camera

The Old Camera Who Could

About fifteen years ago, my mom gave me a very nice camera (an Olympus) for my birthday. it replaced an old pocket camera that used 126 film. I loved the camera, and still do. The camera has been packed on every trip. She has been worn around my neck while hiking up rocks and consequently hit against them a time or two (or more). She has been exposed to dirt, grime, sea water, rain, and never complained or even got cleaned. The camera has always made gorgeous pictures. She's been to Europe a couple of times and all around the States. She's lived on the sailboat every summer and for the last two years - never an ideal environment for any kind of electronic equipment.

This camera has been missing the battery compartment door for at least a couple of years now. So the batteries are held in place with some scotch tape. The casing around the camera itself doesn't quite close anymore, I think it hit a few too many hard bumps. I wasn't quite sure if the camera was still working.

When we got to the "Baths" in the BVI, we were trying to figure out what camera to take, because I now own three. (The good ol' girl is not my only camera, and she has not shown any jealousy whatsoever for the new digital camera or the panoramic camera). In case you don't know, the "Baths" are giant rock formations right on the shore. You climb through the rocks and the openings above allow shafts of sunlight to come between the boulders, shining on clear seawater and sand beneath. it's really stunning. (For Jackie's San Diego family and friends: The Baths are basically "Fat Man's Misery" in Torrey Pines but right on the water. Does that help?) The problem is how to get to the Baths from the boat. You must tie up your dinghy to a mooring off the beach, and then swim in to the beach. So anything you want to take with you must be swum in, in a waterproof bag.

The panoramic camera was small, but too new. The digital camera was really new, and too big. So I turned to my old standby with the broken case and the missing battery door.

I plunked her in a waterproof bag with a bunch of other stuff like a towel and some water bottles. (Did I separate her from the sweating water bottles?? Noooo....). After we tied up the dinghy I jumped in the water and carried the bag including the camera more or less above my head as I swam for the beach.

We hiked through the Baths. I took pictures. I slung the camera around as I banged and slid on the rocks. On the way home, it rained. Then I stuck the camera back in the waterproof bag which was now damp on the inside with wet towels and spilled water bottles, and swam back to our boat.

I wasn't too sure that the camera would take any pictures. it acted like it was taking pictures. But every so often I would have to hit the camera to get the casing around it to close. Not promising.

We took the film in to be developed. We did not ask for a CD because we weren't too sure we would get anything. But the photos are gorgeous, as always. When we can I'll get electronic versions and post them.

This is the best camera in the world. Thanks, Mom!