Been some discussion lately about getting started in photography. We seem to have a lot of people interested in film photography. Everyone started somewhere and everyone has a story. I had written earlier in another BLOG post about the book that got me started doing my own darkroom work, but I never mentioned my first camera. I used my Mother’s Kodak No. 2A Hawk-Eye folder for my very first photographs. My Mother always had to break out the camera and make a quick snapshot when anything interesting was happening, mostly family gatherings, maybe a trip or school event. She always said, “now let me get back a little farther so I don’t cut your head off.” I have many snapshots of the great scene with these little tiny people in there somewhere. I never could break her of that habit.
But when I was somewhere around eight or nine years old I received my first camera as a Christmas gift. My very own Kodak Brownie Starflash that came in a presentation box, with a roll of B&W film, flash bulbs (remember those?) and batteries. I was only allowed to use B&W film, since it was so much cheaper than shooting color. I never did get the hang of color for anything but casual snapshots anyway.
There was a major train derailment just outside of the town where I grew up and I have two rolls of that. When I was in the fourth grade we got to bring our cameras to school. It was the annual school Easter Egg Hunt and I have photos of that and even some in the classroom. I made the usual snapshots you would expect from a very young beginner.
So, that is where I started camera wise. I have to credit my Mother for getting me hooked on photography. I have had numerous cameras since my first. Don’t know what happened to my original camera. I suspect it was sold in one of my Mother’s garage sales. But, I was able to find an identical Brownie Starflash at a local camera show, and it hangs on the wall in our darkroom as a reminder of where I started.
JB
