I am now one of the older generation…(ouch, that was hard to write) that made the transition, from film…to digital photography.

I have never used a camera in a professional way, yet, i did learn how to use a 35mm single lens reflex (slr) camera, in college, as well as how to develop black and white film, and how to make the prints in a darkroom.

Only a few people back in the 1970’s were interested in taking photos beyond the vacation or family celebration, and they did not use a 35mm camera.

For one thing, the hobby of photography was very expensive, and so most people had to make the money to support their photo habit. Either they had to have a job, or the photography was their job.

These kind of cameras alone were expensive. But, the cost didn’t stop with the camera.

For starters, there was the film.

Ah, yes, the film.

That costly but convenient length of 24 or 36 shots, encapsulated in a light-proof container.

What speed of film did i need for what i was shooting?

And how many shots do you think it would take you to get one keeper? One had to manually set the light setting right and get the focus crisp. The settings had to be right-on, or else that shot on the film could not be used. If you wanted to have a good shot of something, you would take many shots with different settings. $ ca-ching!

And get this…there was no window on the back of the camera to show you the image that you just took.  Nope, the image was just a bit of light burnt into the film. You would not see the photo until the film was processed with chemicals $ which gave you a tiny negative of the picture, and then the tiny negative would be used to make a larger positive-print onto photo paper…all this done in a darkroom $. Yes, one would need a darkroom and the processing equipment. And THAT is when you would be able to see what in the world the photo looked like.

Wayyyyy after the shutter was clicked, after the sun had set, after the event was over, when the trip was just a memory.

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i have finally come to the conclusion that my main forms of communication are the visual, touch, and words few and simple. i like to be able to involve the heart within my communication. i am now certain that the only way to involve the heart is to listen and live together with God.

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