Our “Vancouver Adventure” is weeks in the past and Jo and I are still talking about the fun we had. In last week’s article I said that my dictionary defines adventure as “excitement, thrill, and stimulation”
Two weeks ago I wrote about the great time we had photographing the Bloedel Conservatory and the birds in the aviary on our first morning. Then last week my article was about the exciting time we had doing long exposures from Stanley Park across the water of the city lights after dark.
What an enjoyable way to spend the day before the Vancouver Used Camera Sale and Swap Meet.
That first night Laurie, Jo and I had to get up early to set up our tables in the morning, but we were having too much fun and instead were up late talking about photography. Nevertheless, we did get up to the sound of the early morning seagulls for breakfast and after packing everything into our vehicles we were off to the Croatian Community center for the third part of our adventure. We carried equipment through a light Vancouver rain to have our tables ready for the onslaught of excited photographers when they entered the large hall and started searching for great deals.
That event was, as always, a hodgepodge of different people with different interests. The crowd seemed to have grown a lot younger, but that might be my personal impression. After all, I have been attending the Vancouver Camera Sale and Swap since the 1980s and I’ve gotten older.
Actually, the people attending are photographers of every age group; from experienced elders to teenagers accompanied by their patient parents. It is a diverse fellowship that includes all kinds of lifestyles, interests, and photographic specialties. There are those that are dedicated to film, vintage cameras, and processes of the past, walking alongside others carrying and looking for the latest in modern photographic technology.
Jo and I had a grand weekend photographing inspiring subjects, and the frosting on the cake was attending a gathering like the Vancouver Camera Sale and Swap where we got to meet and exchange information with other photographers, and check out the many kinds of photographic equipment that would not be so available anywhere else. We spent the day selling the camera equipment I had gathered, had fun wandering the sale and, of course, talking with other photographers.
This was Jo’s second Vancouver camera show. When I turned to her and said, “Hey I just sold that neat old camera you bought last summer. What are you going to do with the $40 I got for it?” I realized just how silly that question was when she said, “I’ll be right back” and about fifteen minutes later she returned with three little digital Canon Powershot cameras. A black one for her husband, a blue one for her five-year-old son, and a red one for her four-year-old daughter.
In my opinion it doesn’t get much better than spending the day surrounded by a huge selection of cameras and other photography equipment. Gosh, it is just invigorating, and even after all these years I always learn something. We are already planning for next spring’s sale. Hmmm, I wonder if we can go two days early and search out more fun locations to photograph.
These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net. Stop by Enman’s Camera at 423 Tranquille Road in Kamloops. I sell an interesting selection of used photographic equipment. Don’t hesitate to call me at 250-371-3069.
