The Big 4-0!

I recently decided to adjust how I use Facebook and all of my social media. Instead of talking turf all of the time, I figured I would integrate some of my hobbies and passions into my posts, as well. This includes my photography, which has taken over my personal time away from work. The post (at the moment I wrote this) had 108 “likes” and 38 “comments” which is way more than I normally get. Perhaps it was because I put the image of me on the cover of this magazine from about four years ago.

As I read the comments on my post, I came across one from a good friend who lives in St. Andrews and is roughly the same age. Andy’s comment was, “Sounds like a midlife crisis JK!!” Not only did he call me out for going through a midlife crisis (I turned 40 in February), but he also gave it not one, but two exclamation marks!! This was probably the first time those words had ever entered my mind and I knew I’d need a few days to formulate a response.

What better medium to share my thoughts with all of you young, middle-aged and old people out there than to spill my guts as I normally do in my column. Some of you probably have hobbies outside of work and some of you probably need them. For me, this came in the form of photography.

I’ve been shooting since 1997 when I bought my first SLR with the money I made from working as a Congressional Country Club intern. At that time, I used it to shoot landscapes, golf courses and a few other miscellaneous things. Upon entering graduate school in 1998, I convinced Dr. Peter Dernoeden to get a digital camera and my focus became disease images…many of which are still used in my classes and published in “turfnerd” industry books.

As I went from a graduate student to a faculty member at the University of Connecticut, I found the demands and expectations for a young, tenure-track faculty made it too difficult to dedicate the time necessary to shoot as much as I used to. Besides, I had already built up a decent collection of images for work that seemed to accommodate my needs.

Jump to 2009 and my move to Penn State. In taking over the two-year turfgrass program, I found my photography skills translated into excellent promotion for my students while in the program and during their internships. Combining photography with social media has made the program even more visible than it was before. I continued to shoot for work and at times it felt just like that…work. Then I submitted my tenure packet.

The tenure packet is a crazy document that tells a group of people, many who have no clue who you are, all of the great things you’ve done that makes you deserving of tenure. As I finalized my packet, I thought 1) this is damn good and 2) holy [insert expletive] I haven’t had much of a life outside of turf for the last 14 years. It was then I decided photography was going to be my outlet.

So for the last few years, I have continued to use my insomnia, travel schedule and free time to learn as much as possible about photography. As a data nerd, I studied lighting. As a gadget geek, I bought equipment. As someone who gives 110 percent in everything they do, I focused on getting better. Although most of my knowledge was gained from YouTube tutorials and my own trial and error, the last six months have been more focused. I now shoot more, attend workshops, submit to contests and joined an online Master & Apprentice community called The Arcanum.

So back to Andy’s comment. I thought, “Maybe he’s right. Maybe this really IS my mid-life crisis.” Then I realized the benefits I’ve seen in the last six months. Since focusing my free time on photography, I’ve had two manuscripts accepted for publication and a third ready to be submitted, retained two new grad students, received a new grant, secured a $500,000 Early Career Professorship, and arranged funding to take my senior students to the GCSAA National Headquarters last December and East Lake in September for the Tour Championship. The benefits from focusing time on my passion hasn’t only made me a better photographer, it has increased my productivity and focus in my work.

Likewise, I have drastically improved the quality of my photographic creations, overhauled my photography website, published several images in magazines and a book due out this month, and most recently been selected to educate others as a “Master” in the very online community that started me down this path.

If this is a midlife crisis, then I wish it would have set in two years ago. I’m more focused than ever and look forward to seeing what that is going to translate to both in my work life as well as my other passions.

John E. Kaminski, Ph.D. is an associate professor, Turfgrass Science, and director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State University. You can reach him at kaminski@psu.edu.