About Me
My first camera was given to me in 1973, on my 8th birthday. I remember it
well - it was a Kodak Instamatic 28, just like this one (except mine was new
and not rusty at all):
My first camera was given to me in 1973, on my 8th birthday. I remember it
well - it was a Kodak Instamatic 28, just like this one (except mine was new
and not rusty at all):
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Yes that's right, it had no flash and only two shutter speeds, but I was
instantly hooked all the same. I still remember the feel and sound of the
shutter button - and the anticipation I felt every time I pressed it.
Over the following few years my mother encouraged me by getting all my
films processed (I wish everyone could have a Mum just like her). She often
used the camera too; I believe it was the only camera in our immediate family
at that time.
A few years passed, and I had saved enough to buy another camera that
took 110 cartridge film and what was called "flip-flash" - a strip of 10 flash
bulbs in two rows of five, with a connector at each end. The concept was
simple, use up the first five flashes and then flip the thing over to use up the
other five. This was progress!
Roll forward to many, many years later (1998) and digital photography was
just getting underway. I bought a Sony Mavica FD71 - this camera had a
built-in floppy disk drive, and at the time it seemed like a great toy, but the
novelty soon wore off, mostly because the images were very low resolution
JPGs and riddled with artifacts. But I did take some interesting shots with it,
and we were heading in the right direction - eventually we would no longer
need to pay for film to be developed!
instantly hooked all the same. I still remember the feel and sound of the
shutter button - and the anticipation I felt every time I pressed it.
Over the following few years my mother encouraged me by getting all my
films processed (I wish everyone could have a Mum just like her). She often
used the camera too; I believe it was the only camera in our immediate family
at that time.
A few years passed, and I had saved enough to buy another camera that
took 110 cartridge film and what was called "flip-flash" - a strip of 10 flash
bulbs in two rows of five, with a connector at each end. The concept was
simple, use up the first five flashes and then flip the thing over to use up the
other five. This was progress!
Roll forward to many, many years later (1998) and digital photography was
just getting underway. I bought a Sony Mavica FD71 - this camera had a
built-in floppy disk drive, and at the time it seemed like a great toy, but the
novelty soon wore off, mostly because the images were very low resolution
JPGs and riddled with artifacts. But I did take some interesting shots with it,
and we were heading in the right direction - eventually we would no longer
need to pay for film to be developed!
| © 2007 Deborah Dewhirst All rights reserved. |
Anyway - as the saying goes, it's not what you've got, it's how you use it!
The most important consideration is to remove as many limitations or barriers
to creative freedom as possible.
Other Interests
I have an ever-growing interest in all kinds of art, including digital painting,
sculpture, sketching and graphic design. I am an avid fan of music and all of
the performing arts and literature - one lifetime to explore all of these
interests just doesn't seem enough!
I always find it interesting to observe how one creative medium has the
potential to influence so many of the others. I sometimes find that my best
work follows from listening to certain music, or after I have read a certain
book, seen a certain play or movie.
It is like the transfer of a luminous, vibrant energy and there is no feeling in
the world that compares to catching even a glimpse of that spark.
The most important consideration is to remove as many limitations or barriers
to creative freedom as possible.
Other Interests
I have an ever-growing interest in all kinds of art, including digital painting,
sculpture, sketching and graphic design. I am an avid fan of music and all of
the performing arts and literature - one lifetime to explore all of these
interests just doesn't seem enough!
I always find it interesting to observe how one creative medium has the
potential to influence so many of the others. I sometimes find that my best
work follows from listening to certain music, or after I have read a certain
book, seen a certain play or movie.
It is like the transfer of a luminous, vibrant energy and there is no feeling in
the world that compares to catching even a glimpse of that spark.
Those times were extremely frustrating though - I had a very good idea of
the kind of photographs I wanted to take, but digital photography was still in
its infancy with a long way to go, and a decent film camera was well out of
my reach due to financial constraints.
Time went by until 2006, when at last my dreams were realised. I became
the proud owner of a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera with a VR 18-200mm lens
and I am the happiest puppy on the planet. Well, until I upgrade to the D80
that is. And, eventually, the D2X (although I'm sure there will exist an even
more capable model by the time I get to it).
the kind of photographs I wanted to take, but digital photography was still in
its infancy with a long way to go, and a decent film camera was well out of
my reach due to financial constraints.
Time went by until 2006, when at last my dreams were realised. I became
the proud owner of a Nikon D50 digital SLR camera with a VR 18-200mm lens
and I am the happiest puppy on the planet. Well, until I upgrade to the D80
that is. And, eventually, the D2X (although I'm sure there will exist an even
more capable model by the time I get to it).
An orchid that might very well
be half alien. Photo taken with
the FD71 at the Auckland
Wintergardens in July 2000
be half alien. Photo taken with
the FD71 at the Auckland
Wintergardens in July 2000
Nikon D50