Comments on: Overabundance

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:04:04 +0000

On way of getting rid of old stuff: Being forced to move – that always helped me thinking about those things that I still use, those to which I have a real connection – and those that are just floating around somewhere in the house.

And yes, in my mind we certainly have too many things. Especially those things that we don’t need and only use for impressing people that we don’t know or don’t like.

Of course, photographers are always also gearheads. But (at least in my mind): some people focus far too much on the technology. I’ve seen such a plethora of pictures produced with a brand-new EOS 1D Mark III that are just…hm. Oh well. And it’s not those people who are just beginners, but those that do “photography” for ages and have had each and every Canon DSLR since the D30.

Maybe it’s so much easier to go shopping than to learn?

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:14:29 +0000

I am on a de-cluttering jag right now too. I am buried in clutter and it takes valuable time to manage. About once every 5 years I have a yard sale but I never make much money. Family and friends are always telling me how they make HUNDREDS of dollars. I never do – why do I bother? I would rather die than rent a storage unit. I could never let myself sink that low!

Simplicity – the only way to go – it gives you more time – our greatest resource!

By: Photo Buffet

Photo Buffet — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:07:24 +0000

Paul, I have a stack of stuff heading to Goodwill. This summer has been a season of decluttering, although I still am not done. One thing you haven’t thought of – if you win a lottery, people would be crawling out of the woodwork, claiming to be your second and third cousins.

Simplicity is definitely less stressful. Can’t take any of it with you at the end of this journey anyway. It’s just Stuff.

By: John

John — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:41:16 +0000

You are a Taoist sage Paul, and I can relate to your wanting your photography to become simpler; I can see it already in your work, and I like what I see!

And amen to getting rid of excess. We as a society have way too much stuff; we’re strangling on it and so are our landfills.

“If you realize you have enough, you are truly rich.” Simple words from a simple man but words we should all take to heart and practice.

By: micki

micki — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:17:17 +0000

Out of 20 1/2 years of marriage, we’ve lived all of them without a basement and 18 of them without an attic. That has taught us a lot! Now, don’t get me wrong, my house is cluttered! With five kids and two parents with different interests, there’s a lot of “stuff” still there and I’m the biggest collector of the family, but you’re right Paul. We in Western society accumulate too much. We’re looking to fill a void in our lives, a spiritual void and human connection that’s missing and cannot be fulfilled no matter how much we buy…but most never learn that lesson. (Then the grandkids have to clean out those houses of all that “stuff” that someone just couldn’t live without but no one else wants.)

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:39:43 +0000

I think the best thing you could ever do if winning a lottery is to keep it a secret, however hard or impossible that may be.
The biggest bonus for me would be to not have to work and have more time to see the various places I have always wanted to go to.

By: Billie

Billie — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:01:59 +0000

When we sold our house and “stuff” in Houston to move Mexico, I realized that I was possessed by possessions. It was very freeing to be relieved of so many possessions that needed to be cared for and stored.

By: Colin Jago

Colin Jago — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:24:13 +0000

Only two tripods. That’s mere beginner status

ps Wan’t to buy a monitor?