I think it’s appropriate that I’m writing about photography today considering I spent a good chunk of time this morning ferrying M, C, and V around town looking for a 1-hour photo place.

M and C just got back from being away at camp for three weeks.  While the camp does a great job of taking pictures and posting them online, the girls wanted to be able to make their own memories (awww, just like Mom!).  They each bought a disposable camera from the camp store and spent the days clicking away.

SN: C went to camp earlier in June and she bought a disposable camera then, too.  After unpacking her bag, her trunk and her duffel,  I asked her where the camera was. She said, “I took all the pictures, so I threw it away.”

“What? Why?” I said.

“It was a disposable camera, Mom.” And she was dead serious.

We had a quick lesson in the history of photography.

Anyway, today, we decided to get the film in the cameras developed.  On Sunday, we went to Target figuring we could knock off two birds with one stone: 1-hour photo while we did the back to school shopping.  No 1-hour photo at Target.

Monday morning, I planned to drop off the cameras at Rite-Aid since it was close to our house and we could pick up the prints later on in the evening after dinner, maybe scoop up some Sweet Frog, too.  I go into Rite Aid and am informed that not only do they not have 1-hour photo, it must be sent out and it takes 10 to 12 business days.  Pardon me?

Back in the car, we hopped over to CVS.  No 1-hour photo, but she said we could have them back in about 2-4 hours.  Okayyyyy. Just as I was about to agree, the clerk started backpedaling and said that she made a mistake. The photos must be sent out and it would take about a week.

There better be some pretty good photos on these cameras.

https://instagram.com/p/6NQ3z8TY8h/?taken-by=curly_girlie78

Then it hit me. Why would we even have 1-hour photo anymore? Everything is instant and digital. There’s no need for film processing services in retails stores. Man, I feel really old. I can distinctly remember hounding my mother to take me to Drug Fair after every field trip and party so I could get my little Kodak disposable camera developed – with double print, natch. Man! Guess we’re learning the value of patience and delayed gratification today.

In any event, I am still plugging along with my photographer questions from the photography blog, Click It Up a Notch.  They are a series of photographer interviews that I read where each photographer is asked a variety of questions that helps the reader understand the photographer’s process and interests. The more interviews I’ve read, the more my mind sparked and fired, ideas pinging around faster than I could grab them. If reading about other photographers created such a response, what would happen if I posed those same questions* to myself? Over the next few weeks, we’ve been finding out.

We’re more than half-way through this.   It’s truly been a learning experience as I’ve taken time to consider the answer to each question posed.  I have gained a new appreciation and love of photography.

*photographer interview questions courtesy of Courtney Slazinik of Click It Up a Notch.

What is your favorite image right now?

Nikon 18-55mm| 1/50| 35mm| f/2.8

I’m probably a little biased because not only did I take this photo, it’s of my kids.  It was one of those times when the planets aligned, M and C were getting along, and all of my practice kicked in for a split second to nab this photo.  V,  M and C altogether at my insistence so that I could take photos of my three ladybugs.  V is clearly a newborn, which means I was supposed to be laid up in bed, recovering from the c-section that brought her into this world, but I was staging photo shoots.  Typical.

It’s my favorite image because my older girls are giving their best, most genuine smiles.

It’s my favorite image because V is so tiny and trusting, perfectly,  asleep atop her sisters.

It’s my favorite image because I didn’t take umpty-ump shots to get this one.  I didn’t have time. I just stacked them up, stepped back and fired.

It’s my favorite image because it’s of three of my favorite people ever.