Friday, February 26, 2010

Dad Would Be Proud


I took this photo of a cotoneaster beside an antique cultivator last fall. This is one of several antique farm implements on our property that came from Paul's grandfather's farm. This one sits in a rock garden in our yard. Paul remembers walking behind the cultivator hooked to one of the farm horses and in front of his grandfather. Walking behind a cultivator and a horse? What century was that?

With this photo, last fall, for the first time in my life, I entered a photo competition. I actually entered two contests and won both with the same photo. The real estate company I work with, Residential Properties Ltd., has a photo competition four times a year, one for each season. We have so many fabulous photographers among our agents, I never considered entering a photo until I saw this one. The winning photos are used as part of a slide show on the company's website. Most of the winning photos have always been interesting houses or local scenery. This was a little out of the ordinary but I think they liked it because it was in my yard and had a personal story.

The second contest I entered with this photo was on the blog The Badass Geek . A professional photographer himself, The Geek has a really cool website at Shift Photography, please go visit him. Feeling pretty full of myself after having won the company contest, I figured 'why not?' I entered and won! The Geek actually offered a prize. I was told to choose a photo from his website which he would send matted and ready to frame. I picked a beautiful sunset over water which arrived yesterday.

I started taking pictures when I was eight years old. I don't know what I was using for a camera back then but I remember seeing what looked like 35mm negative strips hanging in our make-shift darkroom. Soon I had my own little 110 Instamatic. I've moved up a little since then. Here's my newest camera.

My father set up a darkroom in the cellar of our house in the early 1960's. And I do mean cellar. Half the floor in the cellar of our early 19th century house was dirt. The photo enlarger was on an old work bench. I use to develop and print black and white photos. There were only three baths necessary to develop black & white and many, many more for color so we only worked in black & white. My father is gone so I can't ask him so my memory of the whole process may be a little fuzzy.

I remember how cool it was to watch pictures of my dog Missey come up from the trays. Notice there's always a dog in my stories? I still have some of those photos. I also remember one day, in my clumsy way, knocking a bottle of a chemical wash over in my mother's kitchen. I watched the cabinets instantly turn white as the stuff splashed across the wood. Fortunately it washed off but for a minute I thought I was in big trouble.

So after starting my photography experience in a dirt cellar 45+ years ago, I still enjoy taking pictures.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Stopping by from SITS

I don't know much about photography, but that is a beautiful picture. It must be so rewarding to receive accolades for something that you love so much.

Jayde said...

That's a great shot. I learned developing and printing in highschool and loved it. I too have been a camera-bug most of my life. Thabks for the link to a new photography site to check out! Have a great day!

Unknown said...

Nice work Sandy, I really like the different elements I see in that photo.
I love how your life has such beautiful links and crossings, from the dogs to the photography, to the farm implements that Paul used as a child. All very lovely!

Anonymous said...

I got my first camera when I was around 8. It was a simple shot-and-go, that would do everything by itself. I liked that, but always felt very limited (I think it didn't even have a zoom).
Some years ago I got a digital camera from my dad that would do everything. So I've been taking pics with that one. I love taking pics, but sometimes they don't turn out the way I'd like them to.
I also started taking pics with my dad's DSLR. Funnily enough, though this camera doesn't do much else than my own, all the pics turned out fantastically... So everytime I need a camera now, I borrow my dad's.
BTW. Isn't it funny, that it's mostly the dads that bring their daughters to photography???

Pam said...

Wow! I didn't even know you entered these contests. Congratulations. Is this the photo you entered in both? It's gorgeous. Are you going to display it somewhere? Your office, maybe?

Michele said...

What a lovely photo. No wonder you won.

Badass Geek said...

That really is a great picture.

Thanks for the mention!

Katherine said...

Congrats! The photo is absolutely beautiful.

I haven't shot in film for years, even though I kicked and drug my feet before giving in and going digital. But I still miss the days of using my high school's dark room to develop film and expose pictures.

And a digital SLR is on the top of my wish list.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Your photo is wonderful. I really love it. I moved from my point and shoot to another one. I was too afraid to try the big ones.
I paid around $400. for it and I like it but I still want to advance to the Canon Rebel. I hear so many nice things about and love everyones pictures that I see that are taken by that camera. But I hate to spend the money on it when I just spent the $400. in October.

A 2 Z said...

I have the same question as everybody else: is the picture you posted the one that help you win twice. You are a natural. Congrats!

Wanda..... said...

Your lovely photo caught my eye immediately, loved the graceful and rustic quality, like Beauty and the Beast!

Sultan said...

The Japanese would say that your photo has wabi-sabi.

mommakin said...

I remember when you won over at BAG's! My daughter is interested in photography right now. I hope it sticks...

 

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