ipsofactophoto

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<p>I dropped out of Facebook in June so I could restructure my social media 'presence'. I'm very open about what people want to post up. Almost anything, since I'm a very visual person. I think of FB as a 'slice of life'. Especially since 1/2 my friends are from other countries. I do take issue with people who do a new 'selfie' every few days. Or poorly done cell phone shots with blown-out highlights. Please, if you aspire to be a photographer, get a camera. I do plan to get back to FB next spring, but the focus will be on photography. pun intended.</p><div></div>

<p>I agree with all the safety comments. You should stay to the main tourist areas where it is patrolled by cops on a regular basis. Old San Juan, Condado, and maybe the Plaza in Ponce. Paid venues and 1/2 day tours are also pretty safe. I've lived here 7 years now so I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I always travel light and never leave anything in plain sight, in the car. Too easy to break out a window. Groups of 3 or more, is a very good idea. Never leave anything unattended. It will disappear. Vigilance is the key to staying safe. There is a local photo group on Facebook you could check out, but it's a closed group. </p> <p>I have a Travel Blog about PR and address many of the issues discussed here. </p> <p>RobertosPuertoRico.com</p><div></div>

<p>I'm new to the PhotoNet and it's forums, but not new to photography.<br> <br /> I'm 63 and have been shooting off and on since I was 10. My first camera was a Browny Box camera. Later, I scored an Olympus Pen FT with 3 lenses. I upgraded on graduating high school to a Nikon F2 Photomic and 3 lenses. That was a heavy set so after a few years I sold it and switched to Olympus OM... 4 bodies and 13 primes. I later scored a Mamiya RB67 ProS with 2 lenses to do a little studio work. That was eventually followed by several 4x5's. My fav was a Crown Graphic with a 90mm Super Angulon. Most of that was sold or stolen over the years.<br> <br /> Today, I have an RB67 I got off eBay with 4 lenses, a Fuji GSWII (6x9cm with 65mm lens) I absolutely adore and a bunch of old OM gear I use on my Sony NEX 7. This fall, I'll score an A7rII or something like it. I'm still debating about getting another Crown Graphic, but with a 75mm lens and a 6x12 cm back.<br> <br /> I will definitely be shooting more film as I'm about 2/3's into building a new darkroom. Never thought I would do that when I decided to retire to PR. But I'm dead serious about doing some carbon Transfer prints of my own. I only wish I had 'discovered' that process a few years ago.<br> <br /> I sometimes maintain a travel blog I built from scratch, about the places we visit in PR as well as what it's like to live here and my gardening effort.<br> <br /> RobertosPuertoRico.com</p><div></div>

<p>I would not say that I quit out right. Unfortunately, life has a way of messing with you. Things happen that may take away your drive. Those my age will get this. I had a period of of about 8 years where I shot nothing. I lost a young son and all my ambitions and drive disappeared. Then, some of us have health issues we have to deal with. Most of the time, it's nothing that will prevent you from pursuing your passion. It just makes it more of an overt effort to get out and shoot... most of the time. It is very difficult to arrange your life in such a way that you never loose focus, never deviate from your chosen path. Unless you take that path alone.</p>