Does this camera match my outfit?

I have an image to maintain.

So a few years ago, when my husband handed me a “new” camera he felt would improve my sports photography, I just kind of stood there staring at it on the kitchen counter.

Not only was the camera “gi-nor-mous,” it was ugly — ugly and worn out. It was covered with patches of black tape and scratches all along its beaten body.

Um, thank you … I think.

My husband is a professional photojournalist and is borderline abusive to his camera equipment; and the camera I was staring at had been tortured by him for years.

So there I was, the “proud” new owner of this scratched up, dinged up and generally worn out Canon.
It’s as if he and his colleagues take pride in the amount of wear and tear their cameras have. The marks are badges of honor, and the uglier your camera, the higher you are on the photojournalism food chain.

Suffice it to say, although the camera was very expensive and far better than what I had been using, it just didn’t match my designer (Coach signature, for all the ladies wondering) press credential holder. It was heavy too … and did I mention ugly?

However, although I initially was embarrassed to carry that old camera, I have to admit that after a few lessons that involved a lot of eye-rolling and exasperated sighs (in both directions), my sports photos improved.

It was fast and accurate; and during our lessons, I even learned to develop my own photography terminology. For instance what he describes as “Continuous High Motor Drive,” I call “Fast Click.” But now, we know how to communicate with this invented mutual language; and the sports images that adorn these pages are all the better for it.

Still, I never warmed up to those scratches, dings and dents. And my husband, the wonderful man he is, knew it.

And so two weeks ago, I walked into my house to discover brand new, shiny, Coach-worthy Canon waiting for me. Time will tell if it actually will mean better photos.

But one thing is for sure: I already feel better carrying it.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]