From My Cold, Dead Hands.....

Minolta SR-T 101 with the Rokkor 55mm f/1.7 lens, the first camera I ever purchased (1970)
Notice the old plastic film holder taped to the strap.  Yesterday's version of having a second memory card.
(Obtaining the cadaver to include the lifeless hand in this image was a real chore.*)
(click to enlarge)

Can you see yourself quitting photography sometime in the future?  Do you foresee a time when you will put your camera down and either just altogether quick making photographs and/or switch to some other passion that will take the majority of your free time?  Do you think your attitude toward photography will change in such a way that you no longer will have interest in it? Is photography just a "passing fancy" to you?  Is photography really not important?  Does photography frustrate you at times?  

On the other hand, is photography important to you and how it integrates into you life? Does your photography bring value to your life?  Does it bring satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment?  Does what you create bring value and pleasure to others?  Do you place a high value on the images you create?  Will your photography serve as valuable memories for your family and friends after you are long gone?

For me, the answer to the first set of questions is no, no and no.  I fell in love with photography in the spring of 1970 and have had a deep passion for it ever since. Photography has been an intricate part of my life for 47+ years and I have no indication that that will ever change.  I believe that I will be making photographs up until the day I die—if there is not some physical or mental reason that stops me from making photographs before that day arrives. 

The answer to the questions in the second paragraph is yes, yes and yes again. Practicing photography provides me with all of those things and more.  It gives me a better quality of life by giving me a sense of peace, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of seeing the world in ways others don't and a sense of leaving something behind for others that can bring joy, fond memories and value to the lives of my loved ones and friends.

I hope that when my body is found that I will be holding my favorite camera and on its memory card will be some wonderful images.  I plan to never stop making photographs.

For me, in the end, as a perversion of the popular saying goes, someone will have to pry my camera from my cold, dead hands!

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

*Of course you know that is not a cadaver's hand, but I thought it is a nice touch to get people wondering! :-)

All content on this blog is © 2013-2017 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.