pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

Greetings, hogs!
I have noticed that there are lots of retired persons using UHH. I will join their ranks in 17 days. I have been thinking about what role photography will play in my new life. Perhaps I'll start shooting raw, or learn some creative post-processing techniques. And definitely I will spend more time just taking pictures. I enjoy photography most when I am in a new place, searching for opportunities. I had hoped to spend lots of time traveling, but due to recent circumstances, that will have to be pretty rare.
Anyway, I would like to know what the retirees out there think -- how has retirement affected your photography? Has it led you to try new things? Is it taking a larger role in your life, or a smaller one? Or, perish the thought, has it become boring? Are you taking classes, buying new equipment, or traveling lighter? Does it fulfill a need in your life? What do you do with your photos?
I'm really looking forward to what you have to say!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Good luck on your future retirement. Enjoy photography on your retirement. I enjoy my photos of nature and landscape and family occasions. I have not got GAS..Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I hope you don't get it. A camera is just a tool.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I retired in 2010 and my photography has expanded since then. I enjoy taking pictures more than PP, and I enjoy trying new things with my photography. It hasn't gotten boring.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

With Macro you can take pictures anywhere.

jimcrna Loc: indiana/florida

retired end of April. have taken more pics than in previous 2yrs..more time more enjoyment..also learned more from online ,this site etc etc..bought some new stuff but as advised above dontbuy just to acquire ..just be open to learning which at this age is sometimes more difficult..just enjoy the time. saw a boat at marina in Florida named "no more Mondays". sounds about right..dont be shy. ask for help when needed..

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

I retired in 2013. Since then I have purchased some new gear, learned to shoot in RAW and have gotten into post processing. Post processing is limited to Lightroom at this time, may try some new tricks later. Find that I have more time to go out shooting my street photography, New Orleans is a great place for a street photographer.
Retirement was great for the first year then got boring and I took a little part time gig for 2 - 3 days a week.
Congratulations and hope you enjoy your retirement.

Don

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I retired in 2009. Certainly haven't regreted it since my rest was well earned. Photography and UHH membership have made it bearable in many ways - opening up new doors and expanding my long-time interest in cameras. Have avoided G.A.S. but have made several retail excursions with mixed results. Only downside seems to be that, for some at least, retirement also harkens the onset of unexpected medical challenges such as cancer, arthritis, failing eyesight, tremors, etc. - no fun, but hard to avoid. /Ralph

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Man, as they say, you have the rest of your life to figure it out. Do everything you can in the beginning, then find what you like and hone your skills.

Enjoy yourself, and try to sleep later. It's been 2 years since retirement and I still get up at 5:30 am every day.

mrpentaxk5ii

On August 8th I turned 60, september 5, 2017 I will have 39 years working for the NYS DOCS, i plan on working two more years and then retire. Photography is something that you can do all your life as long as you find the passion to do so. I plan on going back to Maine and spend more than just two days photographing along the coast.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I have been retired for 2 years. I started really learning photography about the same time. My wife thought it would be a passing fad and did not want to spend any money on my new hobby. It has since become an obsession and she now encourages me to get out and shoot as much as possible. It is healthy and fun at the same time. She now enjoys outings with me that I probably would not have gone on had I not gotten into photography. She still will not let me spend any money and I suffer from G.A.S. now and then. (Working hard on her right now for a macro for close-ups.) You may end up like me, addicted and loving it.

repleo Loc: Boston

I haven't retired yet, but I do see photography being a significant part of my retirement when I do. I am currently in a sort of pre-retirement phase. I could probably retire anytime now, but I really see no need to. Good health, a steady paycheck and flexibility at work allows me to travel abroad a couple of times a year and enough disposable income to build up some nice gear. I live in a very interesting and photogenic part of the country and I go out shooting nearly every weekend. I take classes, attend a camera club and photowalks and post a lot of pics here on UHH. Life is good and I am reluctant to change it unless I have to. I am afraid that if I have too much time on my hands I will get bored with it. However, I would love to have the time and means to spend more time in some of the places we have visited - like a whole month or two in Tuscany or island hopping in Greece or maybe taking a degree course in photography.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I retired two years ago at age 70 following my 2nd heart attack. If not for that, I would gladly still be working. I found it a challenge because in addition to losing all my colleagues and clients/customers, I also lost being immersed in a techinical environment and a constant inflow/discussion of technical information. By pure chance, I happened on UHH at about that time, and it both reignited my interest in photography and provided a constant flow of technical discussions and information covering photography, physics, electronics and computers. I'd been an amateur photographer for at least 55 years and had a working darkroom in my home for the last 25 or 30, but while I still love film and shoot it periodically, delving into digital photography opened an entirely new and (thankfully) a very technical vista for me. I'm a good engineer, but a poor artist, so I tend to focus on the technical side of photography while trying hard to develop my creative skills. I now spend 1-2 hours a day reading and participating in discussions on "the Hog" and of course capturing images. Frankly, it's been a Godsend in easing the transition into retirement, and I hope you find it to be as valuable to you. Good luck with your journey and the next stage of your life - it's hopefully a time for you to do all the things you never had time for before - shooting a host of great images which I hope you share.

Cheers,
Chris

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

Thanks so much, everyone, for your good wishes and good thoughts!

brianmen Loc: Sydney Australia

I've been retired for 2.5 years and it has allowed me to immerse myself in photography. I joined a club and began competing which was a great way of having the basics reinforced by the judges comments. Club members were also very generous with suggestions and help. I have now joined a non competition club to explore the creative side of photography. If you are so inclined the technical and creative aspects of photography and post processing can absorb 100s of hours in learning and exploring. It's endless and keeps the grey cells working hard. Enjoy your retirement.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

UHH and retirement have been a great combination. By reading this forum every day, I learned about roughly $15,000 worth of equipment I simply had to buy.

I tried a class or two, and online is better - free online. The library has photography books, so start there.

Photography is big. Do what makes you happy. If you want to spend ten hours a day on UHH, do it. If you want to spend hours taking pictures inside your house, go for it. Tours and workshops lasting a day or more can be very expensive and of questionable value. I've done several for photography and non-photography, but I do it as entertainment, not expecting it to change my life. I recently got an email about a five-day workshop for $950. Of course transportation, hotel, and food are the participant's responsibility. As I said, online is very good.

Just have fun and don't feel guilty about not taking a thousand shots a day. As someone at a non-photo workshop said, "Practice fifteen minutes a day, or fifteen minutes a week, or don't practice at all. Just do what makes you happy.