pictures and words. hopefully more pictures.

Recently, I spent some time with a friend whom our church supports and they wondered why I had not been to assist at the Children’s Home they run in India, since every year a team comes once or twice. I had a lot of excuses….but none that would hold any water. Especially with a woman who relies completely on the God of the universe for all things, and as of today has never been left wanting. for anything. I mean, anything. Quite a testimony, and the pressing question was (and still is….) “If you believe in the God of the Bible, what real reason do you have not to trust that He will make a way for you to come to my home, in support of this faithful ministry?”
Ever the pragmatic, I really can only think of one thing…..and as shameful as it is for me to admit, the bottom line is, in fact, the bottom line.
You see, everything I produce with my corporate photography, goes back into my corporate photography business. I (and by proxy, my family!) live fairly frugally, we have not taken an actual vacation since my honeymoon…..mostly because I LIVE on vacation.

All work....really.

However, my family rarely gets to go with me to all these locations…..I am after all, actually at work….but last year, Lisa went by herself to India on a church trip to offer assistance to said Home. She came back transformed…. And she has been adamant that at least I should go this time….and meet with the very presence of God. So, reluctantly, I have agreed and in line with my deep Biblical understanding, I am steadily making deals with God….and I want to include all of you in my deal making, Dear Readers!

In an effort to keep my business all business-as-usual, I will not ask for support for this trip. But I will make a trade; by offering family photography to those who would like to give toward my mission. I will readily admit, families, portraits, and stuff are not my forte…. But I have a few examples……If you have a need for some family images and want to give ( generously….come on!) toward me arriving in India, take a look at these and give a call. I will give you a disk with copyright released images from which you can print as many as you want, in any size you want, in trade for what ever you think they are worth…..hmmmmmm, perhaps that should read,” ….in trade for what you are willing to give to make me feel better…..”.

Truly, I have no idea what value to place on these images….But I do know that I want to trust God to provide specifically in this instance, for this instance…..so, we shall see….

The deadline approaches quickly, so I look forward to seeing if this project will be self-sustaining! or….if I get to keep taking pictures of my family for the archives….India, HO!

Many years ago, my dear Mother In Law gave me a box of old cameras as studio decoration (that’s right….I had a STUDIO!). Some were quite old, others not too old, but I accepted them with great relish since I love old gadgets and such. When I was in college , a few years ago, we built our own cameras that were our ONLY authorized classroom tool for the first year (!) so, I felt quite confident that I could get one or two of these relics back in the game. The one that seemed particularly best for refurbishment (or total destruction…) was a 1956 Agfa copy of Brownie’s 620 camera. made for the American market, but manufactured in Germany it had refinements that the Brownie didn’t have, namely a glass optic (albeit a single element! more like a magnifying glass!). I replaced the shutter spring, sanded all the friction points, and then went to building a way to transport modern 120 film through a 620 gate. That proved the toughest part, but eventually I felt like I had a reliable film transport system and could use film manufactured today as opposed to 620 which saw it’s last production run a while back. In all I put about five dollars in parts into it……hence the name: FDC…..Five Dollar Camera.
I don’t have the first roll I shot through the camera, but I have many subsequent rolls….take a look…..

Now for the real thing:

This camera has made the rounds….and I continue to use it….the venerable FDC, still going strong after 60 years…..