Like most of you (I imagine) the picture taking in our family is largely my responsibility. Paul tries, but he doesn't really care-- that is, he tries because I want him to care. You know how it is. Anyway, we let Sam have a go last week, and then again last night at a party for our friends who are leaving town for parts unknown (Detroit). The top frame is the second or third shot from last week. The rest are from last night. He holds the camera fairly still, but things get a little blurry because he takes everything sort of mid-stride. For the most part, he's pretty shy, but he started getting downright brazen behind the lens. The most interesting thing to me is that he started moving away from taking people pictures last night. These are some of my favourites.
He goes about ten minutes (or until he fills up the memory card) and then I have to watch him pretty closely or he'll try to figure out how the camera is working. This usually involves yanking on the zoom lens or turning the entire device into a airplane or frisbee. It helps that our digital takes pretty decent point-and-shoot pictures. Even though he operates with substantial liability, I think I want to get him a decent but simple camera in the future. Maybe something without a visible zoom. That seems to be the tempting bit.
I got my first camera in 4th grade (i think?) and it was one of those brick-like vivitars with the funny film (I'm still waiting for those to come back around). I took loads of pictures, but they mostly stunk-- dark, grainy, red-eye ridden. Do you remember your first? Do you let your kids use yours? Am I asking for trouble letting him use ours?
