I have a lot of family photographs. As a matter of fact, we have a whole lot of family photographs. The earlier ones were the black and white with the later ones in vivid colour. Looking back at the albums, I am reminded of when I pretended to ride my father’s motorcycle. My mind was also brought back to when my sister made her first Holy Communion. Some funny memories were snapped of our friends. Other photos reminded me of the good times we spent while on holiday. Many of the photographs were taken of us while we lived in England. Others were taken in Canada. If it wasn’t for those photos, a lot of my memories would have been lost.
More accurately… if it wasn’t for my father’s Photina Reflex camera, I wouldn’t have half the memories of my childhood that I have now.
Everywhere we went, my father carried that camera around with him. On holidays, to family functions, through rain, through snow, through hail and whatever else the elements threw at us, my dad had his camera in hand. It was a well made German double lens reflex camera that used 120 speed film and took phenomenal pictures.
A lot of good memories!
A few years ago, my father gave me his cherished camera. I guess he figured that I would enjoy something that brought so much enjoyment to him for many years. Little did he know how much that was true. Since he gave it to me, I have treasured it. I have yet to take the time to learn how to properly use it but I assure you that one day, I will carry on the tradition of taking photographs with it. With my family treasure, I want to go beyond simply reliving the memories 
of my past… I want to use it to protect the memories of my family today. It is my goal to learn how to properly use it in order to take, maybe for the last time with this camera, photographs of my parents.
Such great memories!
So… who will get the camera after I have treasured it? My son has, on occasion, had a penchant for taking photographs. My daughter is presently in a film and television production program in college. I think that they would both be worthy of receiving this family heirloom. I think that I will wait and decide later on in life and to who would become its new keeper.
Photographs… memory makers… heart breakers… A picture paints a thousand words. I am just glad that these memories are still fresh in my mind!
Thanks to Dad’s Photina Reflex camera!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Family Camera
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6 comments:
Very cool. I've noticed that many places have stopped selling 35mm film. hopefully it will be available for some time to come.
How wonderful Dave to have an item that holds so many precious memories and one that will probably take many more! Like they say: a picture is worth a thousand words!
I don't use my camera enough. Thanks for inspiring me again.
What a great story. What kind of work did your father do? Do you think he would have liked to have been a photographer? It's a beautiful camera and that's a great picture.
LOL...photography is in my family, too (on my mother's side). I remember seeing a camera just like that one - my cousin had inherited it from his mom (my Aunt)! My own mother once held the job of "coloring" the black and white photographs at the family photography studio! Thanks for the memories Dave!
That is a treasure! It would be great to learn to use again! Even just for a few precious shots!
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