Why I QUIT Photography

In my most personal video ever, I talk about a time I made the difficult decision to quit film photography due to my struggles with depression due to my divorce. I share my personal story of how photography was once a passion that brought them joy, but how mental health issues made it impossible to continue for a while.
Throughout the video, I candidly discuss the challenges I faced while trying to balance their passion for analog photography with the daily struggles of living with depression and moving on from my divorce. I talk about how my depression impacted my motivation, creativity, and overall enjoyment of the art form.
However, despite the setbacks I faced, I eventually found the strength to overcome their struggles and return to my love of photography. I share how they took small steps to get back into the hobby, and how my love of the hobby eventually returned as my life returned to normal.
The video is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of taking care of oneself. It is a reminder that even when faced with challenges, it is possible to overcome them and return to the things we love.
This was one of the most difficult times of my life and I hope that I can offer some encouragement to others who may be dealing with difficult situations. As always, thanks for watching.
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[@rhondaabner8219]

Proud of you! Life is tough!

[@Overexposed1]

Hey look my mom found my KZbin. 🙈

[@LesterBeasley]

I lost my wife to cancer after 22 years of marriage. I lost a desire to do photography and pretty much everything else for 6 months. One day I picked up my camera again and gave my self a daily photo project to work on. I didn't realize how much I missed my hobby and it helped me to break out of the funk I was in. I'm glad you found renewed purpose and happiness in life.

[@Overexposed1]

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I can’t imagine going through that. Thanks so much for watching, wishing you the best!

[@jimhofman3179]

My story was the opposite of yours. I went through a divorce (my second) and decided I needed to fill the void in my life with something purposeful - to help ease the depression. Because I was experienced in the aftermath of a divorce I was able to develop a plan. I had been involved in photography early in life and decided to pick up the camera again after the divorce. I pushed through the rough days with photography in China. Since then, photography has become an important focus in my life and has absolutely filled the void. Life has a way of finding equilibrium, but you need the strength to get past the REALLY bad days in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your story on your channel.

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for sharing Jim. That makes a lot of sense, and that’s pretty much how I came back to it as well. Eventually you are sitting at home, alone, and you decide that you have to do SOMETHING. I wound up were you were, it just took a little time. I hope you are happy and healthy! Thanks for watching.

[@malcolmanderfam]

Hey man you're so loved, that must have been so difficult and taken much perseverance. Last year in April I had a stroke and my wife and I had to move into my in-law's house. I had quit my job for health reasons, cuz physically I couldn't handle the construction job, and I had to learn to talk again. There was a time I considered selling all my camera gear to provide, we had $40,000 in medical bills before financial aid came in. I couldn't drive for 3 months because of my seizures from the stroke, I felt pretty isolated. But about 7 and 1/2 after my stroke I started taking photos again and now with my new job part of it is product photography which I really enjoy. All that to say is, I appreciate you being vulnerable about your experiences 👍

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing. I hope you make a full recovery and you are able to get back to doing what you love. All the best!

[@alexpoling4755]

I’m just coming out of that sort of creative block with a non photography hobby of mine, and it was nice to get some encouragement from someone who’s experienced it too. Thanks for the vid!

[@Overexposed1]

You’re welcome. I ended up taking a few years off while I got my life together. Sometimes you have to take a few irons out of the fire temporarily!

[@mike1140]

I'm not crying you're crying. Thank you for making this video.

[@Overexposed1]

I recorded the last bit about 5 times because I kept getting choked up. Thanks for watching! Much better now!

[@merlinmarquardt]

Helpful. Thank you.

[@weisserth]

Appreciate the open talk, especially appreciated the warning in the beginning, that was very thoughtful. Appreciated that!

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for watching. The original cut was much more detailed. I cut most of the painful details out. Tough stuff!

[@marshalltravis3217]

I’m so glad you made it through. My journey was so similar but in the opposite direction. I had always liked photography as a kid because I saw my dad with his camera all the time. I had returned home from the Army and I was mentally exhausted and really depressed about the next phase of my life. My sister gave me a brand new Canon 650 and she said go out and take some pictures… and that kind gesture really saved my life. Yes I took some awful pictures but they only fuelled my desire to get better.

[@Nerdzombiedisco]

Thx for the post. I needed this. I subscribed just the other day because I ordered a Contax G1 and was watching videos on the G1 and your review came up. Scraped and saved after 2 years of having to sell all my Leica cameras and lenses due to tough times. Was looking forward to finally getting out this weekend and shooting...but the camera arrived not working. The motor drive would not engage the lens to focus. Not even in manual mode. I've felt defeated these last few hours...then saw this video on my recommendations. Perfect timing. Not sure how to get through this weekend without being able to shoot. It's gonna be a rough one. All the best to you and yours.

[@VictorReynolds]

Thank you for sharing your story. I lost my son in January 2023 and I can feel changes in my photography where I wonder if I should quit. Thank you for your encouragement!

[@Overexposed1]

I cannot imagine dealing with such loss. My heart goes out to you.

[@joey.leblanc]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I went through the almost the same thing and there were (and still are) some pretty dark days. I think it was incredibly brave of you to share this video. It's crazy how similar our situations are. Not just for the circumstances, but for how I got into photography. When my oldest was born, I got a Nikon D5100 to document his life, and the lens that ended up being the absolute turning point for me, and my photography was also the Nikon 35/1.8G DX. Thank you very much for sharing this, it really hit home and is truly inspirational.

[@Overexposed1]

My most sincere condolences that you had to go through that. Sad reality is, there aren’t many days that you don’t think about it - but we do our best to learn, and pick up the pieces. There are lots of awful details about my situation, but the worst was how quickly someone else was forced into my kids lives. One day, I was out walking with my then 8 year old son, who looks up at me and says. “You know what I like most about you, daddy? That even through the divorce you didn’t stop being my daddy. You never changed.” I’ll never forget it. It meant the world to me.

[@joey.leblanc]

@@Overexposed1 My condolences to you as well, that's awful. I agree, there aren't many days at all that I don't think about it. My situation has no shortage of awful details too. I just sent you a message on Instagram, if you'd like to talk about it.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

So glad you posted this, that which doesn’t kill us makes us STRONGER. So glad you have bounced back, every step forward is a GREAT thing. Family will always be number 1, hobbies second, your parents are proof of that. Be well and keep on shooting.

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you so much for the kind words! It means the world

[@riswanc]

Man i just watched ur video, selling all other stuff for a leica m6 and suddenly i thought you really quit now… i have been ur subscriber for some time, without this video i never knew what you had been through..it would have been worse in reality, i know u just summed up the important details here, but it’s very inspiring .. best wishes and luck, and hope the kids are doing well too

[@needsmoregrain]

Truly inspirational. Thank you for posting this!

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Onenamesake]

Amazing video thank you for sharing your story. I was slandered without cause by a client after delivering 800 photos of their wedding working 11 hours. it ruined my photography business mainly because I lost the will to fight and i lost my passion, I put the camera down for quite a while. My reintroduction into analog film photography saved my hobby! Glad to be back shooting and glad to be shooting film. Love your channel dude. #KYstrong

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for watching! Glad you are back on board as well. It’s amazing how one bad apple can spoil the bunch.

[@CalumetVideo]

Thanks for the awesome video!!!! Thanks for sharing your inspirational story. I have been through a point where I had to deal with a challenge, it zapped my interest in my hobbies for the moment. I ended up selling my cameras off as well, but I did bounce back.

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@ronaldsand3000]

Thanks so much for sharing your inspirational story I sincerely hope you find the companionship and love again you deserve in the future ahead Kindest regards

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you for watching! Things are much better now!

[@gabrielobadia7016]

Yesterday I picked up my camera for the first time in 6, difficult, stressful months. Haven't felt so alive. Sometimes hobbies gets pushed to the side very quickly but doing things we love even if it feels like it is not going to ammount to anything is the key, step by step... ❤

[@Overexposed1]

I hope things get less stressful for you. Thanks so much for watching!

[@samonamusi]

well done this is amazing brother so proud I wish you all the best and nothing less

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you for watching!

[@DanielLopez-ef8or]

Thanks for sharing something so personal. I remember going through something similar during covid (not to the extent of how gut punching a divorce is) but i found myself working in photography and that got me by. Thanks for this video and opening up for us.

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks for watching, Daniel. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy

[@agustinalvarez4661]

So my parents got divorced recently and my girlfriend and i broke up. film photography keeps me going and makes me feel alive, i found your channel some months ago and i found you a good person and looked up to you as a source to learn more. But now i can say that i see you like a true true friend, great video i really needed to hear something like this. Im so proud of you keep it up greetings from paraguay!

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for your kind words. It means the world. So sorry about your parents divorce! It’s the worst

[@alexcarrillo5510]

I know in what your going through - I almost got Evicted this year as my Neighbors LIED to the Building Manager as my building is a Non Smoking Building But she is for them as they continued to Smoke, and now I have a Breathing Problem due to their Smoking, and now I am using a Inhaler. As we took our complaints to the SF Rent Board as it was a Waste of time, and lost our complaint from the Neighbors and the Building Manager. As during the time that I have not done any photography for 3 years now. Now in going to an office that Helps People in losing their homes that they Help me, and my Room mate that we won, and during the settlement that we have to move my room mate move to another room, and that I had to move my computers, and desks to her formal room as it will be now our work place. So I will be slowly doing my photography again. And yes the COVID did slow me in going to my Doctor, and it did place a Halt on my traveling, and doing my photography. I hope that you is a temporary phase for you like me. San Francisco is just another city that face the COVID problems like Layoffs, and Evictions... But I was just the lucky ones... Think about it, Keep making Videos...

[@qwikflame]

thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your story. really helps us understand your passion.

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks for watching, Eric!

[@cornbread86]

Thanks for sharing this - such a good video. I went through something similar many many years ago and it’s so cool to look back and see how photography helped me process my thoughts and feelings, at times was a helpful distraction, and eventually hard times passed and my photography covered the the ugly and also the good times. Really glad I came across you Channel - keep up the good work.

[@PoeInTheDitch]

You're good people. Thanks for the vulnerability.

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you so much. You must be too. Er, at least have good taste in films.

[@PoeInTheDitch]

@@Overexposed1 Ha. I'll take it. And, of course, I have impeccable taste. 😄

[@Zombiedmonkey]

I appreciate the video. It hit close to home for me.

[@Overexposed1]

Life is tough. If you ever need anything reach out. Email on the top of the page.

[@Zombiedmonkey]

​@@Overexposed1, thank you. By the way your content is fantastic. Keep up the good work.

[@PurpleStormProductions]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, this video is going to help a lot of people. I’m thankful that in my darkest hours, it was my hobbies that kept me up, but I know now that if I can’t do that, that it’ll be ok, that sometimes you’ve just got to let yourself feel it. You’re the best, thank you!

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks so much for your kind words. This is one of those videos you make, and you don’t know how it’s going to go over. I have been so thankful that it has resonated with folks! Thanks again for watching!

[@kaczynski2333]

You're good people. Glad you got through it :)

[@Overexposed1]

Thank you, Will. I appreciate you taking the time to watch.

[@xiaodu87]

Good you made it through the rough times and thanks for the thoughtful video. Must have cost you quite some effort. I'm happy, I stumbled across your channel. I really appreciate your videos.

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks for watching! It was extremely tough.

[@AbDaniel21]

man i can totally relate to this

[@Overexposed1]

😢 life is tough. I hope you find happiness.

[@AbDaniel21]

@@Overexposed1 thank you sir, wish you luck, happiness and everything else in life, i really enjoy your content, and your accent for some reason^^ keep going!

[@Turtlenaide]

It looks like a lot of people broke up after covid 😢 me included it hurts it does stress of life can sometimes ruin something that was meant to last forever

[@julianrodriguez661]

good vid. thx

[@Overexposed1]

Thanks Julian!