The Icy Owl

Photographs

I would never consider myself to be a great photographer although I do enjoy taking photographs now and then. Photographs help to remember fun times, special occasions and important people in our lives.

Over the course of many years I have used a small variety of cameras, none of which I would consider to be high-end equipment. They range from cameras with only the very basic functions with no frills added to cameras that have some of the more advanced features available if one should want to use them. One thing that they all have had in common is that they all have been quite easy to use.

The Kodak Brownie was the first camera I ever had when I was a kid. It was as simple and basic as a camera could ever be - just point and click the button on the little black square box. I remember that it took black & white photographs but I'm not sure if it was capable of taking color photographs. It might have been that color film wasn't available or the cost was out of reach for a kid. My mother had a Kodak camera that was a bit more complicated to use but still there was nothing tricky about hers either.

In my teens I acquired a Polaroid camera. I no longer remember which model it was, just that it was mostly white with some black on it. It was also mostly plastic as far as I could tell. It took basic black & white photographs of barely acceptable quality. All in all that camera was the worst one that I've ever owned, but it sure was fun to use.

In my early twenties I bought a secondhand Yashica Electro 35 camera. It was capable of more than I ever asked of it. I still have it although its battery is no longer any good (just needs to be replaced). It can use film of ASA 12 all the way to ASA 500, has a shutter delay so I could run and get into the picture, and it has more bells and whistles than I ever learned how to use. It would've helped if I had a manual for it but I never found one when I thought to look.

In the spring of 1993 I bought a Chinon Genesis IV camera. It is mostly automatic for everything, and again is capable of more than I ever tossed its way. It currently is awaiting its battery to be replaced (yes, another camera in fine working condition other than the battery).

In 2001 I bought my Kodak DX3600 digital camera. It is a camera that I still use frequently these days. It is easy to use as a camera can be, takes photographs that are quite acceptable and can even take a short video although I've not ever had a need for that function.

Early in 2006 I bought a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera. At this time I am still learning how to use it and what all that I can do with it. I will say that it is a real pleasure to take a photograph with and that it feels really good in my hands.