Redundancy, last day at work is Fri 14th July*

Huge posted:

Hi Chris,

How good are you at working with wet chemistry darkroom techniques?  If you understand that but want to transport that knowledge and those skills into the digital photography revolution there's a photo editor called Picture Window Pro, from Digital Light and Colour that recreates the way a wet chemistry darkroom works, but does it inside a computer.  Since the team who produced it have all retired (they worked for Silicon Graphics at a high enough level to be paid in shares and retired rich!), they've now released it as a freebie.  It's well worth trying.

In terms of turning RAW files into good image files, DxO is the easiest package to get full pro quality results:  Using Lightroom's RAW converter (ACR) can sometimes get slightly better results, but it takes a lot of knowledge (and more work) to beat the results that DxO can get automatically.

These tools can help shorten the learning curve so you can become digitally proficient more quickly.

But all this assumes you decide to stay in professional photography - that and whether you need to downsize your house are the biggest decisions you have to make.
It's good to involve your circle of friends, not only will they help you to stay sane, the social contact they provide is also important for your long term health (I do volunteer work for a North Wiltshire organisation that focusses on helping people that way).

It's a trying time, but it also offers opportunity in amongst the stress.

All the Best

E

Hi Huge,

Is that the DxO product that costs c.£100 to £120 ?

If so, Chris could be in business before the 14th July !

I was expecting to see a product costing a small fortune !

It's always pretty awful when your alone and unsure, time to think is good and bad. I was made redundant in 2006, had a mortgage and managed to get another job in time to manage the finances. I got hit with a pretty severe MS attack in early 2016, couldn't walk, talk, type for 2m, thought it was all over, a £500k mortgage, in the process of increase to £650k and halfway through a house renovation. Bugger me life looks different now, I recovered, kept my job, sold the huge noose and downsized.

I realised there's always someone better off and worst off, keep your confidence and sell a few things you don't love or need if you have to.

Good Luck

I've spent my entire working life in more or less short term, insecure work. Sometimes I've finished with a clear idea of where I was going next, others not. Sometimes it can feel daunting when you have no idea what will come up next. Something always does seem to come up though, as long as you accept that the next opportunity won't magically appear without some effort fom you. 

I guess we're lucky now that we are mortgage free, my wife has a full time job that she enjoys, and our daughter has flown the nest, but it hasn't always been easy. Looking back, though, I have absolutely no regrets about my choice to live like this. 

I'm not sure if there's a useful message in the above, Chris, but I hope you'll be able to see this event in your life more as an opportunity than as a crisis. Good luck!

Chris

Don Atkinson posted:

Huge posted:

Hi Chris,

How good are you at working with wet chemistry darkroom techniques?  If you understand that but want to transport that knowledge and those skills into the digital photography revolution there's a photo editor called Picture Window Pro, from Digital Light and Colour that recreates the way a wet chemistry darkroom works, but does it inside a computer.  Since the team who produced it have all retired (they worked for Silicon Graphics at a high enough level to be paid in shares and retired rich!), they've now released it as a freebie.  It's well worth trying.

In terms of turning RAW files into good image files, DxO is the easiest package to get full pro quality results:  Using Lightroom's RAW converter (ACR) can sometimes get slightly better results, but it takes a lot of knowledge (and more work) to beat the results that DxO can get automatically.

These tools can help shorten the learning curve so you can become digitally proficient more quickly.

But all this assumes you decide to stay in professional photography - that and whether you need to downsize your house are the biggest decisions you have to make.
It's good to involve your circle of friends, not only will they help you to stay sane, the social contact they provide is also important for your long term health (I do volunteer work for a North Wiltshire organisation that focusses on helping people that way).

It's a trying time, but it also offers opportunity in amongst the stress.

All the Best

E

Hi Huge,

Is that the DxO product that costs c.£100 to £120 ?

If so, Chris could be in business before the 14th July !

I was expecting to see a product costing a small fortune !

It's DxO Optics Pro;

For pro use I would recommend the Elite edition @ £159.00, it has additional image clean-up tools tools that can be very difficult to replicate using general purpose photo editors (and in some cases they are actually impossible after the RAW processing has been done).

Hi Chris, I am very, very, very sorry to hear this news. And even more I am getting scared when I read all these other messages from people who have similar experiences. I hope I will never be challenged like that. Some fine advices are already given......, and while I haven't gotten the experience let me offer also some advice......

1. Allow yourself some time for anxiety and sadness etc. But make an agreement with yourself that you step out of that mode as soon as you can do.....

2. Perhaps you might want to support the first phase by doing the one thing you always wanted to do - best is when you do something with physical aspects involved, walking , cycling .....

3. Make the switch as soon as you can and count your blessings. You didn't get the message that you are dying within a short period ....

4. Make a plan of ensuring the best comes out of you

- get at the best fitness level ever;

- increase your skills;

- work on your network;

- keep your spirits up - listen to motivational input and avoid people who want to stay with you in the bad side of life;

- make a portfolio of your best work, a great cv, a website presenting your best work.....

- create new habits which ensure that you stay active, get up on time etc..

- keep on doing things you like.

5. Try to reduce your obligations and downsize your life. Determine what you need for a minimal acceptable life.....

6. Photography, great but also explore other options which would also enable you to make a living. You are an unique person, can you offer your services as an independent person, can you change to something you never thought about - bake burgers or anything else....

7. Surround yourself and look for people who are positive and drive you forward and gave a network.

8. Look at your life as a rope - in normal circumstances you still have quite a Nr of years to go...., I am sure that in honor ndsight this moment might be even regarded by you as the best which could have happened to you as you where tested to bring the best above.

you have seen the love and the support of the forum. I hope the positive energy, the prayers, offers of support can be a source of energy. Use that source. 

Good luck...

Apologies, I messed up a posting, see "take the free help"

Adding together the details from your post, you are in the UK.

Starting point, go to GOV.UK, look for "Entitled To", work through this on-line benefit adviser which will give you advice about any financial help you may be able to get.

On 14th July make a claim to benefit, most likely Universal Credit, whilst you may or may not be entitled to payment, this sets a baseline for any future help (mortgage element), you may be entitled to National Insurance credits which will help towards any State Retirement pension.

Make and attend appointments at your local Jobcentre. Despite what the populist press may say the Work Coaches are trained, are there to help and if they don't know usually know someone who does. Whilst it may be basic, there should be training, IT, CV writing, application and interview skills. Ask the Work Coach for a FULL demonstration of Universal Jobmatch, it has facilities other recruitment sites lack, they can help you.

Do not pay anyone to write your CV, there should be plenty of help, through the Jobcentre, your local college and on-line.

You have skills, most will be transferable. I know that my local college starts its photography courses getting students to buy a K1000 or similar, so darkrooms skills are still needed.

Consider volunteering, after many years of work, one person I know said that doing so made him feel whole again, a person, not a cog in a machine.

Good Luck!

Hi Chris

Here's living proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I posted this 3 years ago and was in turmoil myself at the time

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...eak-mid-life-crisis?

The situation was slightly different in that redundancy wasn't forced but I took voluntary redundancy in the end. I was out of work for about 2 or 3 months but I know exactly what you mean when you say you're terrified. One minute I was fine, the next I had visions of never working again. I just couldn't envisage where I would be in a year or two's time. It was a real roller coaster ride.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, after a false start we moved 200 miles away and started a new life. I stayed in IT but at a much lower level. I now earn about half of what I used to but no more call out, no stress, no long hours or being run ragged. More importantly, I now work with real, friendly people and not demanding nobody's on the end of a phone/internet connection. We live in a beautiful part of the country and life couldn't be better. Having said that, my wife was made redundant last Friday but I know it's just another part of the journey.

Here's hoping it comes together for you.

Col (age 56)

where are u in the uk? if near cambridge, i might have a small amount of ongoing photography work up for grabs

Hi Chris, lots of good advice already, but to add a couple of thoughts. You can find yourself going through the whole Shock / Anger / Denial / Acceptance cycle similar to a bereavement & it can take time to work through this, but recognising it as a cycle can be helpful.

Outplacement agencies can be very useful if you can get your company to pay for a few sessions & they can help you to write your CV and think through what you want to do next. Some also run group sessions & it can be very useful to talk to others in the same situation as yourself. Making contacts and networks at this stage can be very useful down the line, especially if you potential go freelance at some point

If you do get a chance to use an agency be careful on when you use them as I've see people so much in the anger phase that they cannot see beyond the fact they have been 'sacked' and they just can't focus on the support / advice side at that time.

The other critical thing i learnt is to find yourself a good Independent Financial Advisor who can help you in working through your finances and pension situation. Many have supported people in similar situations and will be an invaluable source of advice especially in how you use your pension.

Hope this helps

J

Hi,

A day or so later and I'm amazed and delighted with your warm responses, lived experiences and hard-headed advice on what I thought may have been a bit of a sinker. Thank you all (too many to name) for your life-affirming replies.

There is plenty I will re-read over the coming weeks I'm sure. I will address a few points that have been raised.

I very much agree that this is similar to a model of bereavement. I expect that it could get worse before it gets better.

Points about teaching, volunteering, updating digital skills (I come from the film era and have only ever done press photography), the possible perils of outplacement, teaching, the benefits of using networks, govt websites, signing on, all noted. I'm in sunny Southampton.

On the photographic side, I was once a very good b&w printer with Record Rapid and access to a cold cathode De Vere enlarger. DxO Optics Pro Elite definitely appeals, so thanks. My paper intends to use 'user generated content' and will perhaps offer some freelance shifts. My anger is such at the moment that they can stick it. No doubt this may change when the money dwindles. Nevertheless, when the annoucement first hit me, I determined that I was going to go out with my head held high and keep giving my utmost to the end. And I've done a couple of jobs better as a result.

I don't have a site but could put one together. The work would be copyright of the paper I work for.

Finally the serious stuff that many have alluded to: I will nurture myself. I will investigate and understand my pension. Both seem vital irrespective of next moves on a career path.

I've always been a bit sceptical about the large word 'Community' in white on black at the top right hand corner of every forum page. How wrong I was. Thanks again.

C.

My son, 20, is studying photography and is mad keen on using only film. I bought him a nice OM2n with 1.4 Zuiko for Christmas and it never leaves his side.

Maybe an untapped analogue market out there for classes, residential weekends like 'film retreats'...that sort of thing?

Best of luck.

G

Nothing more to add Chris than has been said above - some really useful experience posted here. 

From your posts, you've always seemed a very decent chap so i hope this temporary setback soon passes and you're back onto bigger and better things.

James

Chris, thank you for such a delightful response to all our expressions of support.

Graeme has a wonderful suggestion there.  Teach yourself to use digital and get a 'feel' for it (not too difficult as most of the technical stuff about the exposures is exactly the same* so you already know it even if you don't realise that yet), then you'll be in a position to teach film photography to people who feel the 'coldness' of digital and want to convert for artistic reasons.  Artistic use of film is a dying art that is worthy of preservation.  I don't know if it's potentially lucrative enough to give a sustainable income, but definitely worth investigating.

* The main difference is that for film you set the exposure for where you want the mid point of the response curve; whereas for digital you set the exposure for the brightest highlight in which you want to preserve detail, and then adjust the brightness later.

GraemeH posted:

My son, 20, is studying photography and is mad keen on using only film. I bought him a nice OM2n with 1.4 Zuiko for Christmas and it never leaves his side.

Maybe an untapped analogue market out there for classes, residential weekends like 'film retreats'...that sort of thing?

Best of luck.

G

That's a bl@@dy good idea Graeme.  How's your lab skills Christopher? - a teach-in on photographic techniques & composition + a shoot on day 1 followed by a 'develop & print' session on day 2... people would pay good money for that kind of 'nostalgia' thing these days; your market would be the older folks who remember the good old days of film... the older folks with a healthy disposable income nowadays!  OK, so you need a dark room & equipment, but when I did this at evening classes back in the stone age, it was wonderful fun  (I actually got an A grade 'O' level, so that dates me.)

As I think almost everyone has hinted at:  you now need to think 'outside the box'.    (Yeah, I know, finding 'the box' is a challenge all in itself, let alone thinking outside of it!) 

i ran a photography business along side my usual IT work from 97 to '09, film of course then digital ...... loved the film side of things and was able to embrace the digital side quickly due my IT background.   The crash in 08 basically killed off the profit margin, so focused on the day job...letting the camera glassware quietly depreciate on the company books :-)

recently started up again and feel the market has picked up, but I'm so busy with other stuff its a real dip of a toe into the water. Need it fund some new bodies.

One of my old contacts are pretty much given up on anything but doing photoshoots of pets and animals .... very lucrative indeed..... Dogs cats & horses mainly.

rjstaines posted:

That's a bl@@dy good idea Graeme.  How's your lab skills Christopher? - a teach-in on photographic techniques & composition + a shoot on day 1 followed by a 'develop & print' session on day 2... people would pay good money for that kind of 'nostalgia' thing these days; your market would be the older folks who remember the good old days of film... the older folks with a healthy disposable income nowadays!  OK, so you need a dark room & equipment, but when I did this at evening classes back in the stone age, it was wonderful fun  (I actually got an A grade 'O' level, so that dates me.)

As I think almost everyone has hinted at:  you now need to think 'outside the box'.    (Yeah, I know, finding 'the box' is a challenge all in itself, let alone thinking outside of it!) 

I think you may get just as many youngsters wanting to use film - probably the same ones who have a collection of vinyl and a TT!

P.S.  I can't think outside the box, I'm dyslexic and I don't have a box!  (not even a box brownie!) 

There is an   Event Photography company not far from you. I think they take on temporary photographers, they shoot and print events and print the pictures and sell them at the event.

Come to think of I do not think that sort of thing is done at Marwell, you need some kit and a partner to drive the printer and take the money.

Another vote for "What Colour is my Parachute?" book. I found it the most useful when I changed career path at 45. Gets to grips with identifying your known strengths and how to apply them in a new direction or role.

Lots of colleges offer taster days if you feel new skills are required to add to what you already possess. All the best.

This Forum is rather brilliant sometimes isn't it.

Helped me a few years back with a really crappy time, and the accumulated wisdom and impressive generosity on here is far more important then the odd bit of bickering that occasionally breaks out.

Bruce

It's pretty much all been said by others but having spent my entire working life in IT, I've been there too so do understand. My three suggestions are:

• Don't try and rationalise it - save time and get over any anger, denial, etc to the 'acceptance' stage as quickly as you can
• Network like crazy - I forget the exact figures now but know that most jobs are got thought someone you already know
• Think innovatively - such as even moving house and/or a complete career change as I've know some make

 Whatever you do have fun ...

Lots of great suggestions from many people with varying backgrounds. As previously mentioned, I have become unemployable in my field due to my "advanced age" (still not 50 but in IT I might as well be 80). I've all but given up on traditional "work" and have focused on creating wealth by trading commodities. I can't stress enough the potential for exponential growth in Ethereum price over the next 5-10 years. I'd recommend anybody with a stomach for speculative investing to look into Ethereum. 

Chris,

Just remember.....

....tomorrow is the FIRST day of the rest of your LIFE.....

Don't waste it, make the most of it !

Best wishes,

Don

Hi

Sorry to hear your news, however try and take it as an opportunity as opposed to a kick in the fork.

Whilst photography is your genre, perhaps try something like independant wedding pohotgrapher where there might be better money?

Sell your house, it dosnt matter, get a smaller one thats affordable - it should ease your finances & reduce the chance of foreclosure or repossesion.

What ever you do, dont sell your hifi & keep your head held high

bon courage et bonne chance

N

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