Defination of obscenity

[chauncey]

It's "definition." "Defamation" is a completely different word with a completely different meaning. I'll let you look up its "definition."

You are, of course, grammatically correct, but...I would submit, in this case, the words are interchangeable.

[Black Pearl]

Another thing to consider other than just the financial outlay is the number of photographic items we have owned. I worked in a camera shop for 24 years and as such have owned rather too many cameras, lenses, flash guns, tripods, camera bags (don't get the wife started on camera bags for Gods sake) and a million other bits of kit....I have a ball & socket head that fits over the top of a wine bottle - hey - I might just need one of those and somewhere upstairs there is a Rubber Neck....Google it.

The "I need one of those" occurrences become so frequent that essentially I needed every single new 'gadget' that came in the back door.

Oddly enough I'm now considering selling the whole lot and buying a Nikon Df with just a 50mm.

[Colin Southern]

You are, of course, grammatically correct, but...I would submit, in this case, the words are interchangeable.

So now we have "definition" - "defamation" - and "defination" -- this is getting confusing!

[flashback]

Obscene is a CEO that earns $65 million/yr
As for a hobby, until it becomes an addiction or obsession (both of which are typically detrimental behaviors) I say go for it. Some people travel, some people are clothes horses, fly fishing can be pricey and as for bass fishing well, there are those bass boats, cars are collected and from what I know of that ain't cheap. Anyone here a private pilot? As for insanity, it's all about perspective. What price sanity?

[Colin Southern]

Anyone here a private pilot?

Yep - gave up when my favourite plane shot through $400 an hour to hire.

[jcuknz]

Dan K Obviously I need to add 'S' to my avatar

[pnodrog]

Yep, 'fraid so.

But, to my credit, I don't do drugs (the photography gear has been paid for with all the money I would otherwise have spent on cigarettes, which I gave up 4 years ago), I'm nice to animals and children and apart from my passion for wine (which is also a far too expensive hobby), I don't abuse alcohol.

Of course excessive use is not the same as abuse is it?

Yes it is easy to spend far to much money on either interest.

[HaseebM]

As long as the hobby brings joy to you and a few others around you, then that's all that matters. Make sure to buy only gear you can afford. Which hobby then would not become extravagant unless you are a professional and make a living out of it?

[mknittle]

Defination of obscenity: a tourist with a Hasselbland

[Marie Hass]

Obscene is the cost of the new health insurance policies under Obamacare. I will now pay more for much much less coverage. My photography, no matter what the cost, affords me a sense of sanity. As my therapy, it is far, far cheaper than spending thousands out of pocket to meet my new deductable.

Obscene is having a Masters degree and being published and only earning 25K a year = standard for West Virginia. This forum and others like it are some the only places I know of where CE's and mentoring possibilites are free.

Marie

[barrydoig]

Mary had a little lamb,
It grew into a sheep.
It bought a digital camera
And died through lack of sleep.

But what a way to die!

[Doctor Doog]

You can't take it with you.

[kdoc856]

If my wife knew exactly what I've spent in the past 3 years, she would think it too much, I suppose. But I would quickly point out that I'd have spent considerably less had I not tried to be frugal with my initial purchases, only to soon realize that "cheap" begets mediocrity, and needed to upgrade just about everything.

[Colin Southern]

Defination of obscenity: a tourist with a Hasselbland

*blad

[KCBrecks]

Obscenity -

1. The state or quality of being obscene.
2. Indecency, lewdness, or offensiveness in behavior, expression, or appearance.
3. Something, such as a word, act, or expression, that is indecent or lewd.
4. Something that is offensive or repulsive to the senses

These were culled from a dictionary, so obscenity doesn't apply to expenditure on photographic equipment - it could apply to the result of the use of the equipment but presumably if there had been high expenditure on the equipment then the resulting obscene images would be of a higher quality, technically.

It might be profligacy though if other, more important matters were being starved of finance. (Such as food, warmth, clothing and housing)

As an impecunious young husband and father I looked long and hard at hobbies and decided there was only one which I could in all conscience take up, abandoning all of the others, and that was cooking. It is constructive, it is educational, it costs very little over and above household budgets and the results are usually pleasing and well received by all. It helps with friendships and can while away many hours. Photography had to be viewed in a similar way so any expenditure was for specific purposes, recording family events and members, then for illustrating and verifying work. Eventually it could become a pure hobby and then I could do as I was able, never as I wished though.

I would dearly love a 5D III, a 24-105 1:4 L USM zoom would be lovely but spending the £3000 would be insane when there are so many other things that would buy - clothes, carpets, heating, lighting and food and other necessaries. It would be ridiculous and spendthrift. Perhaps one day I might win the lottery then things could change, just a little.

I did buy a Canon nifty fifty last year for £80 as I really had a yen for one. It has been used about 10 times in all, 3 of those by my grandson, so perhaps that was extravagant.

If you have the money then what the hell, you can't take it with you and if you think you can then that is truly insanity!!

[GEORDIE]

Just read this thread, most interesting reading. I am a newbie to photography like it or not here is my experience so far. given a canon 1000d for my 75th birthday I firstly found this brilliant forum and then joined a camera club about 50kms from home. The local club gave me the impression if you didn't have at least a 5d you didn't fit. I have an exciting hobby now. I just bought a cpl filter and recently drove 20 kms along dirt tracks to shoot an almost inaccessible waterfall.
So I am having wonderful experiences apart from conquering photoshop, and not spending a fortune. At least not yet.
Cheers Colin.

[GrahamS]

But, what is worse is, when you consider that I've printed a grand total of four prints, that were donated to friends..

Until you print a photograph, you haven't seen it.

[chauncey]

Until you print a photograph, you haven't seen it.

That, my friend, is a valid point.

[RustBeltRaw]

Generally speaking, I don't think any action by any person is objectionable until it starts affecting others in ways they don't appreciate. I do think I've spent a little too much, since I've slowed down my student loan repayments, but eating anything but Maruchan ramen has the same effect.

Fortunately, photography has opened doors and experiences that just can't be bought. My gear has taken me to surprising and wonderful places, and considering that I've collected it for less than the cost of a luxury cruise (which is my idea of Hell), I don't think it's that ridiculous.

If you're worried about how much you've spent, just compare your budget to Colin's. Over three years, I've spent half as much on photography gear as he has on his helicopter hobby. Put another way, his camera budget is about 18 times larger. But I suspect we're both flexing our budgets by similar amounts, and as long as you're not destitute or dragging anyone else down, what's the problem?

[chauncey]

Years ago, on another nameless site, I was criticized for spending eight grand on my Ds3...rather sarcastically responded that I didn't think that it was any of their business as I was adequately caring for my adopted six children after retiring from a six figure career. Oddly enough, after further questioning their "giving back history", I was left alone regarding my spending habits.

But...I really should make some more prints, if only for justification purposes.