Seniors and a New Interest In Photography
Seniors are becoming more interested in photography as they have more time and enjoyment for this hobby. Many people think photography is not well suited for seniors because of the technology and equipment involved. Just the opposite is the case, however, as today’s modern equipment and user friendly technology make it easier than ever for seniors to catch the photography bug.
The biggest hurdle for most seniors to overcome is their own nervousness or even fears about learning something new and using technology. This is a perfectly natural and normal feeling to have, yet if you take just a few simple steps and give it a try you’ll likely be amazed at how quickly and easily you become totally comfortable with the entire activity.
What Do You Need?
In the “old days” photography as a hobby meant investing in expensive cameras, lots of film, and the expense of developing that film once it was exposed. You can still choose to go that route, of course, but thankfully there are much easier and less expensive alternatives for producing pictures that are just as good and in some cases even better.
It all starts with a digital camera. Take a walk through any electronics store and you’re likely to see a hundred or more different kinds of digital cameras, each with different options, features, and capabilities. You can of course spend a lot of money getting the “latest and greatest” of these, but you can get an outstanding camera that will meet all of your needs for $75 to $200 in most cases.
Look for a camera with a view screen that’s easy to read and menu buttons that are easy to use. If you don’t have a lot of experience with digital cameras then look for a model that is not overloaded with fancy effects and complicated menu options. You’ll do just fine with a basic digital camera because most of them already include all of the features and options you need.
What To Do With Your Pictures
One of the great things about digital photography is how easy it is to do so many different things with your pictures. You can print them in the regular way, you can add special effects, you enlarge or shrink them, you can zoom in on specific areas, and you can have them printed onto coffee mugs, calendars, and a whole range of different items. If you have a computer it’s simple to transfer pictures from your camera to the computer and then access one of the many online resources for managing and printing your pictures.
Even if you don’t have a computer, it’s still easy to do whatever you want with your pictures. Take a look around nearly any grocery store, drugstore, hardware store, or specialty camera store and you’ll find a kiosk where you can transfer files from your camera and use the kiosk to create your prints or order other items. There are usually store employees nearby who have been specially trained to use the kiosk so they are available to help if you have questions or run into any problems.
Join a Photography Club
Most communities have at least one photography club, or at the very least a photography department at the local high school or community college. Ask around at local camera specialty shops to find out what groups and clubs are active in your area. Once you find a group of interest make a point of attending one or more of their meetings. You will probably be welcomed with enthusiasm and friendliness because photography clubs tend to be places where people of all ages and skill levels get together just to have fun and enjoy their hobby.
Don’t worry if there are other people in the club who are more experienced than you are or have fancier cameras than you have. They were new to photography at some point too, and chance are they will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you out in any way they can.
