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 Photo Compacting “I’m not buying any new cameras for a year!” The words had hardly left my mouth when the full horror of my statement hit me! Unfortunately there where witnesses to my foolhardiness so there was nowhere to hide and no going back, much to their amusement. In many ways what at first seemed like crazyness fitted very well into my efforts to simplify my life at every opportunity. When you start thinking about Global Warming, Climate Change and Peak Oil it doesn’t take long to realise that we’re living well beyond our means in the west. Quite frankly I was well sick of the “consumer” lifestyle with everyone screaming at you just to keep on consuming more and more. More than you need, wanted, could use or could afford. A few months later I was introduced to the idea of Compacting. Its simplicity is astounding. Hard Core Compactors only buy new, food, underwear, shoes, toiletries and medicine. Everything else is bought second hand, swapped, borrowed, recycled or preferably given as free hand me downs. At smallboatbigsea (my church) we formed a Compacting Group to support and encourage one another. Each of us came up with a list of needs and wish list that we emailed to the group. Now when we need something and before rushing to the shop we email the group to see if anyone can help or give advice. It’s been amazing to see how often we’ve been able to help someone out from within the group. It has been wonderful to rediscover my cameras. To use what you’ve already got to complete projects even if it isn’t perfect and not feel the pressure to upgrade every time a new and improved model comes out. I’ve even sorted through my gear and given away cameras and lenses I no longer used or needed. …and this got me to thinking. There must be lots of great photography gear out there that people no longer use, need or want. I have great fun with my camera club pulling apart old cameras to create pinhole cameras etc. So if you have a camera or lenses you no longer want let me know because I know a lot of photographers who would love them. As for me I’m particularly interested in these types of cameras and lenses: Antique Canon EOS Hasselblad and Mamiya Large Format If you’d like to read more about Compacting please see this website: Common Ground Website
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