Why Photography and Games?

If you happen to stumble on this site, you might think the combo of video game challenge runs and photography is a bit odd. I will now attempt to explain my reasoning. It’s about balance! Something to take me outside, and something to do while I’m in.

I’ll start with the goal: I would love for this site to inspire long time video game players to pick up a hobby to take them outdoors like photography, and to encourage them to try playing games in a new way.

Well, something like that at least.

Picking up a camera did something to me. For years I had considered buying a dedicated camera on and off, but never committed. Last year my wife wanted to get a Sony ZV-E10ii to film her sewing/costuming work and I finally said f*** it, I’ll get a camera too. Easily one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. As a guitarist who’s fallen off playing as of late, picking up photography felt like playing again for the first time. The camera has become the new instrument, and it’s been a blast to learn.

Slinging a camera over my shoulder and going on walks has done wonders for my anxiety. Getting older has slowly revealed a kind of panic and anxiousness that started to give me a lot of trouble. Taking photos (and medicine), has helped to curb those feelings quite a bit. Grabbing my camera gives me a reason to be out and about when I could easily stay inside all day and play games with my free time.

But what about the time when I’m not taking photos? What about the random hour before bed I have to do something? This is where games come in.

If you’re around my age you probably have no shortage of adult responsibilities that occupy most of your time. For reference, I’m married, work a 9-5 style office job as a test engineer, don’t have kids but do have two big orange cats, and am a home owner. While maybe not as loaded as someone balancing a family on the daily, my free time is still fairly limited. It’s just something you have to accept as you get older, but we can still make it work! Practicing shorter more dense (and often difficult) games for mastery has been a fulfilling way to squeeze games into limited free time.

Now we get to my point about balance.

Doing a lot of one thing can burn you out on it, and it’s only when you mix it up that you feel reinvigorated. Sometimes that concept can be applied within the hobby to great effect, like trying a new game, or limiting yourself to one prime lens for a photo walk. However, sometimes you just need to step away. Maybe it seems that no matter what game you pick up, it feels like a drag, or even the most inspiring scene doesn’t make you want to press the shutter button. So take a break! Stop trying to force a game if nothing clicks, grab a camera and go for a walk. When those photo walks aren’t doing it for you, try picking up an old game you used to play and try beating it as fast as you can.

Yes, it is a hobby philosophy targeted at a hyper specific demographic of people like me. If you happen to fall into that demographic, try giving it some thought! These ideas aren’t revolutionary, but are my personal flavor.