I'm an analog man, but most of my pictures these days are digital. Many only exist as electronic files, even if they were originally shot on film. That still strikes me as weird, considering the way photography was when I was growing up...everything was such tangible stuff: film, snapshots, slides, prints. Everything has now become virtual--even our lives, in some cases. The "stuffness" of life is going away. I'm not sure I like this.

As a kid, I collected discarded deposit bottles, cashed them in, and use the funds for picture-making purposes.

I bought my first camera when I was 10--a Kodak Brownie Six-16 box camera.

It was a very old camera, even then...but you could still get film/developing for it at the local Fotomat kiosk store (remember those?).

I've always loved that delicious anticipation: waiting to see how my pictures would "turn out."

Ever since, I've been fascinated with collecting and using old photo equipment.

I have a variety of film cameras and old lenses, a Canon G9, and a Canon 60D. Whenever I'm tempted to get a"full frame" camera, I remind myself of all the GREAT ones that I already own (Pentax Spotmatics, Canon F-1, FTb, Kiev and other rangefinders, etc.).

And I make a point of USING THEM, to take some pictures!

A camera that's used to take photographs is a happy camera.

I've done paid work, but really consider myself a dedicated amateur--I do photography for the joy of it. I've worked with just about every type of camera and film, from 8mm movies to 8X10 view.

My heart aches to see traditional materials going away. I especially miss Kodachrome and the great B&W Agfa films and papers. At the same time, I've embraced digital--the flexibility, creative control/potential has expanded in ways that were never conceivable working exclusively with film, paper, and chemicals. It's also taken a lot of pure drudgery out of photography, leaving time/effort available for more creative tasks.

That is valuable to realize, because life is short, and getting shorter every day.

Not all repetitive, predictable tasks are time wasted, of course--happy accidents and unanticipated discoveries naturally follow from any investment of time and effort. The best news is, there are still a LOT of great films and papers being made.

I still use a Brownie camera (it takes 120 film), and I still looking forward to seeing how things will turn out.

Photography is a way of following the light, dance, and rhythm of life. The best camera is the one you always have with you: your eyes, working in concert with your mind.