Whenever my nephews and nieces whine when I pull out my camera to snap a few shots of them, I always tell them: You will thank me when you’re older.
I try not to spend the whole time taking shots because you want to live in the moment, not preserve it through a camera lens, but I do like to take a few clear shots to keep and look back on fondly in later years.
For me, I am always reminded of how privileged I am in so many ways.
I OWN A CAMERA
Not many people have the money to even own a camera, even to this day. It is a luxury, not to mention that if you own a manual camera, you need the money to buy and develop the film, or if you own a digital camera, you also need a laptop to go with it.
I know that my and BF’s parents never owned a single camera in their entire lives until very recently.
(I gave my old point and snap camera to BF’s sister and she uses it on special occasions, which makes me very happy to see.)
I HAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Being able to snap 20 photographs and just delete the blurry, ugly ones I don’t like is a real lifesaver.
I used a manual camera as a child, and sometimes there would be a whole roll of film where only 1 or 2 shots were clear and sharp. ARG! 
Now, I can take a plethora of photographs, and just keep the ones I want. This contributes slightly to my data hoarding, as I like to keep almost every single shot, but I am still happy we have access to this kind of technology today.
I HAVE LOVELY, VISUAL MEMORIES OF MY OWN CHILDHOOD
It wasn’t until my parents got more money that they purchased a camera (luckily I was born right after this period), and were able to start photographing our childhood for us to look back upon.
It was my baby and childhood photos that made me realize just how important and precious these pictures are, not just to me, but for my future children as well.
Let’s face it, who really remembers anything before the age of 7, except in snippets of smell or feelings?
In the past, taking a photograph was reserved for the rich and important.
BF’s grandparents have no more than 1-2 photographs of themselves when they were younger, usually black and white portraits, and none before the age of 21.
Even when BF was growing up, his parents no had money for a camera and all of its subsequent costs, so any photographs he had of himself as a kid, were all taken and given to him by kind friends or teachers.
So really, if you take all of the above into account, it is a big, wonderful, special deal to be able to take so many photos of the world and the times we live in.
Related posts:
For Photography Lovers, and On Living A Life After Death Through Your Photos
Reader Request: How to organize your digital photos
Your things are just things; not you, people you love or your memories
Using a 4th generation iPod Touch as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
If you are reading this on any other blog than The Everyday Minimalist or via my RSS Feed, it is stolen content without credit.
You can contact me here or find me on Twitter via @brokeinthecity.
Come and visit my other blog: Fabulously Broke in the City, a lifestyle blog with just a hint of money talk!
© everydayminimalist for The Everyday Minimalist, 2013. |
| Permalink |
No comments |