Seeking a lost past

[Tronhard]

Maybe it's the result of surviving a life-threatening condition, or maybe I'm just getting old , but I have begun to look back and seek some of the things that I lost from my past, in particular those cameras that I used for years when I travelled and worked in the field in the 1980's and to which I attach a lot of memories. I had some of these stolen from me when my home was burgled while I was in NZ.

So if anyone has either of these and would be consider parting with them I am looking for a Nikon F3 and an Olympus XA camera.

Right now I am in Victoria, BC Canada.

[NorthernFocus]

Maybe it's the result of surviving a life-threatening condition, or maybe I'm just getting old...

You're facing the wrong direction, my friend

[Tronhard]

I am not dwelling in the past far from it - I know how precious life is, and I intend to use my time well! But I recognize that I have a history that is not shown in my environment. In my many moves and travels I had left behind almost every piece of memorabilia from my past activities. and I would like to have a couple of them to add some personality to my environment. I have loved photography for many decades and those items I am seeking are a reminder of some great adventures and good times, and an inspiration to have more.

[miatab]

But we remember what camera we used.

[chauncey]

I might suggest that lives touched are more significant than are old toys...

[Urbanflyer]

Totally understand the urge. I have had some luck on ebay finding a few special memories lost in military travel. Doesn't mean I am not roaring forward to new adventures!

[Tronhard]

I might suggest that lives touched are more significant than are old toys...

You might, but it's relevance to me would be making a big assumption and a judgement as to my values and my motives.

I believe there should be room for both and I'm not putting items before people, quite the contrary. Lives touched exist in one's current relationships and memories, as do the moments we have experienced and recall when triggered by the memorabilia I was referring to. It's not an either or situation...

Memories are often triggered by events or objects that take us back to moments that are seared into our psyche. War veterans cherish both the comrades and items that take us back to the time when we lived for each moment and each other. I recall seeing a piece of graffiti scrawled on a wall in a departure hall in Vietnam.... "When you start each day not knowing if it will be your last, life is lived with an enhanced clarity and awareness. As I leave here I wonder if I will ever live with that intensity again." I knew exactly what they meant and I don't forget those times or the people whose lives I have touched, for good or ill, and I hope to be a significant part of the lives of my family's latest generation.

I found that awareness again as I travelled non-stop for almost two years taking photos in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. When once I had held onto a Self Loading Rifle, I held onto a different SLR anxious to see and capture everything. As I have often said photography makes us look, so I experienced again that enhanced intensity, and I recorded it in the images that I took. It was not only my joy but my work, so they weren't toys they were tools of my profession, and frankly part of my own healing process. Yes, I have memories but the images were burned by thieves who also stole my gear a while ago. I don't think wanting to replace some of those items is unreasonable, and I am surprised I have to explain myself on this one, but whatever...

So perhaps we'll just close on that note.

[pnodrog]

They come up for sale on Trademe now and again. No F3 at moment but a few D3's if you want to save film.....

Olympus XA2

[DEAN01]

Trev,

I have an F3 I'm willing to part with. I sent you a PM earlier, but not sure it went through.

Dean

[Mike Buckley]

I don't think wanting to replace some of those items is unreasonable, and I am surprised I have to explain myself on this one

Sorry to learn of those losses, Trev. Hope you can replace them and that the entire process helps jog some of your most rewarding memories.

[Mike Buckley]

I might suggest that lives touched are more significant than are old toys...

You've written far more helpful posts, Chauncey. Let the guy look for copies of his old toys without suggesting that he has lost appreciation for touched lives.

[Tronhard]

Hi Mike:

Thanks for your support. At the same time I take the view that Chauncey's remarks were most likely made without knowing the context, and were probably meant to make me focus on people rather than things. I don't want to victimize him in return, but I appreciate you understanding.

This was originally posted some time ago and since then I have sources most of the stuff I lost. I still don't see them as "toys" though...

[skitterbug]

I have a trunk of memorabilia that I enjoy having and looking at from time to time. Gosh - doing this does bring back memories! Mostly good ones! I'm glad you are recovered and I hope you are able to gather those missing items once again! Cheers to you!

[xpatUSA]

I am not dwelling in the past far from it - I know how precious life is, and I intend to use my time well! But I recognize that I have a history that is not shown in my environment. In my many moves and travels I had left behind almost every piece of memorabilia from my past activities. and I would like to have a couple of them to add some personality to my environment. I have loved photography for many decades and those items I am seeking are a reminder of some great adventures and good times, and an inspiration to have more.

At 76, I too have lost quite a bit of stuff and can sympathize. About the oldest item I still have is a flattened halfpenny found around 1947 while trespassing near a railway line in Lewisham, London, England.

[xpatUSA]

You've written far more helpful posts, Chauncey. Let the guy look for copies of his old toys without suggesting that he has lost appreciation for touched lives.

I expect he will along shortly to man up and apologize . .

[John 2]

I have loved photography for many decades and those items I am seeking are a reminder of some great adventures and good times, and an inspiration to have more.

Won't the images you made with them do that? As I have mentioned we were burgled recently and a lot of sentiment was taken from us. However, largely due to insurance I guess, we can now look forward and create some new memories. The old ones will always be there.

[Tronhard]

I have almost none of the images that represented two years of work taken with that gear. Did you read my longer explanation? If so you might note that almost all of the photos (actually transparencies) were burnt by the people who stole my equipment. The insurance is irrelevant. If your home was burning down you would rescue your photos, not your camera gear and so would I. Unfortunately I lost BOTH. I can't replace the images, but I can replace the gear - which I have pretty well done. As I said I wrote this some time ago.

I moved to digital with alacrity after that because I could make backups of my images and I am a keen and dedicated photographer now. That doesn't replace the old stuff, and I don't expect it to. It's not the items per say, it's what they represent - there is a tactile memory that comes with picking up the bodies, manipulating the controls and triggering very vivid memories of times, places and people.

Enough already...

Won't the images you made with them do that? As I have mentioned we were burgled recently and a lot of sentiment was taken from us. However, largely due to insurance I guess, we can now look forward and create some new memories. The old ones will always be there.