My parents gifted my first camera on my eleventh birthday. They had planned a vacation trip to Yellowstone National Park and thought that I might wish to take some snapshots there. It was a basic, bare-bones Agfa point-and-shoot model that used 127 mm roll film. The first rolls were twelve exposures, so I had to be stingy regarding subject matter.
Thankfully, dad paid for development and printing costs during the first few years of youthful snapshot shooting. In hindsight, I’m more thankful that dad subsidized the budding hobby because most of my pictures were fuzzy with movement shake or poorly framed. After a few years, I passed down that Agfa camera to my brother to justify upgrading to a Kodak Instamatic. By that time, I was paying for film and development so the number of photos dwindled noticeably.
It wasn’t until 1981 that I purchased my first decent camera. I still have the Canon AE-1 35 mm camera displayed in the living room. There are some film rolls stashed inside the refrigerator in case I get the urge to shoot the Canon or the smaller point-and-shoot film camera now in storage.
Now, I have a few digital cameras. Most of the pocketable cameras were purchased at thrift stores. I use them for everyday shooting because I’m all thumbs with the smartphone. I simply prefer the cheap cameras because they are more flexible and less intrusive than a phone. Also, they are unattractive to thieves. I discovered a nicer camera at the local pawn shop a few years ago. I use that to shoot my projects for Floral Fridays.
I believe that with the popularity and sheer numbers of cameras today, that anyone can shoot something. We don’t need to be artistic masters. We can snap photos of our family and friends. A lovely sunset or an interesting cloud could make a nifty subject. A camera is best, but if your thing is shooting with a phone–go for it. Celebrating World Camera Day could hardly be more simple than using your device or equipment.
Ciao
The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes 20th century American documentary photographer and photojournalist, Dorothea Lange. “A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.”
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Of all the cameras you own or once owned, do you have a favorite?
Yes, a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WB800 I got this a few years ago as a premium for participating in a consumer survey at our local shopping mall. It’s a slim, compact camera that easily fits in a pocket and takes sharp, brilliant photographs. Shop around for the best price, don’t pay more than $150 for a used one. You’ll pay more for brand-new, though.