By Susan Latreille

The Story of a Camera

This camera has a long history of which I know very little.   

It was my Dad’s camera and he gave it to me when I was 10 or 12 years old. 

Before it was mine, in 1941 until 1945, it had travelled east to Nova Scotia where a buddy used it to snap this photo of my Dad.  

Then across the Atlantic to England, France, Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands. The sights this camera saw throughout Europe my father never shared with us.

He did share this photo of my Mom from 1941. This beautiful photo travelled with my Dad overseas and  throughout Europe.

Once the camera was mine, I was always snapping at family members, nothing artistic, just pictorial memories of family such as this one of my Mom & Dad in the late 1950s  

My next camera was a Brownie Box and later an Instamatic 110, and then my first Canon, a SureShot. All these cameras were used somewhat sparingly due to the cost of film and developing, until the age of digital cameras and the equivalent of photographic freedom.

My first digital was a Kodak, but I soon returned to Canon with a PowerShot and my now current G10.

I have never had a SLR or DSLR and have always considered myself a casual photographer. My photography has continued to be a moment of capturing family memories and it has also evolved into fun capturing some of the beauty around us. But really, until this photo that I entered in the last show at Brent’s Place, I have never considered my photography as artistic. 

But it all started with a 1930s Jiffy Kodak.

Collectif members, send an image of your very recent work to cagac.ca@gmail.com with up to 100 words describing what you did, materials used, inspiration, etc. Maybe share how you’re feeling & how creativity helps. We’d like an informative, inspiring show & tell. 

Writers, send us poetry, lyrics, a short piece or excerpt.