Hobby vs hobby

[rogerwilco357]

Can both coexist in harmony if you had to pick which way would you go first time I cannot answer that question really getting into photography .
Roger

[magdelan]

I just had to make this decission myself. It all depends on your priorities, time, and finances. After much considderation, I decided to go with photography. I'm married, work full time, have a three and a half year old boy with another on the way in a week or two. The time that it takes to propperly take care of a system was dwindling and I was spending money that could be put to other use. $700 in three month for maintenance was just unacceptable and our elctric bill was skyhigh. The month after we took the tank down, we recieved a $250 credit from our electric company. I greatly miss my tank, but I don't miss the responsibility of always having to check on it. Photography is something that includes my family. My son loves being in pictures and my wife enjoys scrap booking. I never thought that I would be trying to convince someone that reefing was to expensive, but with your question at hand, photography may be the way to go.

Good luck.

[Recty]

To the original poster... are you talking about aquariums vs photography or just any hobby vs photography in general? Your post didnt mention anything.

If you are, it definitely depends on your situation in life. I got into reefkeeping, then FOWLR, then photography, then I sold my FOWLR due to my new daughter and not having time for the tank, then I got back into FOWLR in the last 6 months once my daughter turned 6 months old and I had some time again to just goof around.

It's very hard to make a call as to which one I would do first, but with having a family and a little daughter I want to make memories of, I'd definitely go with photography first, however that's just me. If you dont have a lot of stuff you want to take pictures of, then go reef.

You could also rent from one of the online companies for a week or two, get a nice body and lens and just goof around and see if it's something you like. If not, you're just out $100-$200 and can decide to go reef aquarium for sure.

[Misled]

So you want to be a pro photographer???? You don't say what you want to do in the field, but here's how alot of it goes. Lots will depend on what you want to take pics of. Just selling a couple images here and there won't make you much. Almost everyone has a camera nowadays and most of them can take pretty good pics.

Getting in with someone that will publish your images is the way to go. This can be magazines, newspapers, or things of that nature. Getting in the door is what takes the time. It took me a couple years to get with the local paper and for quite a bit of time, I'll be freelance. The pay is crap, but it builds a rep. We have about seven freelance and there are three that are on staff. You're also on the bottom of the pile and have to be fast to move up. I'm lucky, the #1 fire hall is across the street from me. Take advantage of whatever you can. I also help an interior designer. She tells me what she's looking for and I work to fill her needs. She also has access to the images I have stored on the net. If she likes something, she just tells me which images.

You will also have to have most of your own equipment, because the full time people get the stuff the paper owns. There's someone on this forum that works for an online company and takes pics of items they're selling. She gets to use the company's stuff and has some nice equipment.

You can also use the net to display images. Do your own website. It takes time and money, just like anything else.

Me, I plan on doing this when I retire. I still have a few years and hope to get to full time with the paper by then. Or maybe the design business will get better. Only time will tell.

Good luck.

[xtm]

Both can coexist, it's just a matter of which one has the stronger pull - the Lens Lust or that Awesome new Frag

[redclay92]

I was into Reefing for close to two years, when I had my first DSLR purchased for me.For a while they coexisted I even upgraded tanks soon after. Yet it became apparent that the desire for faster gass easily beat out that frag, but I still maintained my tank. Once school started back the lack of time pushed reefing further away but now that it's summer. My reef is looking alot better.

For me I don't have time durring the school year to focus on one or the other. So I think it really just depends on the amount of time you have avialible to also what kind of budget you want to put towards either front.

Red

[rogerwilco357]

well I have been doing both for over 15 years but photography since the 80's and fish tanks since the early 90's but over the last 6 years I have really got into reefing and sps tanks I have put at least 20k into this hobby in that time . Now photography lately has been pulling me away with my son's graduations and birthdays and other family functions. In the last year to two I have put about 15 to 20k into that and wonder if this is the way it will be till the end . See things wind down around sept.and that is when the tank comes in handy but when april hits it goes towards photography. I understand how some of you guys are going family and photography i have been there and still am , I have 9 kids from 2 to 22 finishing up with his college. So you know I take alot of pictures if you guys with one and another on the way think you take alot of pics well multiply that times 4.5 and you will be where I am ..so see I guess I answered my own question they can coexist or at least they have for me for years..
Misled do you hang out at the canon forum site potn?

[Misled]

Yes I do. Brian over there, (LordV), takes some amazing pics with the Mpe 65. One day I'll get a cheap Canon body and pick up that lens. I have more posts there than I do Nikoncafe. The forum goes faster and has quite a few more members.

By the way, I'm Misled over there too!!!!

[Misled]

I see you!!!!

[MalHavoc]

My other other hobby made the decision for me. I've been travelling a lot in the last few years (often for a month or more at a time, several times a year) and keeping a tank wasn't really feasible any more. I've become obsessed with making my photo kit as fast and as light as possible since my travelling is often hiking or climbing related, as it was this past week.

http://vegangeek.ca/wm.php/sanfrancisco/valley.jpg