The Evolution of a Photographer, Part 1
My first "big boy" camera was a Canon AE-1 Program.
I had been saving for college living expenses from my summer jobs. When I graduated High School, I got an award from the local bank that came with a check. I don't remember the amount, but it was certainly more than I made in a week working part-time. I had been wanting a 35mm camera for a while, but my living expenses were more important. My mother suggested that I put the award check towards my college expenses and use my own money to go buy a camera. It did not take much convincing. It just so happened that JC Penny had a Canon AE-1 Program with 50mm lens on sale that week and three days later I was a proud Canon owner.
I didn't know much about photography and kept the AE-1 on "P" mode most of the time. My primary responsibility was keeping the subject in focus.
Fast forward to Fall of Senior year in college. A semester of "Art" was required to get your degree and I had signed up for the Photography 101 course 6 semesters in a row and never got it. If I didn't get it the Spring semester, I would have to take "Art History" or learn how to draw/paint; neither of which held much excitement for me.
When the schedules came out in November, no Photography 101. I talked to my Advisor and he made some calls. None of it helped, no space in Photography 101. He then mentioned that if I was local, Photography 101 was being taught over the Winter in the evening.
I had it all worked out when I went home for Thanksgiving. I would work in the computer center during the day to pay my expenses. My housing was already paid for, and all I needed was for my parents to pay for the credits. Of course, this was after they just paid for me to re-take statistics over the previous Summer. But hey, it was worth a shot and I really didn't want to take "Drawing for Computer Geeks" or whatever was being offered.
A surprising "OK, but this is it" was the answer.
So a housemate and I (he needed the credit too) signed up for Photography 101. That's where I really learned how to use a camera. No more "P" mode. Three weeks of learning how to use your camera and develop/print Black & White.
Some of the photos from my final project are below. The photos were scanned on my 6 year old flatbed scanner, and the quality is so-so. The instructor's comment on my final project was "Need to spend more time in the darkroom to prevent such contrasty results."
Yeah, I like 'em that way.
I got an A. I think everybody did.