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What first inspired you to begin making photographs, and how did it affect your life?
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Feb 2, 2018 22:55:37   #
Hyperhad Loc: Thunder Bay, Canada
 
The camera in the picture belonged to my (deceased) Father. He was born in Great Britain. After doing his "National Service" in the military, which ended 1949, he attended Westminster College in London to become a Teacher. At some point in the next two years, he purchased this camera, and used it regularly. Our family emigrated to Canada (in 1967). Fast forward to 1972. I was 13 years old, shy, a poor student. He discovered the camera in a box that had been stored in the basement, and brought it out to show the family. Of the five children, only I showed any interest. I was not just interested, I was fascinated! This mechanical device, so complicated, and that my Father had used years ago, ignited my imagination. I knew nothing about cameras, never mind photography. So, I went to the Library (you younger members might want to Google "Library"!😁. I found all the books I could, read them, and my interest grew. I bought some 620 roll film, and began using it. Photography interested me more than anything else ever had. I put dozens of rolls of film through it, developing my technique. I learned about shutter speed (the camera had a leaf shutter), aperture, film speed (called ASA then, changing to ISO in the 1980's). I was hooked. When I was 16, I got my first job in a local photography store, called the "Film Factory". I was in heaven. I sold cameras, advised people how to use their own cameras, and learned all I could from the head salesman. I purchased my first camera, a Ricoh 500G. I kept learning and delving deeper into the world of Photography.
I don't want to bore you all, so I'll condense the rest of my journey (somewhat). I joined the Canadian Forces, spent a year doing 2 United Nations tours in Egypt and Syria (taking pictures all the time). I returned home and attended our local College to study Film Production. My previous knowledge served me well. I remember vividly, the first time I made my first black and white print. It was magic! Upon graduation, I worked in video and film production, and photography. This led to a 2-year "consultant" position with a school board, which led to my getting a job teaching a newly-developed course at the high school level, Communications Technology. I worked at that, passing on my passion for photography and video production to my students, for 24 years. I retired last year. Throughout that time, I continued to practice and learn whatever I could about photography.
Now, the point of this is that seeing that old camera my Father had used in the early 1950's began my interest in Photography, and to every other job I had throughout my life. It is still my passion to make photographs, and it still excites me to take a camera in my hands (now a D850), go outside, and make photographs.
A good number of my students went on to become Photographers, or work in Film or Video. I like to think that I kindled some of what I felt when I began my journey in my students. Photography has been a major force in my life. It has brought me so much. I can honestly say that without photography, I do not know if I would even be here now, writing this. And, that first spark I felt seeing and holding that old camera began my journey. It has been a good one.



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Feb 2, 2018 23:26:39   #
cameraf4 Loc: Delaware
 
Started out with scenic/landscape/travel photography as a way to thank-and-worship the creator. He does pretty good work.

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Feb 2, 2018 23:32:35   #
le boecere
 
Hyperhad wrote:
The camera in the picture belonged to my (deceased) Father. He was born in Great Britain. After doing his "National Service" in the military, which ended 1949, he attended Westminster College in London to become a Teacher. At some point in the next two years, he purchased this camera, and used it regularly. Our family emigrated to Canada (in 1967). Fast forward to 1972. I was 13 years old, shy, a poor student. He discovered the camera in a box that had been stored in the basement, and brought it out to show the family. Of the five children, only I showed any interest. I was not just interested, I was fascinated! This mechanical device, so complicated, and that my Father had used years ago, ignited my imagination. I knew nothing about cameras, never mind photography. So, I went to the Library (you younger members might want to Google "Library"!😁. I found all the books I could, read them, and my interest grew. I bought some 620 roll film, and began using it. Photography interested me more than anything else ever had. I put dozens of rolls of film through it, developing my technique. I learned about shutter speed (the camera had a leaf shutter), aperture, film speed (called ASA then, changing to ISO in the 1980's). I was hooked. When I was 16, I got my first job in a local photography store, called the "Film Factory". I was in heaven. I sold cameras, advised people how to use their own cameras, and learned all I could from the head salesman. I purchased my first camera, a Ricoh 500G. I kept learning and delving deeper into the world of Photography.
I don't want to bore you all, so I'll condense the rest of my journey (somewhat). I joined the Canadian Forces, spent a year doing 2 United Nations tours in Egypt and Syria (taking pictures all the time). I returned home and attended our local College to study Film Production. My previous knowledge served me well. I remember vividly, the first time I made my first black and white print. It was magic! Upon graduation, I worked in video and film production, and photography. This led to a 2-year "consultant" position with a school board, which led to my getting a job teaching a newly-developed course at the high school level, Communications Technology. I worked at that, passing on my passion for photography and video production to my students, for 24 years. I retired last year. Throughout that time, I continued to practice and learn whatever I could about photography.
Now, the point of this is that seeing that old camera my Father had used in the early 1950's began my interest in Photography, and to every other job I had throughout my life. It is still my passion to make photographs, and it still excites me to take a camera in my hands (now a D850), go outside, and make photographs.
A good number of my students went on to become Photographers, or work in Film or Video. I like to think that I kindled some of what I felt when I began my journey in my students. Photography has been a major force in my life. It has brought me so much. I can honestly say that without photography, I do not know if I would even be here now, writing this. And, that first spark I felt seeing and holding that old camera began my journey. It has been a good one.
The camera in the picture belonged to my (deceased... (show quote)


Good post! Yes, I think "photography" and cameras could well be in one's bloodstream.

Dad's first color slide camera (that I remember) was a Kodak "Bantam" that shot 828 film ~ however, I have prints Dad made, with other cameras, from the 1930's, maybe earlier. And, I was given a small camera, as a child.

Grandpa (Dad's dad) ran Great-grandpa's studio in Greeley, Colorado before marrying and heading West in 1900. Great-grandpa was probably THE pioneer photographer in Northern Colorado (at least, according to the archivist in the museum in Greeley). I still have many of the photos Great-grandpa made (as does the museum).

Yup! We're probably "predispositioned".

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Feb 3, 2018 02:04:29   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
le boecere wrote:
.../... Yup! We're probably "predispositioned".

And so are criminals then.

Sorry, I do not buy this argument.

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Feb 3, 2018 03:49:49   #
Leitz Loc: Solms
 
Oh, great! Just what we need, another Chris T wannabe!

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Feb 3, 2018 06:22:05   #
Millismote Loc: Massachusetts
 
Having children early on, first camera was a Pentax K1000, film of course.

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Feb 3, 2018 06:23:13   #
Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
 
When I was a small child, about 10+-, I saw an ad in a comic book for getting a free camera by selling a certain number of razor blades (this was before electric shavers). I responded, got the razor blades, and sold enough going door to door in the neighborhood to get the little camera. I've been taking photos ever since and am glad I saw that ad. Why I found the idea of getting a camera appealing I don't recall after all these years - I just know I wanted one. We were an impoverished family and it would have been difficult for my parents to buy me a camera so that was the only way to get one at that time.

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Feb 3, 2018 06:24:00   #
1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA
 
The first thing that caught my eye was that you used the correct word "affect" instead of the ubiquitously mis-used word "impact". I surmised that you were of a previous generation, as am I. It irritates me to no end that no one seems to be able to define the nuance between the words. For those of you who think, "what is this old coot talking about", I shall explain. An impact is an action such as a hammer striking a nail, while the result is the hammer blow "impact" producing the "effect" of driving the nail ("affecting"). "Impact" is the action and NOT the result, which is how the hammer's "impact" produces the result of the nail being driven. (The nail being affected"). The previously used word "ubiguitously" means widely used. So why do the main of men now widely mis-use the word "impact" and its derivation "impactfull" ? Ignorance of "The King's English" (which now should, perhaps, be labeled "The Queen's English". I expect that this lecture has gone over the heads of most readers and has not "affected" their ongoing mis-use of "impacted".

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Feb 3, 2018 06:33:47   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
1Feathercrest wrote:
The first thing that caught my eye was that you used the correct word "affect" instead of the ubiquitously mis-used word "impact". I surmised that you were of a previous generation, as am I. It irritates me to no end that no one seems to be able to define the nuance between the words. For those of you who think, "what is this old coot talking about", I shall explain. An impact is an action such as a hammer striking a nail, while the result is the hammer blow "impact producing the "effect" of driving the nail "affecting". "Impact" is the action and NOT the result, which is how the hammer "affect" produces the result of the nail being driven. The previously used word "ubiguitously" means widely used. So why do the main of men now widely mis-use the word "impact" and its derivation "impactfull" ? Ignorance of "The King's English" (which now should, perhaps, labeled "The Queen's English". I expect that this lecture has gone over the heads of most readers and has not "affected" their ongoing mis-use of "impacted".
The first thing that caught my eye was that you us... (show quote)


IMPACT need not refer solely to an action. An image could have Visual Impact, in which one shot in a gallery might draw more attention than the others. But an image could also have a visual affect on a viewer. One that did both for me is the young naked girl running down the street after a napalm attack in the Vietnam War.

But back to the original question. My mum's box brownie. All I wanted was a camera that would take a sharper image and produce better prints. Since I started my apprenticeship I've had a no. of camera's, all of which have been able to exceed my ability, never realising what a powerful tool I had in my hands. These days I take my snapology a bit more seriously, but whether I take better images is a matter of conjecture.

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Feb 3, 2018 06:58:27   #
Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
 
A dictionary definition of "impact" (from The Cambridge Dictionary)

impact
noun [ U ] US ​ /ˈɪm·pækt/
impact noun [ U ] (FORCE)

the force with which one thing hits another or with which two things hit each other:

The impact of the crash destroyed the car.
The bullet explodes on impact (= at the moment when it hits something).
impact noun [ U ] (EFFECT)

the strong effect or influence that something has on a situation or person:

These charges will have a damaging impact on the army’s reputation.
The environmental impact of this project will be enormous.
impact
US ​ /ɪmˈpækt/
impact (HAVE EFFECT)

to have a strong effect or influence on a situation or person:

[ I/T ] A big decline in exports will impact (on) the country’s economy.

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Feb 3, 2018 07:36:59   #
SonyBug
 
Leitz wrote:
Oh, great! Just what we need, another Chris T wannabe!


No Ron was here first. Chris T learned from him...

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Feb 3, 2018 07:42:46   #
SonyBug
 
le boecere wrote:
Good post! Yes, I think "photography" and cameras could well be in one's bloodstream.

Dad's first color slide camera (that I remember) was a Kodak "Bantam" that shot 828 film ~ however, I have prints Dad made, with other cameras, from the 1930's, maybe earlier. And, I was given a small camera, as a child.

Grandpa (Dad's dad) ran Great-grandpa's studio in Greeley, Colorado before marrying and heading West in 1900. Great-grandpa was probably THE pioneer photographer in Northern Colorado (at least, according to the archivist in the museum in Greeley). I still have many of the photos Great-grandpa made (as does the museum).

Yup! We're probably "predispositioned".
Good post! Yes, I think "photography" a... (show quote)


It would be nice to give some credit to your forebears by posting their names as well as the places that they shot photos. I, for one, think you story is great. I at first thought by the title that it was another Chris T post, and now am glad I read it. For me, my father was "into" photography, had his own dark room and did everything for himself. But for me it was a photo I saw in the early '70s. It was an architectural shot that was probably shot on 8 x 10 film and was almost 3D in look. After that, I always wanted to be able to do that. So many thousands of dollars later, I had the gear. Then I had to practice to develop the skill. Now my home is filled with my work. Several pano's I am proud of and many nature shots that remind me of the beauty of the great outdoors of the US.

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Feb 3, 2018 07:50:47   #
traderjohn Loc: New York City
 
Rongnongno wrote:
And so are criminals then.

Sorry, I do not buy this argument.


It's not important if you do or not.

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Feb 3, 2018 08:16:46   #
SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio
 
My dad, who was a riverboat man, was also a photographer of the snap-shot variety and was always recording family events. I've had cameras of one type or another all my life and went through a phase of lugging around a heavy VCR recorder at all my special events. What really got me interested in photography was our first trip to Scotland in 2010. We've made six trips there so far and each one has been a photo safari for me! Now I carry around a heavy Nikon to record family doings and other things of interest. It's an expensive hobby but thankfully, I have an understanding and generous husband!

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Feb 3, 2018 08:22:31   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Hyperhad wrote:
The camera in the picture belonged to my (deceased) Father. He was born in Great Britain. After doing his "National Service" in the military, which ended 1949, he attended Westminster College in London to become a Teacher. At some point in the next two years, he purchased this camera, and used it regularly. Our family emigrated to Canada (in 1967). Fast forward to 1972. I was 13 years old, shy, a poor student. He discovered the camera in a box that had been stored in the basement, and brought it out to show the family. Of the five children, only I showed any interest. I was not just interested, I was fascinated! This mechanical device, so complicated, and that my Father had used years ago, ignited my imagination. I knew nothing about cameras, never mind photography. So, I went to the Library (you younger members might want to Google "Library"!😁. I found all the books I could, read them, and my interest grew. I bought some 620 roll film, and began using it. Photography interested me more than anything else ever had. I put dozens of rolls of film through it, developing my technique. I learned about shutter speed (the camera had a leaf shutter), aperture, film speed (called ASA then, changing to ISO in the 1980's). I was hooked. When I was 16, I got my first job in a local photography store, called the "Film Factory". I was in heaven. I sold cameras, advised people how to use their own cameras, and learned all I could from the head salesman. I purchased my first camera, a Ricoh 500G. I kept learning and delving deeper into the world of Photography.
I don't want to bore you all, so I'll condense the rest of my journey (somewhat). I joined the Canadian Forces, spent a year doing 2 United Nations tours in Egypt and Syria (taking pictures all the time). I returned home and attended our local College to study Film Production. My previous knowledge served me well. I remember vividly, the first time I made my first black and white print. It was magic! Upon graduation, I worked in video and film production, and photography. This led to a 2-year "consultant" position with a school board, which led to my getting a job teaching a newly-developed course at the high school level, Communications Technology. I worked at that, passing on my passion for photography and video production to my students, for 24 years. I retired last year. Throughout that time, I continued to practice and learn whatever I could about photography.
Now, the point of this is that seeing that old camera my Father had used in the early 1950's began my interest in Photography, and to every other job I had throughout my life. It is still my passion to make photographs, and it still excites me to take a camera in my hands (now a D850), go outside, and make photographs.
A good number of my students went on to become Photographers, or work in Film or Video. I like to think that I kindled some of what I felt when I began my journey in my students. Photography has been a major force in my life. It has brought me so much. I can honestly say that without photography, I do not know if I would even be here now, writing this. And, that first spark I felt seeing and holding that old camera began my journey. It has been a good one.
The camera in the picture belonged to my (deceased... (show quote)


My brother had a B&W darkroom in the basement. I used to spend hours watching prints develop in his trays. That led to a Kodak camera which led to a Konica Auto Reflex that led to a Nikon FTN in 1969 that led to a professional wedding photography business that lasted over 35 years. The business lead to the F2, then F3, then F4a, with Hasselblads spread out between. Which, lead to retirement in Florida surrounded by wildlife preserves and my Nikon D500 with 200-500 lens attached.

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