Something satisfying

I was recently given an amazing gift by a former amateur photographer:

I was more specific on Facebook about what all of this is; suffice to say it's several flashes of varying powers, three Olympus OM-2 series cameras (two of which are technically not functional), and a myriad of different lenses. Of course, these are old school - circa the late 1970s - and take expensive button cell batteries and - gasp! - film. There was a roll of heat affected film already in the bag, and the pictures on it likely won't amount to anything worth printing, but still. I have to admit.

There is something immensely satisfying about using actual film cameras.

It's something about that click of the shutter opening and closing, that faint and brief sensation akin to the backfire of a rifle for you gun enthusiasts out there. It's something about the need to physically advance the film, forcing it to move on to the next exposure - having complete control over it, instead of having a piece of admittedly amazing technology do all the work for you. There is something about learning how to properly put film into a camera such as this, advance and rewind it properly, and doing it right that is so incredibly rewarding. There is something about holding these 30+ year old lenses in your hands and knowing that while styles have changed, the general function has not, and that what I hold is somehow better than what's available today, because it's authentic, it's more real. Picking up one of these cameras with a full lens attached leaves bulk in your hands, and the weight seems more .. Realistic, somehow, than a digital camera.

When these cameras and lenses were released to the market, they were nearly top of the line for a home user - they were expensive, they were considered high-tech. Watching someone switch out these lenses and set the f-stop and ISO and select the film and whether or not to use flash used to be an art form, one that I think lost some of its glamour when digital cameras became the norm. Digital is unquestionably easier, because the camera will do so much of the work for you. A single HDSD card can hold thousands of pictures, depending on the size of the card. When it's full, you swap out - no film means no extra time lost rewinding, threading, and storing. Modern digital photographers have the right idea, for sure, in that they are saving themselves and their clients time and money by keeping the process of portraiture quick and clean. Darkrooms have been replaced with industrial photo printers and laptops; a photographer's keen eye by Photoshop. The need to take time to manually focus and position has been replaced by autofocus and, well, auto everything, down to delivery of photos via email and photo sharing sites.

But where's the glamour in quick and clean?

Why not get your hands a little muddy and take your time to enjoy the ride? 

A bit 'o' photography

I dabble in photography.

I'm not great. In fact, it could be argued that I'm actually not that good at all, and I'm just tooting my own horn because it's convenient. I'd believe as much; I'm one person with a desire and a love but absolutely no real given talent and, to add insult to injury, no real training beyond the bits and pieces I've read here and there about how to focus something and what an f-stop might be (still don't know) and different apertures to use (uhh, open?) and types of flashes and different lenses and oh my gods I don't know what I'm doing. But I'd like to think that what little experience I've had has shown some inborn talent.

Of course I want to think I'm good - what photographer doesn't? Though it would be rather mean of me, in retrospect, to say I'm good enough to charge for my services without having any idea what I'm doing - it's an insult to professionals who've taken classes and have combined that knowledge with years of experience to operate a slew of local businesses.

After years of relying solely on my mother's Kodak EasyShare 1012 (a camera very similar to this one, only older and without a few features), I'm beginning to get antsy. I want - naturally - something more, something solid, something with features and options and things to help me learn about what I'm doing and how to do it. Something with lenses. I want something that's both a fun toy and unquestionably a professional tool.

The downside is, as it always is, that getting the camera I'd like means a massive amount of money I just don't have. My ideal camera from Canon would, with a couple of lenses added in and some essential accessories, mean a price of well over $7,000. A similar option from Olympus with similar lenses and features would run around $4,000. Naturally, downgrading and giving and taking in places means lower prices, but when you're going to be spending a lot on a camera - or mentally spending a lot at least - you may as well get what you actually want than something you're settling for in lieu of the best choice.

Of course, none of this will be happening. I don't have that kind of money and if I did, right now, I certainly wouldn't be spending it on a camera (but I would be wishing I could!). I'd be doing something responsible.

Still, someday...

Meanwhile, last night I gathered some juniper sprigs from the trees in my mom's back yard. Never chemical treated, and I only took what new growth the tree was willing to give. :) They've been around longer than I've been alive!

Pictures on the side

I love photography but don't have very good equipment or a very good camera (no offense, Mom) compared to some of the people out there who are actually taking payment for pictures. But I dabble anyway - and thanks to Hubby's editing skills, my less-than-perfect abilities look a whole heck of a lot better than they probably would otherwise!

So, enjoy some of my work - two of my college friends, Bec and James, who are married and pretty much adorable. I do pictures for free. :)

<3