IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE SONY
My idea was to save my money, upgrade my camera, and become a photographer. A proper photographer.
After my 21st birthday, I eagerly made my way to the camera store to make my big purchase. A sony a7iii with a beautiful G-master 24-70 lens. This was about a million times better than the Nikon D-90 I had been cursing at for about 4 years prior.
Once I got the call my new mirrorless camera had come in, I rushed to the store to pick it up, screamed, and immediately called my friends. I dragged the first few people who didn’t resist going out and Christening the camera. This was so important. I could not wait to take this magnificent black box out for a whirl.
My three friends accompanied me to the Hamilton Steel Factory on a bright and warm Summer weekday. To be clear, I had no clue how to work this camera. My goal was to impress them with my mad photography skills and make sure they felt like the ‘shoot’ was worth their time.
This did not happen. What I learned is that posing three 20-year-old boys is rather challenging and a tad awkward. Especially if they are complaining and asking ‘when is this over?’ The entire time.
I’ll never forget the feeling of picking up the camera body for the first time. The clarity I saw through the lens. The quick sound of the flash. The heaviness of it in my hands. The power I felt knowing it was mine, and that I could only get better with it.
Although I had much learning to do, it never felt like a task too daunting to conquer. This camera was the door. All I had to do was walk through it.
My friends.
