Less picture taking as years go by? (Page 2): I’m with you on this. Used to be I could walk forever, and hiking was nothing, even with a backpack. But I’ll be 72 in a couple months...

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

illininitt wrote:

I'm 69 with a few health problems. I like taking pictures but knee problems restrick me from waling far in Yellowstone/Smolies and Rocky Mountains. Many of my favorite places I no longer go. Rocky Mountain pictures this year were taken close to the car with little walking. Have a Canon T3I and want a Canon T7I. But wonder: How much use of it will I get? Have gout of the knees.

I’m with you on this. Used to be I could walk forever, and hiking was nothing, even with a backpack. But I’ll be 72 in a couple months, and an old foot injury has make walking a bit of a chore, so I don’t care to do much hiking. Shooting from the car is becoming more and more attractive. And I recently sold my D7200 DSLR and lenses and bought a Sony A6300 for the weight savings. I’m sure you and I are not the only two in this situation.

dragon64 Loc: Stewartstown PA

Go get the camera and gear you want. You'll be surprised at all the new things you'll find to do with it. I'm nearly 72 and have medical issues and can't walk the distances that I did even just 5 years ago. But I decided this was the year for my first full frame camera since my film days so I went out and got a new Nikon D750 and then turned around and got a 150-600 zoom. Now I'm poor in cash, but richer from my new world of nature photography. So my advice is to follow your heart and grab your dreams. As Lincoln once said "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

illininitt wrote:

I'm 69 with a few health problems. I like taking pictures but knee problems restrick me from waling far in Yellowstone/Smolies and Rocky Mountains. Many of my favorite places I no longer go. Rocky Mountain pictures this year were taken close to the car with little walking. Have a Canon T3I and want a Canon T7I. But wonder: How much use of it will I get? Have gout of the knees.

It's not my health that restricts me. It's my busy life. I like to get into the car, drive for a while, stop, get out, and then walk around taking pictures. With other activities in my life, I can't do that as often as I might like. Of course, if I didn't enjoy those other activities, I wouldn't do them.

just pictures Loc: Little Rock Arkansas

I'm 72 ,type 2 diabetic with neuropathy in my feet which takes the fun out of hiking. My doctor says I should try to walk at least 30 min every day which I do .I have been feeding birds in my yard for 30 years and that gives me photo ops without going anywhere.I can go to the river and shoot waterfowl and sunsets and sunrises.Photography has been my hobby for 40 years so I have plenty of photos on flickr .No more shooting waterfalls because that usually involves strenuous hikes with tripod etc.I 'm not going to let this Diabetes get me down,I'll keep shooting as long as I can still walk.I can still out walk some of these young folks who can't even carry my tripod and camera for long.They tell me I need to get a carbon fiber tripod but I like my old Bogen 3020,it's like an old friend.My wildlife rig consists of my 3020 with a Gimbal head ,7D mkII and canon 300mm f4 IS L.All together It probably weighs 14 lbs but I'm used to it.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

G Brown wrote:

The term is Antiquarian Selectivity.....!..Have fun doing what you can....

Yup. I find myself on vacations not wanting to take pics of the same things I have so many images of from previous trips, or repeats of ones that so many have already done. We don't hike anymore, either, so driving from one place to another I'm constantly looking for that new view. Leg circulation is creeping up as a problem for the long driving trips we love, so I'm thinking this year's trip may be our last one west. I want to take not so many "record shots" to remember the trip, and focus on textures and colors instead. Lots of walkaround shots of little things, too. I don't really need another picture of prairie dog towns.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Just turned 82, bit of arthritis in the knees - don't need a pain killer. In 7/16 fell and broke a femur, just had stenosis cleaned out of my spinal canal with a fusion last August, neuropathy of lower legs - for some, including me, it weakens. Before the spinal surgery my ability to walk was diminishing rapidly - I see improvement already. I'm told takes about a year to fully recover. I go to a gym 3 days a week. Am looking forward to the spring-summer to see what/how I can do now. So I do understand what you say - all I can offer is to keep at it - don't quit. Look into going to a gym - the older I get the more I live the truth of "Use it or lose it".

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

If you stop moving, you're going to stop moving.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

About the gout. Was it diagnosed from needle samples from the joint or from blood tests. Either way ask your doctor about prescribing allopurinol. I had gout joint diagnosed in the large toe about 10 years ago and allopurinol has held it in bay ever since. Allo is a generic so less costly.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I'm 73 and settle for what I can get. Standing back up from kneeling is a real issue. ThomasWolfe says you can't go home again. How true that is. My emphasis now is making photo shows with Pro Show using my old photos and new photos. Taking pictures for these shows presents a different challenge than making photos for their individual value and works better with my physical limitations.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

amyinsparta wrote:

I don't take as many pics as I used to. Hubby is not in good health and so we don't hike any more. We don't take trips much anymore because he has so many doctor appts. But since we live in the country, I do get to get out in nature. I also have a t3i and will keep it. I'm thinking of buying the new tamron lense, though.

3dees

I'm "only" 68, but severe back problems gets worse every year. can't walk like I use to but I refuse to let it stop me from enjoying my hobby of 45 years. I now use a rolling camera bag when going out with more than a few lenses. it sucks for dirt trails but doubles as a backpack. I retired at 58 because I couldn't drive a semi anymore. sold all my Nikon gear two years ago. I figured I could do with a bridge camera. I bought a Lumix FZ 1000. great bridge camera but I love doing macro and the camera sucks at macro. sold it a got a D7200 plus a few lenses. I'm happy again although I don't get out much anymore. doing more and more table top photography. I'm also an avid bass fisherman. standing on my boat for hours is worse than walking but I'm not giving up on fishing either. I just suck it up and take the pain.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I'm 68 and still shoot a lot. I can still walk pretty well (did 12 miles over 7 hours during a photo shoot a couple of days ago but it hurt, and is still hurting) but I do a lot of shooting directly from in or near the car. Also I bought a Sony RX10 IV so that I have a do everything, go everywhere camera and lens all in one pretty light package. No need to ever carry anything else except spare batteries and cards and occasionally a lightweight tripod. Being retired, I'm now taking more photos than ever before.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

illininitt wrote:

I'm 69 with a few health problems. I like taking pictures but knee problems restrick me from waling far in Yellowstone/Smolies and Rocky Mountains. Many of my favorite places I no longer go. Rocky Mountain pictures this year were taken close to the car with little walking. Have a Canon T3I and want a Canon T7I. But wonder: How much use of it will I get? Have gout of the knees.

You might consider changing the type of photography you do. I have taken a strong interest in macro photography and do it right around my house. There always seem to be spiders, butterflies, snails, caterpillars, bees and flies to photograph. Just the different types of spiders is quite a number. Do you own a walker of some type? Is it possible to mount a tripod to the walker to assist you? As another poster suggested there are photos you could take right from your vehicle or at least very close to the vehicle. Good luck to you with your photography. Please share the results with here on UHH.

Dennis

libdemtex

Buy the lens, you will love it.

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

I am 77 and have severe emphysema. It was diagnosed 4 years ago and at present walking is limited to about 100 feet at a time. I am so tired most of the time that I am happy if I can get any needed household chores done. As for photography I go on the hog every day just to see what others are doing. My picture taking days are pretty much over with. Fortunately I also collect stamps so while my body doesn't get much use my brain still does. So it goes but I have fond memories of better times and health so I am not complaining.