My passion for photography really started back in high school. I learned how to be a photographer on this amazing Pentax K1000 film camera. Having a camera wasn’t a luxury that my family could afford, so when I enrolled in Photography as an elective, I was so excited to actually get to use a “fancy” piece of equipment. I checked the camera out every chance I could get. I even did extra credit for the class and then I took a second photography class. 

The first time I held the camera, I had no clue what I was doing. And even worse…I had to be extra careful every time I hit the shutter button, because I was shooting on film and couldn’t see what I was doing. I really had to know what I was doing to make the most out of film. I could tell that I wasn’t very good at first. When I finished my first roll, I learned how to pry out the film and roll it into a canister of chemicals…all in pitch darkness!! When I had finished developing my film, it was time to review it and get some prints made. I took my first look at the negatives…..they were way way too dark. Which meant that I needed to better my photo taking skills. It took some time, but I got the hang of it and I loved every moment I spent in the dark room. That place truly made me fall in love with photography. And of course, I said to myself…”someday, when I get older, I’m going to be a photographer.”

And it was funny how life takes you down a different path. I joined the military, enrolled in college at UW-Whitewater, and got my bachelor’s degree in Finance….yup, Finance, not photography. LOL. It was many years later when I finally had the courage to take that leap, pick up my first digital camera and start my journey as a photographer. This was my one true love in high school. The one thing where I found peace, acceptance, and freedom from all that high school hoopla. No judgment, no stares or pettiness…just me and the darkroom and my film. Sure…I was probably really dorky, but hey, I didn’t even notice when I was working on my photography. 

So, I think that in the near future, I’d like to purchase this very same camera again…a few rolls of film and go to town!!