Outside of human friends, this guy is my best friend.
This post is written in conjunction with the 30 Days of Writing, a blog challenge devised by Nicky and Mike at “We Work For Cheese.” I’ll be participating throughout the month of June. If interested, you can see my post with the details of the challenge.
Please note that some of these posts will be serious, some will be normal, and some will be an attempt at humor. This one has a little of everything.
I could spend a lot of time talking about best friends.
See, I don’t believe in the “one” best friend. I feel any close friend is a best friend of sorts. So I could talk about traveling with some best friends. Or being in a wedding. Or playing softball. Or learning some new outdoorsy game, like geocaching. Or traveling half way across the country to see someone really get a start in life.
This guy was my best friend for a few years as well.
There are close friends who I only talk to like three or four times per year. But they are still close friends, thus a best friend of sorts.
And having best friends is a wonderful things. I’ve had the chance to see many of them get married, have kids, succeed in life. Many have been there for me, too, especially over the past year and a half when I’ve needed many “lift-me-up” moments.
But, I fear if I talk about some of this stuff, I’ll leave someone out.
So I’m going to go somewhere else with this.
My camera.
Photography goes back a long way with me and my family.
My grandfather was an avid photographer (I wish I had some of his old images… they would be cool to have and look at). When I was younger and we visited them in Philadelphia, he’d take me on his daily walk to a Fotomat booth to drop off or pick up film. He’d always joke that he was going to visit his “girlfriend, so don’t tell grandmom.”
Of course, those “girlfriends” were way younger and not really girlfriends!
If it was a day he picked up film and I was lucky enough, he would let me open up the envelope to see the wonderful images he took. It was so cool!
My friendship with photography started there.
As I grew, I used many different types of cameras. Old Kodak 120 cameras, the disc cameras, point-and-shoots and, eventually learning the film 35mm cameras when I worked for my first newspaper — as a seventh and eighth grader working for the local daily.
My uncles still love photos. In fact, one of my uncles gave me one of my grandfather’s final cameras he used. A nice 35mm film camera. I need to get another lens or two for it, but it works very well. It’s cool to have.
For a few years, when I went back to college in the late 90s/early 2000s, I stepped away from photography. Film was expensive and I couldn’t afford the digital age. That would come at a later time.
My current buddy. When this guy arrives, I was in total euphoria.
Photography has exploded in recent years.
With digital being as it is, it becomes cheaper and cheaper. Many people are discovering photography and utilizing it. I’m on my third digital SLR and love this camera more than I can say.
It’s been to Ireland with me. It’s visited all sorts of areas I’ve been to. It’s taken sports photos, weddings, kids of friends, people shots, candids and so much more. I love having the camera with me.
Having the camera gives me some freedom and the feeling of knowing I can make some sort of art any time I snap the shutter. My current pal has probably taken more than 100,000 images since I bought it in 2010 — and that’s a low-ball estimate.
And, it also takes HD video — which kicks total ass.
Believe me, I have some great best friends. And many of them have been in the photos I’ve taken. But, as I noted, I’d leave someone out with a post about them. They know who they are and what they mean to me.
They also know what the camera means to me and that’s proof of a good friendship.
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!
I completely understand the idea, P.J. I think my father views his camera the same way. He really doesn’t have close friends, and since mom passed away, his camera is his “best friend”. As for me, I have a few good friends, and my family. Especially on a day like today, my birthday, I consider my family to be my closest friends. But, I do consider my cars (and truck) to be my best friends of sorts. I’ve been though a lot with them, and I constantly depend on them for everything. I still have my first car, handed down to me when my grandparents passed away. Its put away, needing restoration, but its still probably my equivalent of a best friend. Partly because it is a deep reminder of my grandparents, but also because its been with me since I was 15, and was my grandparents since I was about 10 years old. Its been with me through my drivers test, many bumps in the road, several funeral processions for family, seen me through college, many road trips, and milestones of adult life.
Yep, those who love cameras definitely can be attached to them. Same with cars.
Sounds just like me. The photography, that is. I even had my own darkroom and developed B&W films. That was great fun. My first SLR was a Canon AE1 which was a great camera.
Babs – Beetle recently posted..Best Friends “It Brightens”
I, too, used to have a darkroom. Black and white film used to be so fun to develop and print. Awesome. And glad to hear Canon was your choice. I am a Canon nut. 😉
We have lots of best friends over the course of our lives, school chums, co-workers who become friends, neighbors, etc. Some stay, some go, things change. My best friend is someone I know will be there, no matter how far away she moves.
Linda recently posted..My Best Friends
Absolutely true. And the best part is I have such a core group of close friends and know they will always be a part of my life.
I really understand how you feel about your camera and your ability to “make art” with it! I envy you your talent and skills. It’s not something everyone can do. You have to have an “eye” for a shot and that’s the part that really can’t be taught. Good for you!
Linda Medrano recently posted..Best Friend – Day 8
Thank you so much. I love the camera and always try and push myself to get better. It’s always a fun trip!
Hello hoohaa,
I was fortunate my parents stored all of the 35 mm slides and they are in great condition. Funny thing is the earlier slides from the late 1950s are in better condition than the slides from the 60s and 70s, even though they were all stored the same way.
I get a new camera for my birthday – yay! So much fun~
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
That is so awesome. I bet some of those images are awesome. And, I hope you enjoy that new camera!
That’s quite an amazing story. An interesting take on today’s prompt. I guess you could say you “developed” quite a friendship with photography, then.
nonamedufus recently posted..30 Days of Writing – #8 – Best Friend
Ha! Love the pun! Well played!
You have a very expensive friend! If you two ever break up, send him to live with me. I will give him a good workout!
Malisa recently posted..For Polly…
Expensive, yes. But so well worth it. And I’m pretty sure there won’t be a breakup! 😉
P.J. recently posted..Train coming
This is a really creative, interesting take on today’s theme, P.J. Well done… 250 points!
And the best part about having an inanimate object as a best friend? They don’t eat all the cookies. 🙂
Nicky recently posted..Man’s Best Friend Ain’t No Cat
Thank you much. And so true on the cookies. Though sometimes I forget the cookies because I am using the best friend to take images of the cookies. 😉
Ah, now here’s some inspiration. Ever since the 30 Days Of Photos challenge back in April, I’ve been thinking of getting a “real” camera. I pulled off some decent shots with my phone but you can’t beat an SLR.
Great take on the theme. I took my old film SLR with me to Europe and Yosemite. We had some good times together 😉
mike recently posted..Man’s Best Friend Ain’t No Cat
See, I’d like an SLR camera, but 90% of the photos I take are candid shots, and SLRs aren’t as good for candids are they?
Michael D’Agostino recently posted..The Game of Thrones