24

Posted by Cristina Robeck on January 26, 2012 0 Comments

24 exposures.  

A few weeks ago this little film camera was found in my drawer.  Caleb, my 5 year son, found it.  He opened everything he could and then declared it his camera.  Lately he as been wanting to be behind the camera snapping away.  Yesterday we went and got batteries and film for the camera.  24 shots.  He was a little confused.  

"Mom, what is film?" 

It was like him asking me where I came from.  What is film? Oh the memories of loading a camera and getting ready to shoot.  We sat as I explained the basics of this little camera that will now capture moments for him as they did for me and his dad.  I explained to him what film is and his eyes just lit up.  I could see his little brain going in circles trying to figure it all out.  We practice with the camera before loading the actual film so he could get use to focusing the camera and creating his own shots.  As I showed him how to load the film into the camera and we listened to it wind up I thought to myself, this is what photography feels like.   Once it was loaded he knew he had 24 shots and then it was over.  

He was careful to make sure he had his shot.  We talked about them, he suggested all kinds of different angels and at the end I would say  "it's your shot, shoot it however you think is best."    It was hard to not be able to see his images right away but there is this beautiful anticipation of what is to come.  We can not wait to develop his film.  Oh how I know that feeling of waiting.  It is magical in some regards.  It taught me patience.

After shooting 5 images we took a dinner break.  After dinner he grabbed both our cameras and set them on the counter.  "So mom, this focus thing, what am I looking at?" Oh my heart. We set up the big camera and focused on spoons and forks for about 20 minutes. "Wow, focus is when something is clear and the other stuff are blurry!" Yep!  We talked about handling the camera, depth of field, exposure and snapped away.  I Promise when we shoot the rest of his 12 exposures I will share some of his shots with you.

I may never see his little face again.  I know a little now of how my mom must have felt when all I wanted to do was have a camera in my hand.  I was his age when I hand my first film camera and it has been in my life ever since.  I hope you will will be inspired to pick your camera up and snap away.  There is beauty in capturing moments!

Cristina

 

To GIVE to others through photography.
Giving 50% of our profits to love people around the world.

 Buy a photograph. Select a charity.

Facebook 
Twitter