Taking pictures is in my genetics, my grandfather did, and my father did as well. There is a famous family story about one of my aunts drinking the fix that was left in the fridge when they were kids. I went to an art high school CSW, (and if I win the lottery maybe my daughter will too). I had the fortunate opportunity to go on and study photography in college as well. To this day nothing screams comfort, and belonging to me like the basement location of a photo lab, and that smell. The smell of the chemicals, of the developer as I hover over the tray and watch the image appear like magic.
I love that now the world is documented more than it has ever been before. That anyone, and everyone is capturing our world in a way, a lot of ways, is far more interpretive than ever before. Imagery has always had a sense of delicacy, rigidity, of preciousness for me. I have a back and forth internally with the lack of process, measuring the light, framing the shot, and waiting for the results until the film was removed. The development process between the temperature, chemical balance, and then the drying process. All in due course the image would make itself known. I miss that, but I love the world of instant gratification too.
Many cameras have some and gone in my life, and I remember them all. I began with my Dad’s Pentax, then a Minolta SR 101. I killed that one, dropped and the lens lock broke. To be replaced by another SR 101, a Nikon N2020, a Mamiya 645, and all of them were my friends. Moved with me from phase to phase of growing up. From preppy, to punk, on to earthy, back to preppy, through lovers, some really fantastic friends, and places. I knew all of them better than any person. I knew what was tricky, I knew the light meter sensitivity, as they all had a distinct, and different personality. They went everywhere with me, and often my preferred company.
When I made the leap to digital, I held a bunch, and decided on a Canon 30D. It felt good in my hands, the weight, the location of the buttons, the manual options. But, sadly, we have never jived. Not in the way I have in times past with my camera friends. I can’t quite pin point the exact issue, the size? The technology? The weight? I don’t know, but I have decided to find my roommate a new friend, and instead replace (“It’s not you really Canon, it’s ME!”) with this.
I went, held, clicked, rolled the toggle, and felt right at home. Its smaller, lighter, and just right.
Like Goldilox.
I must find a happy home for the Canon, so if interested go here. It’s a deal, a steal, a bargain – and in the end my current camera will be used, and loved, and I again will have an camera that when I slide it out of its case it feels like pulling on your favorite pj’s. Help a girl out, spread the word so once again the images will flow out from beneath my shutter finger.
