Posted By: DavidRamey
Retirement - 02/26/10 06:12 AM
I have sent an e-mail to my customers informing them that I will be retiring this year. I have received e-mails back saying that I will be missed, that I was a fixture at their events and that I have been one of the family. I no longer have the stamina to photograph a dog agility trial from first thing in the morning until the last run of the day. Since I can no longer do the job properly, it is time for me to step aside and hope that someone else can do the job properly. I gave my customers 3 months to place their orders and then after that, there will be no more photos for sale. I am moving on to other patures. I staked out a mining claim and will be mining for Gold and taking nature photos. Dog Agility has been good to me and my family. It has provided income for my family for 10 years and I will miss it. I will stop by from time to time, but from May 15 until October or November, I will be at my Placer Mine.
Hi David,
Wow - that is a definite change in lifestyle. How do you feel about this?
James
Posted By: StarrLight
Re: Retirement - 02/26/10 06:23 AM
Hey just get a laptop with satellite or wireless (phone) internet and send us some gorgeous mountain and stream photos from the claim site! Good luck in your new ventures!
Diana
Posted By: DavidRamey
Re: Retirement - 02/26/10 01:15 PM
I can do work on the mine when I want to work and stop when I need to rest. With the agility, I had to start photographing at 9:00 am and I would finish up around 4:00 to 6:00 pm with no breaks. I lack the stamina to continue working long hours with no breaks.
Posted By: Jim Garvie
Re: Retirement - 02/26/10 01:55 PM
Sounds pretty good to me. I understand about the rigors of shooting Agility Events. I'm not sure that folks who have not done it can appreciate the fact that you're busy from the first run of the day early in the a.m. until the last run of the day in late p.m. It's definitely a younger person's gig.
I've pretty much decided not to pursue All Breed Conformations shows for the same reason -- the running from ring to ring and shooting from 8 a.m. until dark is just a bit much for a guy pushing 63. Still like the Specialties because I can set up in one place and control the lighting.
All I can say, David, is good luck and much enjoyment. Life is about lifestyle and enjoying what you do each and every day. You've had some health issues which I'm sure have focused you on what you want to do for the rest of your life. I think you have a lot of options beyond Agility Photography and the mining sounds like a "hard work is it's own reward" type of activity. There's a certain honesty about that type of work that is cleansing.
How about the lens rental project you were talking about sometime last year. How did that pan out (pun intended)?
Best of luck and keep sending photos. Love seeing your work in all venues.
Jim
Posted By: Jim Poor
Re: Retirement - 02/26/10 04:10 PM
Hey congrats on being able to do it!
Welcome to the retirement group!
After 3 years of this stressful lifestyle, I believe I have mastered the job of doing what I want when I want, and found the work for which I am best suited!
Posted By: Peggy Sue
Re: Retirement - 03/01/10 03:16 AM
Congratulations in your new direction. May you have great joy in doing things your way!
Posted By: psmith
Re: Retirement - 03/01/10 05:05 PM
David, I wish you all the best. I hope you hit the Mother Lode. Watch out for the bears and the coyotes.
Gold is at $1100+ per ounce today.
Keep posting.
