Does 'Are you still into photography these days?' require 'these days,' or is it understood without mentioning it?

[Zoli]

Does the question 'Are you still into photography these days?' require 'these days,' or is it understood without mentioning it?

 

[probus]

To me "these days" is purely optional and does not alter the meaning. I'd omit it for the sake of brevity.

 

[Piscean]

Does the question 'Are you still into photography these days?' require 'these days,' or is it understood without mentioning it?

For me, the difference between:

1a. Are you still into photography these days?
and
1b. Are you still into photography?

is similar to the difference between.

2a. Are you still working as a photograper?
and
2b. Do you still work as a photograper?

The a versions direct (slightly) more attention to the limited duration of the activity than the b versions.

 

[tedmc]

I think "these days" highlights "the present/current time" as a matter of days.