Well, It Is Just a Hobby

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.

My First International Trip

1.1: Finally, I can freely travel in and out of the United States. After a long period of not being able to do so, I am finally outside of the US and enjoying every second of it. Upon the renewal of my passport, I had a long period of deciding where to visit. I wanted to celebrate the moment. 

1.2: Just like in every other 1990s' Romantic Comedy films, I could've gone to JFK, and casually say "give me round-trip tickets departing soon." (Of course, I might've ended up in some exotic foreign city with or without visa, or ... let's say ... some random city in the Midwest area ...) Either way, that would have given me a pretty compelling story to tell on a blind date. 

2.1: On a Wednesday evening last March, I had dinner with a friend. After the dinner, we started walking uptown, and stumbled upon a fortune teller. I asked the teller to read my palms. She told me that I will have one wife, that I should stop worry about the work that I do, and that eventually I must reloacate to London, England. I’ve visited London once, probably about eight years ago. I fell in love with the city, its culture, and its ... everything! I have forgot about how much I loved my time being in London. 

2.2: So that gave me an idea where I can go for the celebratory visit: London, (where I can still speak English, and where I can drink room-temperatured beer ... don’t judge me ... )

3.1: The thought of “spontaneously going to London” started to capture my attention for the entire month of April. Then I talked to a friend about it. She asked me if I will go to London with my flute, and my answer, after a pause, was No. I would not go to London with my flute. Then she said that I will be in a foreign city without my identity if there’s no flute next to me. 

3.2: That thought struck me: going to a foreign city without my identity being a flautist. Then I came up with this: how about going to Toronto? 

• A. because it’s only 55 minutes away from NYC.

• B. because I always went to Toronto with my flute.

• C. becasue I miss being in Toronto.

• D. why not.

3.3: While conducting some serious research for which cities / countries to go, I suddenly got a handful of works and concerts to play. I wasn’t able to go anywhere abroad. At that moment, I thought that I should have just gone to JFK in late March, and gotten myself a round-trip ticket without any specific destination in mind. 

4.1: Guess where I ended up going to. I came back to Korea for the first time in two years. I am spending quality time with my family. Visiting Korea was the best decision I’ve made, and this particular visit has been so special. Certainly worth waiting for the moment. 

P.S. As I was writing this journal, I received an email from AirCanada that one way ticket from La Guardia to Toronto is only $84.