A Family Interest…

Things have been busy around here, we spent the winter in Arizona and now are back in Minnesota for the time being. I’ve expanded my camera collection to include another Olympus OM-1n w/Zuiko 75/150mm f 4 zoom lens, an Olympus OM-1 with a chrome nose 50mm f 1.8 lens, a Pentax ME w/winder along with other assorted lenses and accessories.

My son is, like me, very interested in photography and we have an enjoyable time shooting pictures together. We stopped at Minneopa State Park near Mankato, MN where my son and I did some photography of the falls area, my son did some color shots and I did some black and white photos which I’ll post as soon as I get them back from the lab.

I find doing photography as a family is a great way to bond with and keep communication lines open with other family members. My son, who is now 23 along with my wife and myself all enjoy working together to get that “perfect shot” and the memories made while doing so can last even longer than the photos themselves.

If a family member or friend is interested in photography encourage them to follow their dreams and build on that interest. I’ve found it to be a very rewarding hobby.

Why I Love 35mm

I have a love of photography; the format I have preferred for years is 35mm. I’m just now getting started with digital photography, I realize a little later than most folks but I’m playing catch up.

One of the main reasons I enjoy 35mm is the almost endless amount of accessories, options and choices that are available. Now with the popularity and simplicity of digital photo equipment the cost of the used 35mm equipment is at an all time low. Much of the equipment I own was purchased second hand from pawn shops, newspaper want ads and from friends.

I very much enjoy capturing that “Moment in Time” and even more so if it has a special effect quality that makes it truly unique. With digital photography special effects are easily done in camera or on your computer using photo editing software programs, many of which can be downloaded for free. To achieve the desired results all you need is the knowledge of the software program and the time to work with it. I feel there are pros to both film and digital photography but doing special effects with a film camera is more challenging and in my opinion more rewarding from an artistic point of view.

Some of my favorite extras are the Cokin Series of filters. The reason I like working with the Cokin system is the fact that you don’t need to buy the same filter in different sizes for the different size lenses. The Cokin system uses different size adaptor rings and a common filter holder to accommodate all the filters of that particular series. For example; one holder for the “A” series for use with 35mm and one holder for the “P” series for use with medium format and so on. This cuts down on the sheer volume of filters needed and thus cuts down the cost involved.

There is something about the feel of a classic SLR in my hands, the rush I get when hearing the sound of the mirror and shutter as you capture that “Moment in Time”, that I never get tired of.