The Story of a Camera, a Kid, and a World Learning to Focus
Long before phones had cameras — and long before those cameras learned how to argue about megapixels — photography was a slower magic. It smelled like film canisters, lived on kitchen tables covered in photo envelopes, and required something modern photographers rarely use today: patience.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, there was a kid named Taylor.
The Instamatic Era: When Photography Came in a Little Black Cartridge
My earliest memories of photography came from a Kodak Instamatic — the slick, pocketable marvel that made kids everywhere feel like mini documentarians.
You took the shot, hoped it wasn’t blurry, and waited a week to learn your fate. If the photo came out soft? Well… that was part of the charm.
The Polaroid Era: When Magic Developed Right In Your Hands
My grandfather owned a Polaroid, the legendary camera that turned chemistry into instant storytelling. He’d snap a photo, hand me the warm square, and say: “Shake it gently. Don’t drop it. And don’t stare too long — it gets shy.”
The Rose Parade Years: Kodak Film & Bleacher Hustle
In 1983, I became a street vendor selling Kodak film at the Rose Parade — feeding the masses their rolls of hope. It wasn’t photography; it was the promise of photography.
The Disposable Camera Age
Plastic rectangles, 24 exposures, and the ever-familiar thumb-in-the-frame. These cameras taught us randomness, humility, and the importance of the flash.
The Digital Revolution
Digital cameras arrived with instant previews, delete buttons, and megapixels multiplying like rabbits. Suddenly photography had confidence — maybe too much confidence.
The Smartphone Era
Today I shoot much of my work on a Pixel 9 — capturing nature, street signs, abstract patterns, and more dog portraits than any dog requested.
Why Tell This Story?
Because photography isn’t just about sharpness or specs. It’s about memory, curiosity, and the joy of capturing life. LensDude exists to keep that spirit alive and guide beginners through the fun parts without the overwhelm.
If you’d like to continue the journey:
Next up: Part 2 — The Digital Years