A New Career

In June I retired from teaching. It was a second career. Event photography is becoming my third career.

A $15 35mm film camera was my high school graduation present. The photos it produced were beautiful and fulfilled my artistic urges. I loved capturing the events and experiences around me. The camera drowned in Vietnam in 1965.

 I owned other cameras but did not shoot much.  Film and developing were expensive.  When I became a school teacher, I had more disposable income, so I sponsored a camera club for my 6^th grade students.  Interacting with them, sharing their discoveries, and documenting our school and its events restored the thrill of taking pictures.

My Soldier Boy, on his second tour in Iraq, sent me a digital camera for Christmas. It lowered expenses and added immediate gratification.  Motivation, excitement, and fulfillment increased as retirement neared. I could have the freedom to do something I really enjoyed.

Nearly a year into retiring, I am still an “amateur”. This will probably never be a primary source of income. I don’t mind. Amateurs can still earn money while having the freedom to grow.  And it is wonderful to be able to meet the needs of the many people, whom I have known over my years in Mesa.