I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a camera in my possession and if I didn’t I was wanting one. I don’t know if it began with my need for self expression or just a simple gift that grew into an obsession. The first one I remember getting results from was a small 110mm Mickey Mouse camera my dad picked up when we moved to Pennsylvania in 1989. I was only 7 at the time but I took photos of everything I thought was interesting. Monuments, homes, trucks, cars, landscapes, animals, and sometimes my family would make an appearance or two.
Once we returned to Kentucky our finances were much smaller and the ability to afford film and to process it went out the window. I kept the camera, however, in my desk drawer along with a disposable flash. Should the need arise for a photographer, I would be at the ready. Every so often I would get a roll of film and ask my Grandmother to develop it for me. She usually obliged and we would drop it off at the local Sundry store. I would be giddy with anticipation waiting for the results of my latest roll. It was always very obvious that a child shot the pictures, but that it wasn’t about sharing with the rest of the world at that time, they were mine. My memories, captured forever. Looking back now, I didn’t realize how my mother’s car became a regular subject.
Eventually, I out grew the Mickey Mouse camera and my Poppey bought me a Polaroid at the flea market. It was an older one from the 70’s that only spit out 2/3 of the prints, but I was great having instant photos. I think I shot that first pack of film in 5 minutes. The second pack I made last most of the weekend.
That little find didn’t last long, as it was pretty old and only cost a whole whopping dollar. Plus at the time the film was pretty pricey. When it broke for good I was pretty upset about it. Never fear though, my grandfather came through once again and gave me one of those tiny 110mm spy cameras. This was just barely short of being a pin hole camera in it’s simplicity. It was the size of the film, shaped like the film even, with a gear to rotate to the next frame and a shutter button. It was smaller than the palm of my hand and it was great! The simplicity of it made it near indestructible. I could carry it anywhere, if it were to get wet, all it had to do was dry out and it would still work. Trust me there were lots of puddle drops in my young days. It didn’t shoot the greatest quality, and I don’t recall having too many photos that weren’t under or over exposed but it was a camera non the less.
Once my mother caught on to my desire to have a nice camera she made it her goal to get me a new one. This came in time for christmas, a small 35mm auto focus with a power rewind. It operated on two AA batteries and was a pain to get the film aligned. The power wind would eat the film crimping it, ripping it and most days over expose half the roll of film before finally getting set up correctly. It single handedly turned me off of 35mm film. By this time I had found a new subject, my baby brother. Trying to get him to sit still, however, was much harder than I had imagined. I remember, as does my entire family, the time I super glued him to the counted in hopes of getting a clear and portrait worthy photo of him. It fail as you can see it’s not displayed below, in fact I’m still trying to find the photos from that day.
After my mother passed my camera did as well. I spent my allowance money on a new Kodak 110mm Cameo camera. This one took me all the way into high school. Not that I was able to afford the money to develop the photos I took. I think maybe one or two rolls, and that was 8th -12th grade. I did get to undertake the role of photo manager for the yearbook and school paper my senior year. I also shot the retakes of the “photo day” skippers and chronic absentees. I also took possession of the school’s digital camera and was able to implement my photography into the school paper. It wasn’t anything big as we only published two papers that year. Most of what I shot that year ended up in the back of the year book.
After graduation, I got my first job and used my first substantial paycheck to get a good quality camera. This was the fall of 2000, and digital cameras were not all that common. I picked up a Fuji Endeavour APS camera. It took the Advantix film. It was supposed to rival the 35mm film in quality with the ease of 110mm film installation and it did. Once I got it home, I was ready to play. I took full advantage of the fall colors and decorations we had and took some of my favorite photos of my siblings.
I have taken this camera with me everywhere, my adventures in TN with my best friend, to the beach with my family, my daughter’s first day of preschool until I could no longer find film for it. For nearly 5 years I went without a camera. After having one readily available it was strange not having something to document the happening of our lives.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve had a variety of digital camera, varying from low resolution pen cameras to point and shoot styles and finally to a DSLR. I’ve taken great photos with all of them, needless to say, my subjects are on average my children. This time last year I sent my resume in to lifetouch in hopes of being recruited for a photography job. I was asked to come into portrait studio for an interview and was hired almost immediately. Not for my photography skills, but for the opportunity to learn new skills. In OCtober of last year, I truly fell in love with photography. It became a part of me. I’ve become a part of the Lifetouch family, I work in their portrait studios within JC Penny and Target Stores, more to follow and I also travel around Eastern KY and WV taking school portraits. Never would i have thought that I would have a career doing what I love. I haven’t won any awards yet, but my work is hanging in someone’s home. That is the biggest compliment as a photographer you can get. My skills and knowledge have grown by leaps and bounds over the last year.
It’s all in part to my amazing studio manager. She lifts each of her team members up as she teaches us. Being in that studio is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I’m not pushed to the side nor have I ever been treated as and office assistant. I cannot wait to see where this career takes me. A picture can be worth a thousand words, but it’s the subject that speaks the loudest.
Colliding Universe 