Shutter Sisters

Just in Time

By

I had planned to sell my Nikon D90 after I upgraded to the D3s last year. The camera had been out of sight in a deep drawer within my office and out of mind until my eleven-year-old son discovered it just a couple of weeks ago. “Can that be my camera?” he asked. I don’t know why it hadn’t dawned on me to keep the camera for my children. Maybe it seemed too expensive or complicated for small hands. Or maybe I just needed one of them to discover it on their own. To ask for it. I tightened up the camera strap, showed him the basics, and placed it around his neck just in time for the sun to begin its decline. “Come with me,” he said.

When did you discover photography?

Comments

  5. That's such a sweet story!

    I remember having an old Halina point-and-shoot as a kid – I would take it everywhere and take photos, even though there was no film in it. I don't remembering that bothering me though!

    I had a good hard think about my whole journey into photography recently and updated my 'about' page, as I know I find this interesting to learn from other photographers… http://www.angiemuldowney.co.uk/about/

  6. I started in high school. Our photography instructor gave us an assignment to make a shoebox camera, (pinhole). We developed the film paper ourselves. I was hooked! I still have those first few photos.

  7. This story is wonderful! I have been so inspired recently, by this blog and others that I have just recently re-discovered photography. In fact I just ordered my first {refurbished} SLR yesterday and have promised my current camera to my daughter.

  8. My first foray into photography was with a 110 camera as a child in the 70's. I didn't fall in love with it and really start learning until much later though, as an adult.

    A couple of weeks ago my 10-year-old son took some pics of me and a friend with my camera, and wouldn't give the camera back to me when he was done. He said, "Mom, your camera is fabulous. I like the feel of it in my hand." He captured some wonderful shots and I had the same idea – next time I upgrade, this camera body will be his.

    His shots are in this post: http://kateyestudio.com/2011/11/an-afternoon-with-ashley.html

  9. I don't remember when or why – or even "how" (given our circumstances)…but I do remember living in our old farm house (it would have been 1964, I was 9 yrs. old). I remember the expense of buying film and then having to mail it to Kodak to be processed and printed, and the anticipation of waiting for the photos to arrive in our rural mailbox.
    And I've been snap-happy ever since!
    I fought the digital conversion like crazy. With my dSLR on manual mode I have all the control I thought I would have to give up.
    Click!

  10. incredible photo – i love it.
    I started taking photos early in highschool. my daughter discovered her love for photography in 6th grade when she made a pinhole camera for a science fair – i rediscovered my love for it through her.

  11. My first memory of taking photos was as a teen at a dirt car rally near our home. Photos of the cars flying through the air over jumps. I don't remember whether the film ever got developed and I don't have any of the photos I took, but I have the memory… the noise, the dirt, the smell… and I can see those cars frozen mid-jump in my mind – just like a photo.

    Funny how I've now progressed to more sedate, macro photography!
    Cheers,
    Tasha

  12. great idea!!!! I have always liked photography as a kid I snapped a 110 swore I was going to do it for living and then left it at that several decades later I am back at snapping pictures but just for fun and learning along the way

  13. How beautiful! I remember my first camera…back when I was in elementary school. It was purple and teal and had the disposable flash bulb that had two sides…it was so much fun taking photos of everything. I also remember cutting off everyone's heads. Thank goodness I stuck with it!

  14. beautiful post. my starter dslr was also a d90 and I am now a d3s owner as well. 🙂 My passion for photography exploded after the loss of our first daughter in pregnancy. Her loss led me down a path of hiding, healing, and self-discovery behind the lens of a camera. What seems so tragic at the time turned into a huge blessing. I am so glad for the lessons I've learned and coping skills I've gained since losing her. It's made me into a stronger more compassionate human being. xo.

  15. What a wonderful post! I can't remember when I became fascinated with photography, but it was probably around the age of 11 or so. I received my first SLR camera when I was about 14 or 15 and I used it exclusively until 2003 when I received a Nikon Coopix because I wanted something small that I could carry everywhere. Also it was more affordable than a DSLR. A couple of years later I purchased myself a newer point and shoot, but I longed for the capabilities of a DSLR. Last December my local camera store held its annual winter sale and I went in looking for a lens for my work camera and found a killer sale! I called my husband and said "I found my Christmas present, but we've got to get it now!" So I purchased a Nikon D5000 and have been snapping creative shots that I never thought of thanks to this site and the many followers who also have wonderful sites. Thank you all.
    Here's a shot from a recent photo walk http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelleyshockley/6339248492/in/set-72157628114705470/

  16. I wish I had discovered photography many years ago. I truly believe it would have saved me from myself (many times).

    Your son has just discovered a priceless gift. The ability to see and capture the beauty around him is something not everyone appreciates.

  21. My mom had this old camera from the 70's sitting in the office when I was growing up. When I was probably 8 I asked if I could have it if I used my own birthday money for film and she said sure. I anxiously waited all week for the weekend when we could drive into the city where I could buy film but when we got there the guy working took one look at it and said they didn't make that film anymore.

    I was crushed. I'm pretty sure I burst into tears right then and there in the Walmart camera aisle. My photography dreams had been dashed against the rocks.

    But low and behold that Christmas under the tree was a small package that contained two rolls of film and what I now realize was probably the cheapest camera that money could buy but at the time was my pride and joy. The rest is history.