The Newest, and Youngest Photographer in the Family
The Newest, and Youngest Photographer in the Family
Remember this past spring when I took my nieces to visit the wild horses? I let them use my old camera, and they made their own photos while we were there. Apparently, the photography bug caught on with one of them.
Abigail is the newest, and youngest photographer in the family now.
But let me back up just a little.
A couple of Sundays ago, I did family pictures for my brothers family. While we were there, Jennifer told me that Abigail, who is 9, had a job fair at school and she applied to be a photographer, and got the job. So after I was done with their family photo shoot, I let Abigail have a go with my camera. There were ducks in the river, cows in the field, all kinds of stuff for her to shoot. Pretty much, she had a ball. This is a photo she made of her mom and dad. Pretty dang good I think.
This is her, playing with the leaves.
Al and I talked about it, and decided we would give her my old camera. (Incidentally, Al went to Seattle for 3 weeks last Wednesday, and I miss him horribly.) I called Jennifer, who thought this would be a tremendous gift, and I surprised Abigail last Thursday with the camera. Holy cow, she was excited! I taught her how to use the camera, and we went photographing that afternoon. She is a girl after my own heart, because we went to the cemetery a block away and she took photos of old headstones.
Since Al is away, and I have time to fill, I went to their house this past Sunday and of course Abigail and I went photographing. It had rained the night before, so raindrops were the subject of the day.
I used this camera a ton, and it was great to learn with. It is what they call a “bridge” camera, so it can be either a point and shoot, or you can set it up like a DSLR. I learned a lot about aperture, and shutter speed that helped when I got my Nikon. For right now, she is in point and shoot mode learning the basics. She showed me some of the photos she had taken, and they were very good. I also took her this small hornets nest I found, I just wanted to get photos of it, and maybe she will too.
Abigail is special to me because she was born premature at 27 weeks, when I was still working in the NICU. I was there the day she came. Everything changes when you have a family member there. I held her tiny hand during procedures, and held her whenever possible. Mom and dad can’t be there every second, of every day, and I know they were glad I could be there for her when they couldn’t.
I’m excited to share this world with her, and hopefully she will love it, and grow with it. Don’t tell, but I think for Christmas I will help her make a photo book with the photos she has taken and loves the most.
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Passing down the love, the thrill of capturing the world. You are a good auntie!
I think she is going to love your Christmas book, Mary! OH! And thank you for getting back to me about your technique to capture the moon!
Awwww, thanks. I’m just excited that she is excited about exploring something new.
That is wonderful and to get started on it so young, she will have a hobby for her lifetime. Mom used to take photos all the time as a kid, with old cameras her parents would give her when they got new ones. It was the film age, so practicing was expensive. These days it is so much easier to learn and less expensive! Have fun!
Learning with film would be way harder. On the other hand, it makes you think more about what you’re shooting. I did warn her parents though, it can still get expensive. Lol
What a very special gift and niece!
And what a beautiful story and relationship.
You warmed my heart this wintry morning Mary! <3
I’m glad I could warm your heart. She is a special girl.
That’s awesome. I gave my daughter one of my old bridge cameras and determined she has better creative vision than I do, which I’m totally excited about. Love seeing the next generation embrace their creatively. I’m sure the two of you will always share a special bond.
But I’m sure you had something to do with her creative vision in the first place. She took what you taught her, and placed her own twist on it.
Wonderful to see so much she enjoys photography!
Thank you for sharing the story with us, Mary. :)
That has to make you sooooooooo proud, hell it has ME proud and I am not even related to her! Well done Abigail (and Auntie!!)
Abigail is also lucky to have an aunt like you, encouraging her and helping her out with what might be a budding career. She couldn’t have a better teacher! :)
What a wonderful story! Abigail will love that gift for a long time. I bet that you have a special relationship with her! My nephew and I have bonded over drones :) My brother jokes that I may be the coolest aunt ever! Our case is different from yours because I think that I’ve learned more from my nephew than he has from me!
That’s so nice that you have such a close bond with her, and now a shared love of photography. I’m sure she’ll treasure the gift of your camera and all the time you’ve spent out taking photos with her.
I loved your post which reminded me of my granddaughter and her first camera. Sadly she didn’t take to it as your niece has but one never knows, she may later tap into it! Loved your hornet’s nest with the leaf!!
So lovely that the two of you are now sharing photography. A special connection for sure, as was the beginning of life with your there.
PS. mouse or vole….. is my guess.
Hello, it is wonderful to have your niece take up photography. I am sure you will show her some tips. She is pretty young lady. Enjoy your day and week ahead!