Holding On To The Past

My father bought a Minolta SRT 101 single lens reflex 35mm camera sometime in the late 60s or early 70s. I have childhood memories of this camera, especially its red, white, and blue camera strap, its fun-to-explore case which held two other lenses, a flash, and the manual, and the identification number my father engraved on its base. Sometime in the early 80s, the SRT was replaced with another, more modern, Minolta SLR 35mm as well as point-and-shoot cameras. On our summer sailing trips, though, I would still bring the SRT and its hard-sided black case.

I don't know anything, really, about my dad's early photographic "career." I now know that the SRT was a revolutionary, state-of-the-art camera when it was introduced, so dad must have been interested in photography. I know that the camera was well-used because I have seen many, many slides taken by my father. And, I know that my father, using that camera, took a picture of a young me that won a competition of some sort. I don't know where that picture is or what it looks like; I'll have to have dad send me a copy.

Somehow I ended up with the SRT and all its gear. I haven't used it for many years: its light meter is a bit off, I bought a Nikon N65 SLR 35mm, and now I usually use my Canon digital camera.

A few years back I thought I would sell the SRT on eBay. It's well-made, practically unbreakable, and is sought-after by aspiring photographers because it's a great learning camera (everything is manual) and old-school, no bull photographers because it lets them control the photograph (everything is manual!). I knew it would sell.

Something kept me from selling it though, and I'm glad I didn't. That camera is a piece of my family history and is worth so much more to me than a high bid on eBay. One day Bodie will be exploring closets just like I did and come across the camera in its black case with all its accessories.

Last night I got the SRT out of the garage and cleaned it up. I've decided I will use it to re-learn my basic photography skills and do some photoblogging along the way. One thing is certain: I will never replace the red, white, and blue strap!