll come back to you so you fix all the photos where the bride's dress looks green...

Photography is mostly a hobby for me these days.  I am thinking on setting up a web page to do some poster sales, and I still do portraits every now and then.  But I have learned to say "NO".

It's not impossible... so don't let my words discourage you.  Weddings is just a game that I decided I'm not going to play.  You'll have to do a few yourself to decide if that aspect of photography is up your alley.  And if the Lord should open that door of opportunity for you, then rest assured that there is no man on this earth that can close it.  It's better to follow your dreams and fail, than to never pursue them and then be sorry you never did.

(Edit) I forgot to add that weddings these days is primarily a team effort, so be sure you find one or two other folks you can team up with so all the possibilities at the wedding day are covered (at bride's home, pre-ceremony, ceremony, different angles, candids, reception, formals, etc).  And find yourself a good lab.

Blessings,
Asahel

thanks for the info!

[MikeGee]

I competed in power lifting for 15 years in the WNPF (world natural power lifting federation) my numbers were:

600 puonds in the squat
585 pounds in the dead lift
500 pounds in the bench press

I competed at a body weight of 205 pounds.

I'm currently looking for some new hobbies...  

wait wait wait. I've done things like a 500 pound squat and dead lift. 800 pound leg press, bench maybe 210. This was all in high school gym class. But how is your bench so close to you dead lift?

[arthur59]

wait wait wait. I've done things like a 500 pound squat and dead lift. 800 pound leg press, bench maybe 210. This was all in high school gym class. But how is your bench so close to you dead lift?

It all depends on how you train,bench was always my favorite lift, I was pressing 315 for 10 reps, with a pause...

[phbrown]

I competed in power lifting for 15 years in the WNPF (world natural power lifting federation) my numbers were:

600 puonds in the squat
585 pounds in the dead lift
500 pounds in the bench press

I competed at a body weight of 205 pounds.

I'm currently looking for some new hobbies...  

And here I'm complaining about my legs being sore cause I doubled my weight that I'm squatting. Thats it I'm going to the gym again today (plus its been almost 48 hours since I last was in a gym)

[MikeGee]

I always wondered where I'd be or what I would have done if I did train at the weights. My legs were naturally strong. Never trained at it. Just started putting up the weights. I did a lot of stretches though.

[arthur59]

I didn't go to the gym just to work-out, I was a trained powerlifter and we specialize in 3 lifts,

1. squat
2. bench press
3. dead lift

 

[Asahel]

Hey Arthur59,

What's your take on working out and playing the bass?  Some people recommend against it, saying that you lose hand flexibility.

Asahel

[MikeGee]

Hey Arthur59,

What's your take on working out and playing the bass?  Some people recommend against it, saying that you lose hand flexibility.

Asahel

As far as I am concerned I won't do it, work alone hurts my hands bass makes them feel good. That might be why I left bench press alone it hurt the joints of my hands.

[Asahel]

20+ years of keyboard typing definitely has taken its toll on my hands...  I used to get up with completely numb hands... I started doing hand stretches a few months ago and that has definitely helped.

IT is what pays the bills... but, oh, how am I waiting for miracle of God so that I can finally switch careers!!!!!!!!!!!  I want to use the keyboard only when I want to (like, for example, posting to LGM!  )

But I need to do some form of exercise.  I battle with my cholesterol levels and need to lose some weight.  And I need to keep my blood pump healthy due to some minor "irregularities" in the past.

I'm on my third week of jogging morning and night (3 miles) while keeping my heart rate in the aerobic zone.  I've changed my diet (I eat less, more often, and I watch out what I eat).  After three weeks that scale needle is *STILL* set @ 190lbs... GRRRRRRRR!!!!! 

I dropped the gym in favor of cardio because it's hard to gain muscle mass while losing fat.  So I plan to get to 170lbs or 160lbs first and then I'll change my routine.  I also do bars (pull-ups, dips, push-ups).  I can't run on a treadmill.

At some point I'd like to go back to the gym so I'm wondering what the effect will be on my bass practicing/playing.

[arthur59]

Hey Asahel,

As a powerlifter I trained for "POWER", however I still had to be flexibill so I did exercies for flexibllity,as a bass player I just had to do finger exercies for flexibillity.

When I trained for the dead lift I would use the power rack, and I would set the bar @ knee high and load the bar with 650lbs then pull from that point up, as a result of that  I developed a strong grip, that the bad part right now,when I'm playing I tend to squeeze the neck of the bass to hard.

Finger exercice is the key.

[floaded27]

Hey Asahel,

As a powerlifter I trained for "POWER", however I still had to be flexibill so I did exercies for flexibllity,as a bass player I just had to do finger exercies for flexibillity.

When I trained for the dead lift I would use the power rack, and I would set the bar @ knee high and load the bar with 650lbs then pull from that point up, as a result of that  I developed a strong grip, that the bad part right now,when I'm playing I tend to squeeze the neck of the bass to hard.

Finger exercice is the key.

dude, i hope u dont really get into the song and snap the neck in half like a toothpick. lol.

Hey Arthur59,

What's your take on working out and playing the bass?  Some people recommend against it, saying that you lose hand flexibility.

Asahel

i never had that problem. from before i started playing and after, i studied kung fu (still do, but now more music/church events keep me from going regularly). so u do workout and train, but a large part of the training revolves around longevity. so u do things to keep yourself in good working condition for a long time. so the finger and hand conditioning/exercises we did really made playing bass easier (never got the callouses and blisters warned about in the beginning years of playing).

but working out, cardio and other is good. shoulder and arm exercises help( not power lifting but endurance lifting - lighter weight,more reps) with long periods of playing. and for all the time ur sitting on ur butt practicing, working out helps with the probable weight gain. i would just say it might be best to give some space between working out and practicing.

[Asahel]

Floaded27 and Arthur59, thanks for the fitness tips.