I miss photography with my Minolta SLR and developing black and white film in the darkroom. Yes, I know that the chemistry is bad for the environment. However, I don’t think you get the same balance of art plus science and a dash of luck with digital photography as you can with film photography.
My heart isn’t into artfully using my digital point and shoot camera. I think it shows. My blog photos are kind of hit and miss. Tabletop photography isn’t my strong suit. I like shooting architecture. With an SLR.
I’m also very hard on point and shoot cameras. I ask them to do things they aren’t normally meant to do. In three years of blogging I’m on digital point and shoot camera Number Three.
Normally I would just go out and buy myself a digital SLR (DSLR) and be done with it. However I’m in house mode. If I have several spare dollars to spend, I’m more likely to buy lighting or any number of house things, or Blitzkrieg things than A Fun Something for Lisa Thing.
Apparently, some of the people around here think I’ve been a bit too practical of late. Either that or maybe they are trying to tell me that asking for garage insulation is not a proper Christmas gift. Instead, Husband gave me a big girl camera! A Canon DSLR!
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com because I can’t take a photo of my new camera with my new camera.
The best thing about my camera is its story. Days after Husband and I bought our condominium, we jumped on a plane to spend New Year’s Eve with two of our dearest friends in Times Square. I had my film SLR with me because by golly if I was going to spend 6 hours freezing my butt off in Times Square I was going to take good pictures of everything I couldn’t normally take as a tourist and not be run over by a car.
That trip got my friend into photography.
My love of photography (and gadgets) comes directly from my father. He got it from his father. Photography is the family hobby. Since I don’t have a human child to pass my love of photography on to, passing it on to a dear friend is the next best thing.
My friend was upgrading his DSLR and asked if I knew of a place that he could sell it or if I knew of someone who wanted one. When Husband was exasperated with my asking for yet another way too practical gift for Christmas, (I asked for a new vacuum cleaner for my birthday) I suggested our friend’s camera even though I was sure he sent it off to B&H Photo as I suggested. (HINT: I got the tip about buying from the B&H Used Store from a professional photographer- check it out.)
I could write about how buying a used DSLR is green and is a good way to save money on what can be an expensive hobby. However, that is not why I love my new to me camera. I love it because my family shared their love of photography with me and I in turn shared my love of photography with a friend who I also consider a member of my family. With my friend’s camera now in my possession I feel like some sort of sentimental Circle of Life is complete.
And no one can put a price on that.
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Nice story! Like you, I am into practical gifts and rather concentrate on house needs. My husband kept asking what I wanted for Christamas and my birthday (December baby) and I really didn't want anything.
ReplyDeleteAnd realizing I can do much better with my blog photos, I started looking at DSLR's but get overwhelmed with all the models and options. So thanks for the B&H tip. Used is fine with me!
I was giggling so much when I read this that Mr. Yeater asked what was happening. It is nice to see another practical gift lover. For the first couple anniversaries of our marriage, Mr. Yeater gave me a new vacuum cleaner and a couch. That is so cute that your husband got you a camera that you would love. I will look into B&H. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind mention of B&H Photo. On behalf of all of us at B&H Photo, please accept our warm thanks and deep gratitude for your patronage. We look forward to earning your trust and continued business for many years to come. I invite you and your fellow readers to check out our new informative and entertaining blog at www.bhinsights.com
Happy New Year!
Hershel K. Waldner
Supervisor,
Online Marketing Department
B&H Photo-Video-Audio
212-239-7500 ext. 2893
Suhhhweeet Camera! Kudos to hubby for buying used. It is certainly greener and so is your DSLR.
ReplyDeleteI didn't clearly mention it in my post, but B&H also buys used equipment from you. I'm leery about buying used camera equipment off eBay, etc. because it could have a scratched lens, etc. but don't have that issue with B&H. I bought a flash and a telephoto lens from their used section and both worked like they were new. In fact, the telephoto lens is my preferred lens for my SLR. When I go to buy to new lenses for my DSLR, I'm checking B&H first.
ReplyDeleteI also have a minolta film camera which I no longer really use (sigh) and also got the same model (Canon XS) DSLR last year, I love it! Have fun! And thanks for the B&H tip!
ReplyDelete