I remember, the first time I got gadgeted. It was my first mobile phone ever in the year 2005. A Nokia 3200, considered to be a hip and happening phone model during those days. The most exciting feature it had was a transparent body with changeable design panels. It was Something designed to attract the youth. A VGA Camera... yep a VGA Camera was one of the most attracting features during then. It was phone that was capable of playing mp3 music and even record voice. Well, with all these features, at least it, was popular in my friend circle.
The buying process, initially involved a lot of research by means of finding out reviews online. Spending almost seven thousand rupees was going to be a big dent in my pocket in days when my salary itself was only a little above five thousand. I wanted to be sure that I got my money's worth. Finally one day, I got the phone along with three of those changeable panels which I would ensure to match the color with my shirt. Sounds tacky? But hey, who cared back then.
For me, it used to be like carrying a new phone every day. I really loved the idea of changeable panels and enjoyed showing off a gadget which no one else in my peer group had. I could sense the jealousy and it sure made me happy. It was only later, that I found out that the phone model had some very well known bugs and wasn't all that popular. Did it hurt me? Well nopes. Throughout the period that I used the phone I really admired it. I had never touched a camera till then and there I was, clicking pictures and saving memories of everyday life on my computer and sharing it with my friends. I remember using the camera almost everywhere after I got the phone. Capturing unusual and abstract photos with weird angles, photos with no people, all nature and objects and still my friends and family used to praise them a lot. Every new photo got me praises and each time I was praised I got more encouragement. Soon I realized I was bitten by the shutterbug. The camera feature really bit me hard injecting all the interest it could, about capturing the world around me. Somewhere down the line I started building a distant dream of becoming a photographer. There it was. A lot of things about me had changed. From a person who had never touched a camera to a person who really loved photography and, from a person who would be careless about what’s going around nearby, to a person who looked for even smallest moments that could be captured and saved. My first gadget had changed me so much and so easily.
Some Photos Shot using Nokia 3200, my first mobile phone with camera.
I didn't ever know what real photography was and I'd never thought I’d be so addicted to it. But, some things just happen. It was not only photography but, also music which I got closer to. I could litsen to my favorite music on the move. Back then I used to travel for almost 4-5 hours for work and a phone full of songs was like a blessing. Wow, there was so much a palm size gadget could provide me with every day. This small gadget had a good grip on me as I had it with me anywhere I went or anything I did until one day when it was stolen away from me on a rainy day in a crowded train. I lost the phone and I felt I had lost an integral part of my life. I missed it so much especially because no more photography and 5 boring hours of travel. It sure was so difficult after being addicted to the phone for nearly one and a half years.
Then what? Hey it was time to buy a new phone. Salary had increased from 5 to 15 in all that time. I had to choose a good phone. All my friends had advanced phones with them and those were phones which could store a lot more media. Not only songs and photos, some of them even stored complete Music Videos and Movies.
With a good research online followed by some word of mouth publicity about a new arrival, Nokia’s 6280 was all over my mind. I saved some money for about two months and then bought it. This time the gadget cost me about 12k. My focus basically remained on the camera. A 2 megapixel camera which could not only click high resolution photos but also take videos of resolution 640 X 480 pixels, easily the best available at that time. The time after that was like history repeating itself. Only the photos appeared better and my interest in photography was much higher than before.
Some photos shot using Nokia 6280 my second mobile phone with camera.
Well now, my wife owns a Nokia N95 with 5 megapixel camera and I own a Samsung Corby Pro with 3 Megapixel camera and mobile photography is something that I have been and will always be a fan of.
However now, I do not need a mobile phone to pursue my hobby I always will consider it as a bug that bit me for good! It’s better to mend ways with time. A change is amazing when it comes easily. Now, I mostly use my Canon A710 IS which is all in all a point and shoot camera with limited manual capabilities. However this camera was really helpful to me in learning Photography at National Institute of Photography in Mumbai.
Each better photography gadget that I own tells me how I progressed as a non-photographer to someone who loves and takes photography seriously. And still, a photography gadget continues to hold its importance in my life.
Soon, I may be buying my first ever DSLR. The research is on.
Note: The intention to write this article originated from the idea of participating in the "Change is easy" contest on Indiblogger. A contest conducted by Dell.
Soon, I may be buying my first ever DSLR. The research is on.
Note: The intention to write this article originated from the idea of participating in the "Change is easy" contest on Indiblogger. A contest conducted by Dell.
