Keep the.hematog toggin'

I think most of you know me or have seen me in person by now at some HEMA event, but if not, hi I'm Andy.

When I first started HEMA and hit the tournament scene as a spectator I realised there was no one that really took pics, and lets be honest, what we do is fucking cool! Everyone was mad friendly and I thought "You know what, I'll do em a solid this time and take some pics" and then it kind of spiralled from there. Now I'm taking pics at events all over the world, for free, just to make sure people have some cool pics of themselves. I guess it's a hobby within a hobby #hobbyception.

That being said, my main camera is getting to the end of it's life. It's done well and its muscled it's way through over 160k pictures at events - but it's showing its age and is starting to mechanically fail on the regular. This is the part I hate, anyone who knows me knows I'm massively socially awkward and the thought of asking for help genuinely makes me feel uncomfortable. But I'm gonna force myself to do it anyway and throw this out there to anyone who has enjoyed, used, shared, liked any of my photo's - and ask that ONLY if you're able to and would like to, contribute to me buying a replacement so I can keep on taking pictures of us all enjoying friendly violence.

I am able to buy a second hand replacement of my camera for around £400 (they don't make mine new anymore), I'd love to get an upgrade but a spec for spec upgrade would cost £3500 and I don't want to come across as greedy (as asking for help for this is awkward enough for me). But yeah for around the £400 price I can get a like for like replacement that still has plenty of life left in it and will (hopefully) keep me toggin' for another few years.

Again, I really fucking hate asking for help but I want to really stress that this is only if you really CAN and WANT to help contribute towards the cause. I know life's stupid expensive so totally get it if you can't contribute or just simply don't want to, I totally get it. If by some luck I hit this goal (or by some miracle I somehow get enough for an upgrade) any left over funds will be donated to C.A.L.M and receipts of the donation will be shown on the.hematog insta.

Thanks for reading, I'm genuinely shocked but grateful you're even here reading my rambling but if you make a donation you genuinely have my heartfelt thanks.