There was never enough money growing up for an expense of a good 35 mm camera. At around 18 years old, I remember the wanting to purchase a good 35 mm camera, Canon came out with this new easy to use 35 mm way back then. My mother wouldn't allow a foolish purchase such as that. So the idea just sat dormant.
It wasn't until I was married when I purchased my first 35 mm camera, a Minolta brand film camera, taking my first photography course. I sold the camera when we purchased our house to pay for a ceiling fan.
My husband died at 30 years of age leaving me with 4 young children to raise and it was at this time I purchased my Nikon F4 with a 50mm lens. I don't remember how long after the purchase of my camera that I went calling around for lenses. I was on a mission to look for good glass and found the only store within driving distance was Reimers Photo, in Milwaukee, WI. On September 13, 1989 I purchased a used:
- Nikon - 105 mm 1.8 lens with filter $509.00
- Nikon - 85 mm 1.4 lens with hood $ 599.00
- Nikon - 180 mm 2.8 $625.00
- camera bag $92.00
- inside extension for the camera bag $25.00
Now that was a purchase I didn't take lightly, having to leave the store for a timeout to think. Not only did I return to purchase the lenses & bag but I somehow ended up dating the guy that sold me everything.
Knowing Chuck and having him spend time with me in his darkroom and taking me out on shoots was one of the best times of my life. Most of my photos from back then have all but disappeared - the photos on the right are just two of a few I have remaining.
The years that followed were not creatively productive and my original Nikon 35 mm camera had been stolen during a home invasion. Luckily at the time my lenses were being shipped back to Wisconsin from a trip from Nebraska, so were not there when the kids got into my home. Though my camera was replaced my spirit was damaged and my camera and beautiful lenses sat protected in the camera bag. Until I sold everything at Reimers Photo on consignment.
Years went by and after having a camera like my Nikon, I did not pick up another camera, nothing was ever good enough. I remember when the digital cameras were first coming out.. ho hum... not interested
Speed forward to a move from Wisconsin to North Carolina and again in 2006 to Florida, the year my daughter and two granddaughters moved here and brought her digital camera which she loved taking pictures of her girls. Jennifer's images were really good and I started paying attention to what she was doing.
When I had lived in North Carolina for a funeral home, I was self teaching myself Microsoft's picture editing software. But it wasn't until I ended up getting my computer in 2006 that I played around with the program again to manipulate Jennifer's images, which developed into me creating personalized photo art, personalized with verses and sayings. I did sell a little here and there, but nothing even close to breaking even. This was 2008 and in October I met professional Watercolor Artist Ellen Snyder who I started taking watercolor lessons from at the end of November of 2008.
November of that year was a big month because that was the first wedding I was asked to do in so many years. I hadn't really been shooting, my daughter Jennifer had this point and shoot Canon camera and she had purchased this Olympus camera (I talked her into getting) and I made her shoot this wedding with me.
January of 2009 I had a lump sum of money coming in and purchased the most camera and lens I could get for my buck.
Canon 50D body
Canon L series 24-70mm 2.8 lens.
Jen followed suit with the camera, but I talked her into getting the
Canon L series 70-200mm 2.8 lens.
And this is where our adventure begins.. follow us
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