No, this message isn't about safe adhesives to use on your
leatherette. It's about the "glue" or the common threads that
hold some of us together.
I originally joined this list a number of years ago, probably
not too long after its inception. In those days I travelled
quite extensively and got to travel to many of the cities and
countries that other list members lived in. We were a much
smaller group back then, probably in the 100-150 member range.
I struck up friendships with several listmembers who are no
longer part of this list because of their converting over to
N*kon, Contax, and medium format equipment. These individuals
shared many common interests and experiences. They too, were
professional photographers caught in the confines of working in
the IT world. Good incomes have a tendency to trap us in
mismatched career choices.
Some members I've met, others I've talked with over the phone
and others have become friends. I've bought and sold equipment
from and to list members and never have had a bad experience.
Somehow, this particular community has had a flavour unlike that
of many other photographic communities. Sure, we have our
bruhahas, and other whacky moments, but as a whole, we've been a
friendly, helpful bunch with exceptional senses of humour (or is
it sense of humours?).
It never ceases to amaze me the giving attitude among members.
One well known individual regularily sends equipment on a "try
it out and pay me when you can" attitude (at least with me),
which is unheard of in most communities. This could be one
reason why he is nearly as successful buying and selling OMs as
he is in his primary mode of income. Another list member is
sending me a 600/6.5 lens to use for awhile. Why? Out of
friendship, helpfulness and trust.
Certain individuals were a tremendous encouragement to me while
I was struggling financially and again (and simultaneously) when
my wife was battling cancer. You've shared in my difficulties
and in the joys of fatherhood. I've tried to pass encouragement
and prayer support (please excuse the religion statement) to
others who have struggled.
What, then, is the glue that holds us together? OMs? Or is it
a relatively common mode of thinking that brings together
artistry, appreciation of engineering genius, and a humble pride
of hanging in there while the world attempts to pass us by?
We are no longer as closenit as we used to be, but that came out
of time (people moved on) and expansion (many more people now
than back then). Still there are pockets of friendships that
will last many years and there is a core group of people that
have actively participated in the discussions both on-list and
off. Looking back through the digests and seeing where the list
has been in years past, we see certain people who have become
(through time and consistancy) reliable, trustworthy and worthy
to be called friends.
Will the OM list live forever? No. Eventually, there will be
an end. I think it's very premature to think it's here now. I'd
say that there is plenty of fight left in many people to take
the list private before it is disolved. The list IS alive and
well. The same tenacity that allows us to continue to invest in
our OMs and Zuikos applies to our approach to the list. When
the going gets tough, we tend to dig in and pull all the harder.
I've uns*bscr*bed from the regular list and am back in digest
mode again. It actually is faster for me to go through a digest
than go through each email--even with filters. I'll probably
even back my contributions down a bit too, as I'm getting time
limited again. Doesn't mean I'm DEAD, just needing to balance
OM life with regular life.
This is a good list and a good group of people. I'm proud to be
an Olympus owner because of the quality of other owners as much
as the quality of the cameras and lenses. The list lives on.
Time often tells who the quality people are. Recent events
pointed that out.
We've joked about my silvernose lenses and my "stance" on them.
We've harranged my ugly OM-2S. We've even had tripod and film
battles. But, under NO circumstances should anybody criticize
my driving an SUV, nor the fact I voted for Ralph Nador! I draw
the line there. (talk about contradictions!)
After being severely limited by early parenthood, my
professional photographic efforts are starting to pick up again.
It's all for a reason. I may become unemployed again (and this
time from the deathly telecom industry), and this time I want to
be prepared to cut the ties and be ready to sink or swim as a
full-time professional photographer. At my current rate, I'll
be doing enough photography this year to more than offset any
George Bush tax cut by kicking me up a tax bracket. The stock
photography business is also picking up and I'm getting enough
sales in that now to justify an investment in that marketing
effort.
It is so important that we use our cameras and not just talk
about them. These ADITL and TOPE events have been wonderful.
I've learned more photographic techniques from the likes of John
Lind and Joel Wilcox than I have from most books. It is also
quite evident that most of us have purchased John Shaw's books!
I know this is a long message and I hope people trim it if
responding, but I wanted to pass these notes of thanks and
encouragment on to the list.
Ken N.
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