Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I retired seven years ago. Clearly, that enabled me to spend much more time with my cameras- --that means shooting raw as well as time before the computer playing with images learning Lightroom and post processing. Photography helps me remain relevant. There are many, many images of Grandkids in my catalog.
Health is stable enough that I walk an hour a day to further help remain civil.
Congratulations--enjoy the time.

Bill_de Loc: US

I have been a picture taker for a long time. I retired in '05 at 55. Prior to retiring most of my photography was planned in the sense that 'Saturday we are going here'. I took some pictures at home, but more often before I found the perfect shot I found something that needed to be done. So I put down the camera and went to work on something. Vacations were always where I found the most photo ops.

Now, a much larger percentage of my pictures are taken from my front porch. I still go to places to shoot, but never on the weekends. Weekends are for working people, so why get in their way. I do still see things that need to be done when shooting around the house. But my friend's mother-in-law explained the rules of retirement to me the day after I retired. The most important thing she said is to remember that whatever needs to be done can be done tomorrow. I think of her often while shooting from the porch.

Enjoy your retirement!

--

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

This generated a very nice discussion. Thank you.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I retired last year, age 68. I always enjoyed photography and among my retirement gifts to myself, was a new DSLR. The biggest change retirement brings, is that you can take the time to do photography (or any other diversion) as a primary activity. What I mean is that when I was working, free time was at a premium and I had to combine photography with, say, a hike in the mountains and essentially, taking pictures was ancillary to being outdoors with wife and friends. Now, I can take the time to scout out good photography subjects (my wife is an artist painting what I shoot...she likes old barns), figure out the best locations, angles and lighting factors, and then return to properly set up and take pictures...usually sunrise or sunset.

Being retired calls for a complete, and for me difficult, paradigm shift concerning using time efficiently. While I still feel better following a day of completed projects, I have to realize it's okay to "piss away" a morning or afternoon, just sitting around reading a book or taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Could be my Type A personality, though.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I don't feel so old in this crowd (75). I've been a photographer since I was 15 and used my dad's Speed Graphic to work gigs. (camera belonged to the Washington Daily News as did the darkroom)
After retiring 4 times since 1996 I still find new challenges and interesting aspects of photography to explore. I've found that as long as the piece of equipment will do 95% of the photography task, the price is reasonable and I'm OK with the results.
Shooting raw and learning to use Photoshop are two of my most interesting and challenging efforts.
Still just a documenter and will never be an artist so PP is my thing.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I do more photography now that I have more time. My suggestion to you would be to create a Photography Bucket List, in addition to your regular Bucket List. You do have a Bucket List, don't you??

johnsnap1947 Loc: New Fairfield, CT

Age 70. Taking pics is one thing but editing them is what I really love to do. If you have family, there must be tons of old photos lying around that you can edit and bring back to life. Learn Adobe Photo Shop or even Light room, and buy a good Epson photo printer. That's half the fun. I have re-touched hundreds of photos and framed them as gifts for special occasions and people just loved them. I spend about 6 hours/day at my PC. Just keep in mind that exorcise is a must and you need to spend time with the wife, kids, and grandkids (that's where most of my new pics come from.
I think that once you've developed good editing skills, they will come a runnin to you.... Have fun!

robertcbyrd Loc: 28754

Congratulations on your retirement!

Since I retired in 2009 I immediately moved to the mountains of western North Carolina and have gotten involved heavily in the local music scene. Photography has become am big part of my musical hobby.

I take hundreds of RAW photos monthly, post process them and, now, even have started printing them.

I still shoot mainly in auto mode with my Canon 70D because I usually don't have time to set up manually with my limited knowledge, so the learning process to go manual has been non-existent.

But, lordy, am I ever having fun! I hope you can too.

You will find your way and, no doubt, will find your own themes and favorite subjects.

All the best.

Augsoff

Be sure to join a local camera club. For me that was a great way to meet like-minded retired photographers and exchange ideas about cameras, lenses, post processing, and all kinds of information related to photography.

rydabyk Loc: Florida Panhandle

I've been retired for a few years and enjoy learning new things. For me photography is never boring, there is always something new to learn and try to improve on. I have just recently started to really concentrate on long exposures and I find it really interesting. Enjoy your retirement.

cwnlsl Loc: Lake SAint Louis,MO

Photography has become the highlight of my retirement. Thru it I have learned to appreciate the outdoor world around me. I'm dyslexic so suduko is out for me. Birds became a good way to appreciate avian beauty while excerising my brain. It gets me outdoors and let's me appreciate our beautiful world. ENJOY!

Gunner3451

I do have a bucket list and as they say get r done working on it and loving it here in New Jersey

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

"A camera is just a tool." --- sometimes one needs new and better tools.

Gunner3451

Thanks and I'am enjoying it trying to locate a club here in New Jersey with good people who enjoy what I do and the outdoors.

Gunner3451

Yes it is and I have my GAS under control very particular about what I purchase I look for lenses to my specific needs.