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LIVING ON LESS

One of the big challenges with being under debt review is the feeling that you can’t have any fun. Of course this is not true. Each month Debtfree DIGI features a section called LIVING on LESS.  In the March issue of Debtfree we feature an affordable hobby that is easily accessible for all.

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When under debt review or going through tough times cash is tight and you might feel that you can’t have any fun or do anything to relax. Well, Reader and part time photographer Roxy R tells us all about her photography hobby and why she thinks you should give it a try.

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Before the digital era took off, photography was associated with all sorts of unreachably high expenses. The first ‘camera’, Obscura was a device which used a pinhole or lens to project an image of the scene outside upside-down onto a viewing surface, and was the size of a dining room table. What a mission! The digital frenzy has provided all of us with the inspiring privilege of making photography part of our daily lives. Photography is one of those hobbies where you don’t need to spend a lot to get
great results. Today many cameras no longer use film, but capture and save photographs on an internal storage or memory card. They even include wireless communication (for example Wi-fi or Bluetooth) to transfer, print or share photos. These are commonly found on our mobile phones. Most mobile phones or devices can have a 5 mega pixel camera which can produce spectacular images. Gone are the days when we have to take our camera film to be developed so that we can share them with friends and family. Social networking has made it so much easier for us to share. Just log onto Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, flickr, dropbox, WordPress or Pinterest to name but a few, and click upload! The internet cloud has made it possible for those across the world (or in Jo’burg/ Cape Town) to see our feet in the sand, or the coffee we are enjoying, the sandwich we are having for lunch, our smudged make-up at the club, or even our cute dogs and fluffy cats on their very own digital screens.

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My husband always says it is not the device you use that makes a great photograph. A truly spectacular photograph is the bringing together of all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard and the people you have loved. Anybody can take a photograph. Even if they are all capturing the same image, i.e. Table Mountain, each individual will create a different photograph because of the person behind the device or camera. The point of this diatribe was to remind all that nothing is impossible in this day and age. You don’t need money in the bank to appreciate and capture timeless moments in life. I myself have taken up the project of photography. Whether I am using my iPhone or Leica D-Lux5, Kodak point-and-shoot or a Canon 5D MarkII I am able to relive special moments in my life through a timeless screen capture. Nowadays, if you do decide to print your best photos, you can with ease. You could print them at home or use services like 250gram or print them up in a photobook. It’s as easy as 1,2,3.
Photography is no longer a hobby exclusive to the rich! Why not start taking a few snaps and sharing them with your friends? It’s a really fun affordable hobby.