Nostalgia

The more I think about improving my photographic skills, the more I think about my father who was a professional photographer and movie cameraman. I didn’t have the good fortune to grow up with him, so our time together was extremely limited. He died in 1969 at age 58 – I was 29 then, a single mom with two kids and the serious pursuit of photography was the farthest thing from my mind. I didn’t realize then what I was letting slip through my fingers, but I do now and I’m constantly thinking about how much I would love the chance to spend a day with him and a couple of cameras.

My blip today is a picture of him with his camera in the nose of a locomotive. Although I don’t know the exact date the picture was taken, or the movie it might have been related to, I can assume it was sometime in the mid-60’s. It makes me smile because it was during a time when if a movie director wanted a picture from the perspective of the front of a moving train, that’s where he put the guy with the camera. Anyway, I’d love to hear the backstory of this picture, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

Not too long ago I watched a movie called “Unstoppable” with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine about a runaway train and the effort to stop it. (Good movie, by the way) I always love to look at the special features included on a DVD and this movie has an especially good feature on how the movie was made, particularly the camera work involved. Because the director wanted the most realistic portrayal of a runaway train he could get, he used a lot of creative camera work and a minimum of CGI effects. There were all kinds of cameras used in filming this movie – robots, handheld, helicopter cameras, remote controlled cameras – you name it. The first time I watched it, it brought tears to my eyes because I couldn’t help thinking how amazed my father would have been at the technological advances made in cinematography and photography since his day. I wished so badly that he could have been a part of the industry as it grew into what it is today. Although I’m sure he would have remained a purist, I think he’d love the digital age.

I am trying desperately to channel him as I become more involved in photography. Who knows, maybe there’s some cosmic energy he’s trying to send my way and if I try real hard I’ll catch it and absorb some of what he knew. I’ve always loved photography but life came between me and any serious effort to do anything about it, but I guess it's never too late

As long as I’m in a reflective mood here, I guess I’d want to say to anyone contemplating establishing or re-establishing contact with a lost relative or friend, stop contemplating and make the call. Have that cup of coffee with Aunt Minnie and let her tell you about her quilts or Uncle John and let him tell you about whatever hobby he might have, or even what job he was devoted to in years past, even if you don’t think you’re interested in the subject now. You never know what you’ll wish you had asked about or what you’ll absorb and I don’t think you’ll regret it.