The Camera

Some of our cabinets are equal to your lola's classic baul: they contain things so old, they could've been prehistoric. And most of the time, I'd rather not open them. Just a while ago though, I had to look for this particular book on Philippine presidents for Economics. I came across it about two years ago, cluttering up the table with the rest of its space-eating brethren. I found it mildly interesting. But it was boring, so it didn't really occur to me to put it somewhere better.

So yes, I can't find it now.

But I did get something better! I opened one of the cabinets over our study table (which, by the way, is a first in 17 years!) and took a peek at the contents: papers, folders, paperbacks. These were my parents' pre-offspring days, when they still read stuff about children and families and getting spiritual (which comprised a good 75% of the book titles)-- there was actually nothing special about those, and I was going to go look somewhere else when something caught my eye.

(Cue background music here.)

Black and hardbound, the cover was simply a bird's eye view of a camera. On the spine, in plain white letters was the title: The Camera. (And crescendo!)

A photography book!!! And a really good photography book at that. My parents never told me much about their previous life (that is, what they were like as individuals before they got married), so I feel ecstatic when I come across their books that happen to be in my field of interest! Ah, cabinet, you do have your perks!

I plucked it from the shelf (after warily shaking it a little) and set it in front of me. The first page housed an insect that looked like it could've come from the primordial soup. I scared it off with the dumbell (easily reachable on the right). Dunno if I killed it though. It disappeared after a few pokes.

I spent the next hour unsticking the pages, which was like opening envelopes with a letter opener. (I tore one page, oops, but who cares. The book is mine anyway.) It has a section on the camera, camera history (I didn't know Lewis Carroll was a hobbyist photographer!), photography as an art, and personal styles. And it really is turning out to be something quite fascinating.

My sister happened to ask, "San nanggaling yan?"

"From the 1980s."

Haha, old, I know, but I like it all the more. I believe in traditional photography. And finding a book that was written with no Adobe Photoshop in mind is so comforting. I don't have anything against PS-- it's just that I don't believe one should solely rely on it to enhance a photo. I believe skill trumps all, regardless of the newness/oldness of technology or medium used. If you have that, then you don't need fancy effects.

I love photography. But I don't think photography likes me back. Oh well. For those who can't do, we read and take note. So that though we can't shoot the photo, at least we have enough sense to admire a photograph for its worth.

What a fun, tingly experience! On the downside, I still need more research on the Garcia administration. T_T Boo.