Taking on photography as a hobby has been quite interesting. On one hand, it’s incredibly rewarding personally. I enjoy the final results, I love sharing the photos online and receiving comments about the photos, and I am constantly challenged by the technical aspects of photography (lighting + camera settings + post processing). On the other hand, I’m finding that other people (including friends and family) don’t necessarily see the attraction and therefore have a tendency to give you sideways looks when you pack a photography bag to go to any function.
You have to be ready to take on some ridicule in order to get serious about photography. I have found this especially true when I bring out Bertha. Bertha is 3.5 pounds of awesome. Bertha is my 70-200mm lens that definitely stands out when you attach it to the camera. If I had my way, Bertha would be with me all the time. But, I’ve found that when I go bowling with friends, Bertha isn’t exactly welcomed with open arms. People tend to notice and stare when you have a foot long lens at a bowling alley set up on a tripod so you can take pictures of the ball hitting the pins. But to me, this seems like a lot of fun and a challenge that could help me grow as a photographer.
I’m sticking with it. I don’t know where I want my photography to go in the future. I don’t plan on making it in to a career, but I certainly want to advance my knowledge and talent. Trust me, I’m used to having people stare at me. Need I remind you of this shot of me?
I was going to type some version of this information up and realized that a direct copy/paste was better
(11:11:20 AM) toddhuish: I read the strobist article the other day on shooting christmas with 2 lights and briefly considered setting something like this up and then realized that without the alien bee triggers I would want to stab myself by the end of the day(11:11:56 AM) Hawkins: he he.(11:12:01 AM) toddhuish: Then I was thinking about your article on photography as a hobby and how your family just kinda has to deal with it 
(11:12:34 AM) Hawkins: Was I wrong in my article? Does that happen to you, too?(11:12:41 AM) toddhuish: Oh totally(11:12:58 AM) Hawkins: cool, as long as it's not just me. 
(11:13:01 AM) toddhuish: And you're right. It's hard to be inconspicuous with bertha(11:13:15 AM) toddhuish: A foot long white lens 
(11:13:46 AM) Hawkins: oh, ya know where would have been a good place to say that? In the COMMENTS ON MY BLOG!!!
Todd, You are too funny.