I identify myself as a photographer since my teenage years and when the digital era knocked at my door (around 2004), I already had a successful photographic studio, I was working at medium format with a lovely Hasselblad and I had the strong belief that digital photography was a temporary trend that will fade away. Of course I was totally wrong.
I was in a complete denial about the digital future that was barging into our lives and I refused to invest to the proper equipment and knowledge. I started loosing clients and as I was starting to loose interest in the urban lifestyle too, I never tried to win them back.
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The course of my life changed drastically, I left the city that I was raised and living for almost 40 years and moved to my homeland, to become a farmer and adopt a more natural way of living. Photography had no place in this new life and my cameras remained in a closet.
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This blockchain changed that. As steem in the beginning and then as hive, the name doesn't really matter, this community gave me motivation and confidence to start shooting again, to broaden my knowledge and at the same time, enjoy it.
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But it also gave me the funds to go to the next level. A mac machine and a professional monitor have always looked in my eyes as something too expensive, too difficult to handle and in the bottom line, not for me.
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As I write those lines on my new mac, having in front of me an amazing BenQ monitor, I cannot thank you enough for all the support you have given me the last 4 years both physical with your upvotes, as well as mental with your comments and encouragement. Without you I would still be sitting in front of an ancient pc with an inadequate screen, believing that I don't deserve better.
A million thanks, from the bottom of my heart!
Also I want to thank @traisto for all the pictures she took me while I was in ecstasy unboxing those goodies and promise that I will undo all that chaos I created to our common working space :)
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
@tipu curate 🌺
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 37/47) Liquid rewards.
Thank you very much @tipu and @rozku for your support, I appreciate it a lot!
Great news - great gear! Working in a good equipment is important - it give the extra power, the feeling that You are a pro and doing something really great - this is a straight line to the improvement!
Such a screen is on my list of stuff to buy, for now I am sitting on my 8 years old Acer screen - cheap, but with good quality of colors and blacks... far from being a proper photo screen... Is Your Benq is dedicated for photographers? Let me know later if You can recommend it :).
Anyway - one more thought - I also gathered some funds thanks to the community support and have this idea of using them to improve my gear, photo gear or a new pc... or just take it all and throw it into one of my dream photo trip from a bucket list. A lot of Epic travel shots, stories, experiences could be a great investment both in myself and my blog...
Not know yet what to do with that ;)...
For now, present earning are a great support for my life costs as I don't have any regular job. And - not planning to have ;).
Thanks for the post which gave me so much thoughts about myself... Wish You all the best and have fun with new gear! Greetings from Poland!
Thank you very much!
Sharing my thoughts is almost an act of psychotherapy but when someone actually finds them useful is just wonderful :)
Yes, the monitor is dedicated for photographers and the first impressions are super great, it is not cheap though. It is the BenQ SW271C 4K IPS, if you want to google it.
I wouldn't know what is best, new gear or a photo trip. I would like both :) In my case I just had to upgrade. My old pc is 17 years old and it is only working because I have a very good friend that performs miracles with machines! As for screen I tried a much cheaper Dell a few months ago but it is lousy for editing and now I have to sell it.
That's the spirit! You can do better without giving 8 hours of your life, every day, for pennies!
Greetings from Crete :)
Thanks for the info about the screen. I know they are not cheap, that is why I am still using mine but as You said, some upgrades have to be done after longer time.
For now, I have quite a strong laptop which are ok for photo and video editing, but I am a bit worried because it is the only computer I have - if something happen - I am done... and I bought this machine to take it with me on my photo workshops to present the editing and show the stuff to the people - as I am working mostly at home now, I would prefer to have strong working station and not to use me mobile studio all the time ;).
So - I have a lot to think about soon ;). Take care!
I'm super glad to hear how you have been encouraged to get back to your passion. It's also exciting to hear how Steem/Hive has been able to afford you opportunities otherwise out of reach. Great job upgrading and diligently pursuing your interests. We thank you for sharing them here with us!
Thank you very much! It was a post of gratitude and although technically it doesn't belong to the Photography Lovers Community, I wanted to share my joy with the people that supported me!
Thanks again :)
I think it counts as something worth being here in this community! We are blessed to have you in it and there were some great shots in here. Thank you Stef!
This is so wonderful and I am so happy for you, that you can pursue your desires.
I also was and sort of still am in the same boat, where I am not so much in favor of the digital world, but Hive also has changed my life in a different way, and because of it, it diesn't bother me as much.
Thank you deeply Joanna for your wishes!
Indeed, hive its way to change our perspective and even our lives in various ways :)
YAY Happy 4 year anniversary!! So exciting that you got this new equipment. Great shots @traisto! So fun to see unboxing. What a great 4 year gift!
Thanks Sara :)
Thank you very much Sara!
Yes, an enormous gift, it was better than Christmas :)
Hey! I'm glad I stopped to read this post and learn such an inspiring story ☺️. I hope that life continues to smile at you and that your dreams continue to evolve. Hive has been very helpful to many, we have so much to be thankful for that words fall short. 💪✨
Thanks a lot Gloria!
Yes, hive is affecting deeply our lives in many ways, most of them for the best :)
Congratulations to your 4 years 🎉🥳
So great to hear you found your passion again and could upgrade your gear with the help from hive.
Thanks for being here and sharing your great stories and photographs, I enjoy reading them.
Thank you very much Jackie for your wishes and for taking the time to read my posts :)
You are welcome @fotostef 😊
Awesome! I am happy for you. I have always loved your work. Enjoy your new photo editing station.
Thank you very much Wess!
It's been a long time here and you have been one of the first people that I connected and appreciated.
It's been awesome seeing the stuff you share
Happy Hive Birthday! I had no knowledge of photography, but in the blockchain I discovered that I liked it, little by little I have been learning. I'm glad you were able to have better equipment, enjoy it and never stop thinking that you deserve the best! Cheers!🥂
Thank you very much Mariangel!
This place seems to have a big impact on people, hopefully for the best :)
Happy 4th anniversary
Thanks a lot :)
I am very happy for you! Often we do not get the goodies until we chnage our mentality. You get better when you truly believe you deserve better. Hive can change lives and boost one's confidence. That is huge in itself. Happy Hive anniversary!
Thank you very much Mary!
You comment is truly spot on and you told everything with much less and more accurate words :)
I got to your post late but I'm glad it's not too late to congratulate you on four years in Hive and to wish you many more good ones!
Your new gear looks professional and I'm sure it will make your work/passion much more enjoyable. As I'm sure we'll get to see your photos taken to another level, we'll win too.
Congratulations and thank you!
Thank you very much for your wishes, I know they come from your heart!
With all my pleasure and joy that you say that!
I know I get a bit excited when I talk about your family and Greece and I was afraid my statements would sound insincere.
This is great news, congratulations on your purchase! Good technique is so important, and it is doubly wonderful that thanks to Hive you were able to get it. Support always motivates :) Good luck with your new equipment!
Thank you very much! I hadn't drawn any funds all this years and it feels great to have a concrete proof of my earnings :)
glad you got back to the camera.
expecting the Mac update. never got into them, always felt to expensive compared to home build pc. even knowing they are praised for photo and video.
Thanks!
I also felt the same about Mac but now that I have moved away from my good friend that can built, upgrade and fix any pc with his eyes closed I needed something ready to use, reliable and hopefully without software problems. And I am already fed up with problems from the Windows. I just hope it will turn out a good buy after all!
windows problems are real. but i kinda like the option to change something that died in it without getting to official Apple store :D
hope it will work.
Happy 4th anniversary! And I've always enjoyed your photos!
Thank you very much!
Hopefully we all will be here for many more years :)