Retirement planning often concentrates on the money side of retiring.
Once we do finally retire though one of the main concerns can be what to do with the free time we now have at our disposal.
In this article we want to explore how photography can enhance your retirement lifestyle and how it can be incorporated in your day to day life.
We’ll explain how to get started and suggest some ways in which you can begin to take and share your photographs.
When discussing photography we will use the term to include short video clips too as this is an area of photography that is increasing popular given the rise of social media apps such as Instagram and Tiktok.
Firstly then, lets discuss the benefits of photography.
These are wide ranging and cover a range of subjects including creativity, a sense of achievement, and personal growth to name just three.
We’ll explore the benefits in more detail below;
Photography is by its nature a creative hobby.
Taking photographs is a way in which you can express yourself.
You can choose what to photograph, experiment with different subjects, techniques and styles.
As you progress you may choose different types of photos to take such as portraits, landscapes of still life.
The possibilities are endless.
By trying new ways of taking photographs you will improve your skills and knowledge.
This can be rewarding and lead to personal growth.
Creating photographs can lead to a sense of achievement and pride in your work.
In turn this can improve your self-esteem and motivation to keep learning new areas of photography.
Taking photographs concentrates the mind and teaches you to look at the world with fresh eyes and gives you a new appreciation of the beauty around you.
It can also make everyday objects and scenes appear more interesting.
You may start noticing shadows, shapes and colours in a different way.
This may lead you to a greater sense of appreciation of the world and improve your overall happiness and general mental health.
Losing yourself in taking photographs can also be relaxing.
You can get lost in the moment and be fully present in your actions.
Photography can give you a reason to go outside in the cold or wet weather.
Capturing the same scene across the different seasons can be a way to stay motivated in the winter months.
How To Get Started.
Nowadays most people have mobile phones which have cameras built in to them.
These are ideal for when you are just starting photography or looking to improve the type of photographs you take.
These built in cameras are often very good and there is no need to spend money on expensive camera equipment to start with.
There are often a range of functions on your camera phone which can help in different settings or when trying to take different types of photographs.
These may seem complicated to start with but don’t worry.
Remember that all the beautiful historic photographs were taken with far simpler equipment.
After all, it’s the eye of the photographer that is the most important thing.
As you develop your photography skills you may want to try new things and explore all that your camera phone can do.
There are numerous Youtube videos tutorials that can help you.
We’ve included a link to one at the end of the article.
What Should I Photograph?
You might find it daunting when trying to work out what you should photograph to start with.
The simple answer is that it does not really matter.
It is more important to just take the first step and start taking photographs.
You can take photographs of the flowers or plants in your garden, buildings near to your home or people you know.
You will soon start noticing that you are attracted to a certain type of photography and can concentrate on that area if you wish.
Photography can give a sense of purpose to a walk or bike ride.
Look out for objects, views or people to photograph.
Don’t be afraid to take lots of photographs to start with.
You’ll probably find that you don’t like most of them but this is quite normal.
You’ll start to review your photographs in a more critical light and will notice the one or two that you do like.
You can study these, work out what you like about them, and try to include these things in your next photographs.
Photographs are a great way to capture a moment in time and help to bring back memories in years to come.
Each photograph has its own story. It can capture a moment in time for future generations.
You can create a scrapbook of photographs of your travels or a record of the ordinary scenes of today which in years to come will seem like another world.
There are numerous photography clubs or classes you could join to share your photographs and learn new techniques or get inspiration.
This is a great way to socialise and meet new people.
You could even start your own Instagram of Tiktok account to share your work.
There really are so many benefits to starting or developing your photography in retirement.
Why not give it a try?
Take a look at some of the photographs from our retirement journey Click here…
For tips on how to take better photos with your phone camera Click here…
For an interesting explanation of the mental health benefits of photography Click here…
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