I finally made a decision. It was long overdue. I bought a camera.
1.1: I always wanted to take photos, but rather in a semi-professional way. Three years ago, I had opportunities to walk around different parts of New York due to my work. I visited many different neighbourhoods, and saw various cultures within the city. I wanted to archive the scenes I saw.
1.2: So I started taking photos everywhere I went—from my neighbourhood to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
2.1: I used my iPhone to take photos. iPhones offer very simple editing tools, which I had some fun by changing the exposure level, the contrast level, the saturation level, etc. of the photos. I really had a great time walking around and taking photos.
2.2: I started wanting a nice camera to really dive into the world of photography. But I also had a constant stream of what ifs.
What if I stop wanting to take photos immediately after purchasing a nice camera?
What if I get tired of taking photos?
What if I really suck at taking photos?
What if I don’t make a progress?
Besides all those what ifs, there were a few more unforeseen circumstances which led me to not buying a camera. But the hobby continued. On the side note, I got better at taking photos on an iPhone over time.
3.1: The strong desire to own a nice camera did not seem to disappear for a while. I was getting bored of taking photos, and checking them out instantly. Then I suddenly remembered how excited I was when I was waiting for rolls of film to be developed and see the printed pictures.
3.2: There was a short period of attempting to make a pinhole camera out of a tin can or a wooden box. But then the joy of taking photos would be less greater than the joy of arts and craft. Plus, there will be no joy of waiting for a film roll to be developed. (On a side note, I can easily turn my SLR into a pinhole camera.)
3.3: I started looking for a used 35mm film camera. There are many places where you can look for a used film camera. There is always thrift stores, camera shops or even relatives’ attics. (As many people say, ‘New York City is a big playground.’)
3.4: After a thorough research, I found what I was looking for: Olympus OM-2N. It is extremely easy to use, and also it is considered to be a photographer’s camera. I am happy with my choice. I have about 4 to 5 rolls which I need to take in for a developing process. I won’t see the how well or badly I did with the camera for a while.
4.1: Going back to the what ifs. I still did have the same what ifs after I purchased my Olympus. But this time, I had the answers for them.
Q. What if I stop wanting to take photos immediately after purchasing a nice camera?
A: Used cameras aren’t that pricey that I can always stop and go back to.
Q: What if I get tired of taking photos?
A: Then I can look for different 35mm cameras for not a lot of money.
Q: What if I really suck at taking photos?
A: Especially the film photos, it takes a while to get used to it. Patience is genius.
Q: What if I don’t make a progress?
A: Well, it’s just a hobby.