May 2013 Picture the Precious
With thanks to Sian over at High in the Sky there will be wonderful stories to share right here today.
What a great way to spend the UK Bank Holiday weekend; a cup of tea and a piece of cake? or maybe a cream tea? curled up with a few cosy stories. Much better than being stuck in the traffic or trying to get into my town…impossible on a Bank Holiday.
Here’s mine.
It is the first thing that I have called my precious. Other things have had memories attached to them, and it is the memory that is precious to me. My camera is a precious thing that would be around my neck if ‘the place caught fire’
I have always loved looking at photographs.
My father was an aerial photographer in the RAF; I grew up seeing the beautiful black & white portraits that he took of me as a very young child.
I don’t remember him holding a camera although he must have done as we have many pictures he will have taken. Actually, as I type I do remember the dreadful feeling of embarrassment at having my picture taken and of him being annoyed with me for ‘not smiling’ Oh this practice of writing sure brings back some memories, and at the strangest times.
Dad also loved to travel and everywhere he went he bought postcards that he put into an album… the first scrapbook I ever saw.
Strangely enough though I don’t remember a camera at home. My brothers don’t either so I have no old camera equipment but I do have a couple of those early scrapbooks.
My precious then is my Canon EOS 500D (digital) SLR.
I take it everywhere, it used to live on top of my handbag but with growing confidence I hang it around my neck. The soft and stretchy strap is comfortable on my skin.
I love the feel of the camera in my hands; it fits perfectly and feels solid and safe. I never feel as though I will drop it.
The sound of the shutter is so very satisfying, it almost clunks…which is strange as the camera is digital, which I think of as silent…
I have a few lenses now but my favourite is my 50mm, it lives on the camera because it is short, light and very portable.
My camera enables me to pursue a hobby that I love, recording what I see, where we go and what we do. The good times and the not so good times, which are harder to record.
It is here on my desk downloading the picture that I hope will be here…
.
Whatever you do this weekend I hope it makes you happy.
I can understand your attachment to your camera Miriam!
I haven’t formed quite the attachment to my camera as you have–but it’s definitely something to aspire to!
They say that imitation is the finest form of flattery, so I hope you won’t mind if I lift the design of the page you created for your story. I like it all the graphic design, the way you’ve presented your journaling, the fonts you selected, etc. Well done!
I hope you capture some great pictures whatever you are up to this weekend!
I’ve been talking here about a new camera and that has taken me back to thinking about the very first ones I owned. There were no keen photographers in our house and I had to beg for one for my birthday..and then everyone kept telling me not to waste the film! Today I definitely see my camera as a precious which is also a pleasure.
I totally agree that your camera is mighty precious. Many thanks for sharing x
Oh yes – I can understand why your camera is precious. I too grew up with a dad who took photos – he even took my wedding photos as we didn’t have an official photographer. I love your page – so clean and crisp. and a wonderful photo. thansk for sharing your story. J x
I so agree! There is nothing more comforting that feeling that weight handing from the neck. My husband is an amateur photographer whose preference is black and white photos. I try, but it may be a hopeless cause. As long as we’re having fun and making memories that’s all that matters to me.
I can’t seem to type this morning…so many typos in my comment above!
A perfect choice of precious! I love the way you have presented your story too.
I too take my lil point and shoot everywhere I go. I also have my dad’s old 35mm camera which is a Pentax and some Lomography cameras as well which I enjoy playing around with,
Jo xxx
I like my cameras too – have thought about using one of them for a story…
Really like the way you’ve bevelled the edges of the photo on your digi page, lovely use of white space too.
I take my little P&S everywhere with me..love how you presented your story!
Alison xx
What a wonderful post this is, and I do know just what it’s like to feel the way you do, about your camera.
Beautifully recorded in such a clean and graphic way, Miriam, and how wonderful that somewhere your dad’s talent has shown up in you and you have developed it even more! You sound so at ease with your camera, as if it is a familiar and much loved friend …
Oh yes, that makes perfect sense to me, I adore my camera, I have a canon eos too and it has taught me and helped me so much. Sadly it started to ‘die’ a few months ago but after some hard saving for doing some horrid overtime I am due to order it next weekend and I cannot wait 🙂 I have taken on board your comments about the camera strap, I never got on with the last one and have now ‘pinned’ a=one I like the look of that looks comfy 🙂 Thanks for pointing me in that direction 🙂
We didn’t have many photographs around the house when I was growing up, so I don’t remember a camera either. But it seems you should – I guess you were just more focused on your Dad – as it should be.
I can totally relate to this – I love my camera(s) and the photos I take with them.
Rinda
Ever since getting my iPhone 5, I have not used my camera—until recently. I really think I need to start carrying it again. The phone is fine, but I have much better control over the shot with my camera. But then, there is the convenience of the phone and the “cloud.” I’m with you—we just need to take the shots of who we are, where we go and what we do!
I am quite attached to my camera too! Love the page you have done and the story you shared xx
I totally agree with you, a camera gives you the opportunity to capture such precious memories.
I could write a very similar post (and may some day)! You make beautiful photos, and it’s nice to have a camera you love.
Hello Miriam, Just catching up around blog-land. What a gorgeous page and you have journalled your precious camera beautifully. I always love your photographs. They are definitely precious.
I can most definitely see where your camera is precious. I try and not go anywhere without at least the point & shoot.