Day 77 of 100

“Exactly one year yesterday.”

August 6, 2022 a Sony camera from Amazon arrived at my house. It wasn’t the first camera I’ve owned. That one a friend borrowed and never returned. And there was the camera I was using as my webcam, which is really where my interest in cameras started.

During the pandemic, a friend sent me a Google Slides presentation on how to setup the perfect webcam. It included an actual interchangeable lens camera, a couple of cords, and a slight bit of wizardry.

Perhaps it was the general pandemic malaise we all felt, or maybe some power greater than me tipped my hand, but that presentation piqued my interest, and I bought all the necessary parts.

Soon, I thought to myself, perhaps more than a webcam, I should go take some photos, so I bought another Sony camera to take some photos. I took exactly zero, and when a friend came to visit, I happily lent it to her.

When the camera didn’t return, something compelled me to buy another one, but this time with the intent of using it. So I did. I bought a camera, a couple of lens, a few SD cards and I waited.

When they arrived I realized that I didn’t really have anyone to take pictures of, except Calin, my cat. And luckily, she was a willing model.

From the first click, I fell in love with the process of photography. I wasn’t really any good. I am still not very good. But I am learning. I decided I would challenge myself to take 10,000 photos knowing most of them would be trash. And they were, but the ones I liked, I really liked, and it gave me the energy to continue.

Here it is a year later, I have taken 16,250 photos, almost 45 a day. I own a few cameras, including a film camera, and I take pictures almost every day and enjoy clicking the shutter just as much as I did the first time.

A few months back I was challenged to do this 100 day project of self-portraits. I was sure I would be bored by 10. This is 77, and I am pretty sure I’ll finish it up soon.