Meet My Cameras

(*drumroll) These are some of my most prized possessions, my cameras! While in NYC, my camera family has doubled. New York really inspires me to take pictures all the time, there are so many times in the day where I see patterns, buildings, people, textures, even just a boring old snapshot that I always wish I had my camera attached to my palm.

I’ll start with the newest addition to my camfam: My POLAROID SX-70!

I love, love, love this little guy so much even though his film is a bit pricey these days. This camera was actually my Deedo’s, (grandpa) and when I was planning on going to the Impossible Project’s press release, I asked him if he still had his. If you know the amount of stuff my Deedo has, it is amazing that he found it. And it is in PRISTINE condition.

Name of Polaroid SX-70: “Tommy” (In honor of my Deedo :))

The coolest thing about this camera is that it is the original Polaroid Camera. In 1972 when it came out, it sold for $200. And you could buy a car for $3,000. This was one expensive camera! My grandpa said that it was given to him in the ’70s from his parents. I told him that I looked the camera up on Ebay and although most Polaroid cameras are worthless and made of plastic, the original, leather-covered SX-70 goes for $100.

Deedo: “You gotta be kiddin’ me. Well, You can sell it if you’d like.”
Me: (*Sputtering) “Whaaat?! No!!! I’m taking pictures with it!”
Deedo: “Really.” (Chuckles)

My great-grandparents never could have known how much joy their great-granddaughter would get from this camera… 40 years later. When my mom sent it to me I was dancing and jumping around my dorm room. Seriously. (Thank you!!!)

Flat as a pancake, heavy as a brick, full of magical gadgets. After going to the Impossible Project’s press release and studying Polaroid cameras and going through pages, and pages, and pages of Polaroids on Flickr, I am in love.

Minus the fact that these little filmy guys…

…cost me way too much money. But I love the fact that I am painfully planning every one of my shots. And the sound that Polaroid makes when it comes out… Mmmm.

Next up: My Holga
Her name: “Holga” (Creative, I know.)

Holgas are cheap, plastic cameras that are used for lomography and getting strange, surprising photos. Their flaws, much like the Polaroids, are what makes the photos unique and interesting.

I got this camera from the B&H Photo Superstore here in NY. This store is so crazy, it was 3 stories and enormous. You go to a counter and there are robotic tracks that bring whatever you asked for to the salesperson. Then the salesperson puts the camera on the robotic walkway thing again and you go down, pay, and then pick up your purchase. So many gadgets and robots everywhere in that store.

My Holga started like this, but I used white electrical tape and clear nail polish and made her into a zebra.

I love winding old Holga after taking a picture. Not quite as fun as the Polaroid, though.

Holga matches my white Tiger Ipod…

Next up: My Nikon D40 with his Tamron 17-50mm wide-angle lens.
Answers to: “My Camera” (He’s so important, its like being called “Boss” or “Jefe”)

He knows hes the best, I love this guy. He’s made me learn so much about taking photos.

Last up, the oldest, lil’ trooper of a camera, Canon Powershot SD1100 IS
Name: Stitch II (I gave Stitch I to a very good home, as he took many thousands of pictures for me in high school and early college but was becoming a little tired from my many demands. Stitch I, now retired, takes a few pictures a month and I think he is quite happy.

Why Stitch I & II you ask? Because they live in Stitch, of course!

I got Stitch in Disney World when I was 17. Best $7 I ever spent. Stitch the bag is also one of my most prized possessions. I have carried him everywhere and he never stops giving his rabid grin.

Also, my favorite photography books. I’ve studied these books like crazy and the more knowledge I’ve retained, the more excited I get about some of the pictures I take. I recommend these books to anyone who likes colorful books and glossy pages.

The Photographer’s Eye by Michael Freeman– definitive book on digital photography, or so I’ve read. I just love that this book doesn’t talk about technical details of cameras, instead it shows how to compose pictures.

Hot Shots by Kevin Meredith– more fun, lots of ideas for young photographers, cheap tricks. Actually a hard book to find online. I’ve seen it in Urban Outfitters but I got it in a Borders. I went to 3 of them before I found it, though. (Did I mention I love NY? ) 🙂

There are only 2 cameras from my life missing here… the original 35mm film camera my Grandma gave me when I was like 10 and my old Canon Powershot SD 450 (Stitch I)… that I gave to my boyfriend. Isn’t it crazy that these chunks of metal, plastic, and glass document our lives? When I get home I am going to try and find that old 35mm that my grandma gave me. 🙂 and I’m totally swiping my parent’s old Konica 35mm SLR.

MONSTER CAMFAM!