I’ve been a photographer for most of my life. I got my own, (personal), camera when I was eight. A Kodak Instamatic. Loved that camera. Though, in looking back, those cameras, as popular as they were, took horrible photographs. The lens was just plastic crap. So, the image quality was terrible.
 
I got my first 35mm camera when I was in junior high; 7th grade. I had this rather forward-thinking instructor who actually offered a photo class to his young students. There, we learn to compose shots, and to develop film, and all of that good stuff. I really liked that class.
 
At Hollywood High School, I did an independent study photo class. Again, offered by a foreword-thinking instructor, where all I was asked to do was to take photographs and be as creative as possible. Then, one-on-one with the teacher, we would discuss each shot.
 
I collected all of those photographs in a manila folder decades ago. When I look back on them, they always make me smile. My-my how times and creative visions change…  
 
Over the years, I advanced with my photo techniques and my camera equipment. Back in the 80s I used to carry three camera bodies and multiple lenses, in an over the shoulder bag with me, all across the globe. Man, that was heavy. What was I thinking?
 
My lady, she is a real pro photographer. She has the BFA to prove it. But, we always go back and forth, as I feel she doesn’t compose her shots very well. “Here let me show you how you should have composed the shot,” I’m always jokingly telling her. And headshots, forget about it. She just doesn’t get it. “I’m a creative photographer, not a portrait photographer,” she always exclaims. Though I have roped her into photographing all of my books on the martial arts.
 
Throughout all of this time, as time went along, there was a time, when I had a shit-ton of cameras and lenses and filters and flashes and light meters and all of that kind of nonsense. This was amplified when I got into the film game. But, I’m not a hoarder. And, if I’m not using something, and if it doesn’t have a sentimental meaning to me, eventually I move all unnecessary stuff along. The thing is, when you live like that, more times than not, I am left wishing I had kept something as I often have to end up repurchasing it.
 
A new lens for my DSLR camera arrived today. Popped it on. Loved it. The thing is, as anyone in the photo or film game knows, you really need to keep your lenses protected, as that is the sourcepoint for capturing your images. Thus, you always need a UV filter for it.
 
Again, once upon a time, back in the long ago and the far-far away, I literally had hundreds of various lens filters; UV and otherwise, in all kinds of sizes. Years back now, with all of the vast advancements in photo enhancements in the digital realms, I thought I will never use any of these filters ever again. So, goodbye. I’m sure someone at the Salvation Army or the Goodwill loved it when they discovered that batch. But, they were probably just a reseller and put them up for sale on eBay. But, anyway…
 
I asked my lady did she have, “Any UV filters left hiding anywhere?” “No.”  So, I had to go to Amazon and order one up. It’ll be here tomorrow.
 
I think this is always the dilemma in life.  If you are a creative, you need whatever you need to bring those creations to life. But, unless you live in some big sprawling mansion, with an untold number of rooms, there is only so many places you can store your creative stuff. Thus, if you are like me, periodically, you let the unused go. But, then what? Then what, if you need it, a bit farther down the line?  
 
Weird dilemma, I get it. But, if you know what I’m talking about, you know what I’m talking about.
 
So, you can keep something forever and never use it. Or, you can put it out there into the ethos, and let someone who will actually use it, put it to use.
 
Collecting, hoarding, or setting all things free, when they need to be set free… Which do you believe is the best thing to do? But remember, either way you choose it, there will always be a price to pay. Which price do you want to pay? The price of hoarding or the price for setting things free and then having to repurchase them?