I recently posted this portrait of myself with my guitar, by Lon Overacker over at the NPN Photgraphers forum.
In one of the replies, Sandy Richards commented: "This would be an interesting thread:
"What hobbies/passions do you have, in addition to photography? "
I think Sandy's idea is a great one, as I'm sure most of us have passions or hobbies other than photography.
So, let us know! Images of you doing your other hobbies would be cool, too!
I'll start...
I started playing acoustic guitar in 1963 and never stopped. I currently play bluegrass, fiddle tunes, and some Celtic. Playing guitar feeds my soul just as does photography, but in different ways; ways that I cannot quantify. But, one thing is for certain: It sure is fun!
I thought I'd add the specs for the guitar...
Luthier: Michael Hornick--Shanti Guitars
Body Style: Dreadnaught
Back and Sides: Book Matched Indian Rosewood
Top: Book Matched Sitka Spruce
Neck: Honduras Mohagony
Fingerboard and Bridge: Ebony
Peghead Overlay: Ebony
Binding: Ebony
Inlays: Mother of Pearl, Agate, Turquiose, and Chrysocolla.
--P
Posted by Eva McDermott on January 23, 2011 at 6:13 PM
Nice to meet you Preston and wonderful portrait Lon.
I love Celtic music (to listen to, not play). I go to Cape Breton every Oct for the Celtic music festival.... fiddles, guitars, bagpipes,because it is a passion of mine. I try and catch concerts of my favoritye Celtic artists locally when I can.
http://www.celtic-colours.com/
My other hobby is wood working. While this is not me in the pic, this is the staircase, doors (not pre-hung) and wainscoting I designed, constructed, and finished. I started wood working when we moved into our home in Sudbury, MA in 1998 and got hooked). Never used a power tool until 1998 when I decided I wanted real wood moulding and doors in our then new home and decided to do it myself and taught myself with some advice from friends at work.
BTW - I started dabbling in photography around 1972 and it is the most deep seated of my passions.
As I can typically only afford one vice or hobby at a time financially, this is a photo of my last piece of gear so to speak. I spent 25+ years drag racing beginning in 1964 at the then brand new Mickey Thompson Speedway in Fontana, California.
After a 4 year stint in the military I picked up where I left off and spent many years traveling throughout So Cal and many western states on most weekends racing. This photo is a shot of my last race car before I sold it to a person in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
I ran this car in the Super Gas or Pro Gas classification which ran on an index of 9.80 E.T. The fastest this car, a 1977 Chevy Vega, ran was a 9.70 E.T at 140 miles an hour in the quarter mile. It was powered by a 406 cubic inch Bow Tie Chevy small block with Brodix Aluminum cylinder heads and a Power-Glide Transmission.....
I too can really only focus on and afford one hobby at a time! photography has been the main focus of my attention for the last 3-4 years. Before that, it was mineral collecting. It has been a lifelong interst that hit a peak for about 3-5 years before the photography bug caught me. Then the collection had to take a back seat. Before that, it was road cycling, and before that it was Tae Kwon Do. Picked that up while in Europe in the army as an M1A1 Abrahms Tank gunner. Eventually earned a senior 2nd degree black belt, and instructors certification. Unfortunately, my instructor who was the best man at my wedding by the way, passed away from Non - Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and my passion for it went away.
Chris
Posted by Ed Cordes on January 23, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Good thread. My passions have always been photography and cars. In another thread in the Members Lounge I posted a thread about our new BMW. I don't want to be redundant so I will post another image here.
No photos are handy, but my passions run the gamut of outdoor pursuits. But my twist is that no matter what I pursue, I prefer to make as much of the equipment as I can, rather than buy it. Therefore I build fishing rods, tie flies, leather work, weave, sew, wood work, and much more. Using photography as an example, I make most of my own camera bags and lens cases from leather with woven shoulder straps.
Bottom line, just call me crafty!
That's superb woodwork Eva, and on a much larger scale than I can attempt without a shop. Good on you!
And for Paul and Ed, my brother is the Car Guy in the family, mostly building street rods with his now-19 year-old son. Their latest project is what started as a 1973 Chevy Luv, into which they dropped a 350 cubic inch V8 and then went to work. With parts from 18 different vehicles and custom body parts now installed and a whole lot of engine work, it's a street rod every youngster would pine for. And in fact it was the high school graduation present for my nephew. I'm not willing to turn a kid over with 500+ horsepower in a light truck, but he's my brother's kid, not mine!
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 24, 2011 at 12:02 AM
I'm less fanatical about it now, but for 30+ years I was a diehard fly fisherman, making an annual pilgrimage to Yakutat, Alaska for North America's greatest steelhead trout run. It's a bad photo (the film camera went swimming later) but it explains the madness, I think.
I'm no less the fly fisherman than I ever was, but crowding has dimmed my enthusiasm for many of my old favorites. Great SH you have there, and enough river view to stir fond memories. Thanks!
Hank & Jim, my brother Tom as a long time fly fisherman would be envious of your adventures up there in Alaska.
Hank, I assume the photos you supplied earlier here were of your brothers son and their project car. I also assume they are not in Alaska seeing the palm tree in the background on one of the images.
I as well play the acoustic guitar. I started in 1970, but have had a few periods where keeping up with it has been tough with work and kids and all.
I mainly play finger style acoustic blues in the fashion of guys like the Reverand Gary Davis and Big Bill Broonzy. For 35 years I played on a Gibson J-55 but bought a beautiful Taylor fives years ago that I just love.
For me, playing the guitar is a way to come home from a tough day at work and let all the troubles fly right out through the music.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on January 24, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Great stuff!
Eva, I am impressed with that wood working! I was in the trades for a good part of my life (plumbing and heating) and have seen my share of top-end jobs on the east end of Long Island. Your work looks top-notch!
I was never into playing music but I very much enjoy listening to it. I can certainly appreciate the workmanship of Preston's guitar - it's a beauty! A great portrait of you as well, Preston.
I am also a life-long motorhead, so I can definitely relate to the rest of the auto enthusiasts here on NPN. Breaking into the 9s with a V8 Vega sounds like a blast! Since I still work full time in product management, and the 3 kids are through college, I finally have some "disposable income" to enjoy (for as long as I can stand my present job). My first car in 1970 was a 1966 Mustang convertible, that I modified pretty heavily. After a very long spell of just keeping our heads above water, I have recently began enjoying "car modding" again, this time with Subarus. This is my 2007 Forester XT, which has been substantially modified and runs the 1320 in the low 13s (there's a 12 second run in it, I know!). Here is my Facebook Photo Album of the Forester.
BTW, like me NPN contributing editor Alain Briot is also a car enthusiast who enjoys photographing them too. He has a Porsche Cayman S and a Lotus Elise sitting in his garage!
Hey Jim, that is one really neat looking wagon. Sounds like it has some real suds to it too. Anything running in the 13's is hustling down the track IMO. I spent a lot of time doing quarter mile stuff over the years.
The Vega pictured above was a naturally aspirated motor with a single Holley dominator carburetor and NO NITROUS. I built the tubular chassis and 360 degree cage for the Vega, as well as the Bow Tie small block engine, and Dodge 8 3/4 rear end for the car. I did have to farm out the entire Power-Glide trans and 8 inch converter to a pro shop....
Posted by Jim Erhardt on January 24, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Paul, I agree - the best part is getting hands-on on doing this stuff yourself! It's just that back aches for days after spending any time under the hood or under the car.
Pretty cool topic. I actually painted before I ever owned a camera, and am hoping to get into art more seriously. This is a painting I finished a few months back.
Preston, I also play bluegrass/acoustic music. Seems like there are many photographers and other artists that are into music as well. Here's a link to a tune I have on myspace. http://www.myspace.com/raymondklassen/music/songs/This-Hurts-59849643
Raymond, I also have a Martin guitar. It's a 1965 D-12-20 12-string. I bought it new in early 1966 for the whopping sum of $235! It still sounds great and plays like a dream. I'll take a digi snap of it and post it later.
Keep on pickin'!
--P
Posted by Joe Sulik on January 30, 2011 at 11:15 PM
I have A LOT of interests and hobbies, among them are scuba diving, rock climbing, dog sledding, backpacking, music, surfing, and many more, but my main passion other than photography is competitive cycling. I train year round and race all summer. I usually put about 5000 miles on my bike each year!
Great thread! I'm a serious boater. I lived on a great 55 ft pleasure Trawler for 4 years, outfitted for long-distance cruising. We picked it up in Hilton Head and brought it home to Oregon through the Panama Canal - a 4-month trip. One of the best times of my life, when the most serious decision of the day was "what to fish for, for dinner?" We spent spring/summer/fall in Alaska and BC, and winters in southern Oregon. Now I have a smaller 32 ft boat i don't use as often as I should.
My other serious hobby now aligns with photography - RV camping. I have a greatlittle motorhome that i can live very comfortably in, while I travel to good photography sites.. Not too much of this in the last year or for the predictable future, as I'm needing to stay pretty close to home to oversee my elderly mother's very complicated medical care - but I still can get away for weekends and an occasional longer trip.
Here is the "Emerald Myst" in "No Name Bay", Alaska. An old photo by a guy in another boat.
Sandy
and a photo of Marjerie Glacier in Ak from the bow of the boat:
Sandy
Posted by John Wiker on February 6, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Used to love anything to do with cars, racing etc... Went so far as to get a corporate job with a major auto mfg. Now...can't stand it, found out just how crooked the automotive industry is, trying to get around every obstacle the EPA or CARB puts in front of them. The regulations are in place for a reason, so we can breath. I'll stick to photography and music.
Posted by Stan Rose on February 7, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Google "Alien Guitar Abduction" That's my other hobby. Im currently working on my 5th cd, this one will be my best, im getting some of the best musicians ive met over the years (been playing for over 25 years) to collaborate. Id love to combine the two interests, but still photos and music arent the best match IMO, and my video skills are limited.
Nice to meet a fellow guitarist, Preston! I love all styles, saw Andre Segovia's last Master class, have taken master classes with Robben Ford (blues) and Martin Simpson (im sure you know him!) as well as lessons from John Petrucci (dream theatre; progressive rock).
I just traded my American Strat, so now im down to 4 guitars, my main two being my Ibanez Jem777 and my Takamine.
Posted by Bill Chambers on February 17, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Wow, I feel like a piker compared to some of you other guys! No fast cars, beautiful instruments, and big boats. My other hobby is paddling my 16' canoe in the swamps and streams of Florida. A great way to get away from other people and to enjoy peace and solitude. I used to enjoy paddling my sea kayak in the bay, sound, and ocean but unfortunately it was stolen about a year ago I'll sulk back to my hole now!
Posted by Dennis Plank on February 22, 2011 at 12:38 AM
Interesting thread. Lots of diverse hobbies here. Most of mine seem to have gravitated to one aspect or another of natural history lately. Photographing it, reading about it, and most importantly volunteering in ecological restoration efforts. The last turns out to provide a wonderful way of getting exposed to some little known and very beautiful nature preserves. The photo is me with my trusty "Weed Wrench" also known affectionately as a "Broom Wrench", since Scotch Broom is our number one invasive locally.
Posted by Mark Seaver on February 23, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Cool thread. My other major hobby is primitive technology, which includes a little flint knapping (making tools out of stone and wood), edible and medicinal plants, animal tracking, basketry, fire by friction, and nature awareness. All of these are just more excuses to get outdoors as often as possible and they make a "walk in the woods" very interesting as I see plants, trees, and rocks that have uses other than looking cool.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 25, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Mark, those are cool hobbies - and good ones to be proficient at!
I'm on a mission to record (photographically if possible) all the plants, insects, birds, and animals living on the south end of the Big Horn Mountains. Someday, someone's going to want to know what came and went up here. I'm an amature entomologist, and I have a native grass garden I'm cultivating with an eye towards preservation against the constant overgrazing of the rangeland. I also enjoy geology and paleontology. I have a wood shop behind my cabin where I make odds and ends of log furniture and work on my 'rescued' bird houses. (I salvage downed trees with natural nesting holes, fix them up and rehang them for the birds and furry critters that use them. With bark beetles and charmaga rust devastating the lodgepole pine, I figure they need all the help they can get.) Guess my real passion is for life and the world around me. I love a little bit of everything but I'm not real good at any of it.
Posted by Dan Roberts on March 25, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Passion? Gee, if you put it that way, I guess it would have to be boats/boating. I've been around the water all my life in one form or another. Grew up on the water, worked on charter and commercial fishing boats for a while, rebuilt and lived aboard a 32ft sailboat for six years, on and on. I guess I've mellowed to the point that boats are no longer and end goal but rather a means to an end. This photo is our current 22 ft power boat that we use to go out on Prince William Sound in the summer. It serves the purpose of getting out where we have access to good photography and are able to harvest seafood to stock the larder.
This photo is more like what Alaska looks like 80% of the time but the tourist advertising doesn't show you. But when it's nice it is GLORIOUS. The fishing rods on top of the boat gather salmon and halibut. The little davit is for pulling shrimp traps. The name is due to the fact that our two German Shorthair Pointers share our boating adventures. Though they won't be along this season as they just celebrated their 15th birthday and are a little to creaky to do it any more.
"Any more takers? What other hobbies or passions do you have besides photography? "
I'll add to my own list, if that helps Preston.
My principle artistic outlet beyond photography is leather work. I don't have much interest in Western style tooled leather with laced seams, but I get revved up about designing and constructing leather replacements for all the synthetics in my life.
Yeah, I make the usual belts, watch bands, wallets and purses, but I also build my own camera/computer bags, lens cases, accessory packs and more. I'm getting ready for a 7-week trip, and part of the preparation has been cutting the leather and assembling the hardware for a dozen leather projects to take with me.
Some folks watch bad TV at night in hotel rooms, but I'll be hand-stitching yet another leather creation.
Well, it's been a while since this thread was on the first page, and there are new NPN members, I thought I'd bring this back to the top.
Do you have a hobby, or a passion other than photography?
--P
Posted by Martin Dunn on April 29, 2013 at 7:14 AM
2 passions other than photography (1) Africa - I'm a real Africa bore; music, politics, conservation the whole lot. It ties in well with our photographic safaris. (2) Bushcraft. I love being out in the wild. Hammock amongst the trees, campfire burning, eating whatever I can forage. I love the tranquility of it.
Of course it would be nice to have a talent or a skill.....
Discussion
35 repliesIn one of the replies, Sandy Richards commented: "This would be an interesting thread:
"What hobbies/passions do you have, in addition to photography? "
I think Sandy's idea is a great one, as I'm sure most of us have passions or hobbies other than photography.
So, let us know! Images of you doing your other hobbies would be cool, too!
I'll start...
I started playing acoustic guitar in 1963 and never stopped. I currently play bluegrass, fiddle tunes, and some Celtic. Playing guitar feeds my soul just as does photography, but in different ways; ways that I cannot quantify. But, one thing is for certain: It sure is fun!
I thought I'd add the specs for the guitar...
Luthier: Michael Hornick--Shanti Guitars
Body Style: Dreadnaught
Back and Sides: Book Matched Indian Rosewood
Top: Book Matched Sitka Spruce
Neck: Honduras Mohagony
Fingerboard and Bridge: Ebony
Peghead Overlay: Ebony
Binding: Ebony
Inlays: Mother of Pearl, Agate, Turquiose, and Chrysocolla.
--P
I love Celtic music (to listen to, not play). I go to Cape Breton every Oct for the Celtic music festival.... fiddles, guitars, bagpipes,because it is a passion of mine. I try and catch concerts of my favoritye Celtic artists locally when I can.
http://www.celtic-colours.com/
My other hobby is wood working. While this is not me in the pic, this is the staircase, doors (not pre-hung) and wainscoting I designed, constructed, and finished. I started wood working when we moved into our home in Sudbury, MA in 1998 and got hooked). Never used a power tool until 1998 when I decided I wanted real wood moulding and doors in our then new home and decided to do it myself and taught myself with some advice from friends at work.
BTW - I started dabbling in photography around 1972 and it is the most deep seated of my passions.
As I can typically only afford one vice or hobby at a time financially, this is a photo of my last piece of gear so to speak. I spent 25+ years drag racing beginning in 1964 at the then brand new Mickey Thompson Speedway in Fontana, California.
After a 4 year stint in the military I picked up where I left off and spent many years traveling throughout So Cal and many western states on most weekends racing. This photo is a shot of my last race car before I sold it to a person in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
I ran this car in the Super Gas or Pro Gas classification which ran on an index of 9.80 E.T. The fastest this car, a 1977 Chevy Vega, ran was a 9.70 E.T at 140 miles an hour in the quarter mile. It was powered by a 406 cubic inch Bow Tie Chevy small block with Brodix Aluminum cylinder heads and a Power-Glide Transmission.....
Chris
Bottom line, just call me crafty!
That's superb woodwork Eva, and on a much larger scale than I can attempt without a shop. Good on you!
And for Paul and Ed, my brother is the Car Guy in the family, mostly building street rods with his now-19 year-old son. Their latest project is what started as a 1973 Chevy Luv, into which they dropped a 350 cubic inch V8 and then went to work. With parts from 18 different vehicles and custom body parts now installed and a whole lot of engine work, it's a street rod every youngster would pine for. And in fact it was the high school graduation present for my nephew. I'm not willing to turn a kid over with 500+ horsepower in a light truck, but he's my brother's kid, not mine!
I'm no less the fly fisherman than I ever was, but crowding has dimmed my enthusiasm for many of my old favorites. Great SH you have there, and enough river view to stir fond memories. Thanks!
Hank, I assume the photos you supplied earlier here were of your brothers son and their project car. I also assume they are not in Alaska seeing the palm tree in the background on one of the images.
Your woodwork is gorgeous!
--P
Great thread.
I as well play the acoustic guitar. I started in 1970, but have had a few periods where keeping up with it has been tough with work and kids and all.
I mainly play finger style acoustic blues in the fashion of guys like the Reverand Gary Davis and Big Bill Broonzy. For 35 years I played on a Gibson J-55 but bought a beautiful Taylor fives years ago that I just love.
For me, playing the guitar is a way to come home from a tough day at work and let all the troubles fly right out through the music.
Eva, I am impressed with that wood working! I was in the trades for a good part of my life (plumbing and heating) and have seen my share of top-end jobs on the east end of Long Island. Your work looks top-notch!
I was never into playing music but I very much enjoy listening to it. I can certainly appreciate the workmanship of Preston's guitar - it's a beauty! A great portrait of you as well, Preston.
I am also a life-long motorhead, so I can definitely relate to the rest of the auto enthusiasts here on NPN. Breaking into the 9s with a V8 Vega sounds like a blast! Since I still work full time in product management, and the 3 kids are through college, I finally have some "disposable income" to enjoy (for as long as I can stand my present job). My first car in 1970 was a 1966 Mustang convertible, that I modified pretty heavily. After a very long spell of just keeping our heads above water, I have recently began enjoying "car modding" again, this time with Subarus. This is my 2007 Forester XT, which has been substantially modified and runs the 1320 in the low 13s (there's a 12 second run in it, I know!). Here is my Facebook Photo Album of the Forester.
BTW, like me NPN contributing editor Alain Briot is also a car enthusiast who enjoys photographing them too. He has a Porsche Cayman S and a Lotus Elise sitting in his garage!
The Vega pictured above was a naturally aspirated motor with a single Holley dominator carburetor and NO NITROUS. I built the tubular chassis and 360 degree cage for the Vega, as well as the Bow Tie small block engine, and Dodge 8 3/4 rear end for the car. I did have to farm out the entire Power-Glide trans and 8 inch converter to a pro shop....
Preston, I also play bluegrass/acoustic music. Seems like there are many photographers and other artists that are into music as well. Here's a link to a tune I have on myspace. http://www.myspace.com/raymondklassen/music/songs/This-Hurts-59849643
Very nice painting, too!
--P
Keep on pickin'!
--P
My other serious hobby now aligns with photography - RV camping. I have a greatlittle motorhome that i can live very comfortably in, while I travel to good photography sites.. Not too much of this in the last year or for the predictable future, as I'm needing to stay pretty close to home to oversee my elderly mother's very complicated medical care - but I still can get away for weekends and an occasional longer trip.
Here is the "Emerald Myst" in "No Name Bay", Alaska. An old photo by a guy in another boat.
Sandy
Sandy
Nice to meet a fellow guitarist, Preston! I love all styles, saw Andre Segovia's last Master class, have taken master classes with Robben Ford (blues) and Martin Simpson (im sure you know him!) as well as lessons from John Petrucci (dream theatre; progressive rock).
I just traded my American Strat, so now im down to 4 guitars, my main two being my Ibanez Jem777 and my Takamine.
--P
This photo is more like what Alaska looks like 80% of the time but the tourist advertising doesn't show you. But when it's nice it is GLORIOUS. The fishing rods on top of the boat gather salmon and halibut. The little davit is for pulling shrimp traps. The name is due to the fact that our two German Shorthair Pointers share our boating adventures. Though they won't be along this season as they just celebrated their 15th birthday and are a little to creaky to do it any more.
--P
I'll add to my own list, if that helps Preston.
My principle artistic outlet beyond photography is leather work. I don't have much interest in Western style tooled leather with laced seams, but I get revved up about designing and constructing leather replacements for all the synthetics in my life.
Yeah, I make the usual belts, watch bands, wallets and purses, but I also build my own camera/computer bags, lens cases, accessory packs and more. I'm getting ready for a 7-week trip, and part of the preparation has been cutting the leather and assembling the hardware for a dozen leather projects to take with me.
Some folks watch bad TV at night in hotel rooms, but I'll be hand-stitching yet another leather creation.
Well, it's been a while since this thread was on the first page, and there are new NPN members, I thought I'd bring this back to the top.
Do you have a hobby, or a passion other than photography?
--P
Of course it would be nice to have a talent or a skill.....
In my ill-spent youth I was into drag racing. I built a '55 Triumph TR2 with a Chev 327. Sold it before it ever got on the strip
Later, built a 23' sloop from scratch. That got me into woodworking.
Last May I started painting. Raymond, your painting is terrific, true skill.
--P