On Saturday I spent a good chunk of the day in my darkroom catching up on the large number of rolls of film that had been sitting on my worktable waiting to be developed.   The last roll was made a week ago.  Before I got started the phone rang – it was my friend Tom calling from Ohio to let me know that it was National Camera Day. He heard about it while watching the Weather Channel.

Thanks Tom! But wait, there’s more – after a little research I found out that June 29^this truly special – not only is it National Camera Day, but it is also National Almond Buttercrunch Day as well as National Waffle Iron Day!

Yes, the trifecta!

I make a real effort with these writings not to dwell on picture making gear but as I have previously admitted … damn it I love cameras, especially the older fully manual mechanical ones. I enjoy and appreciate the tactile pleasure, the craftsmanship and feeling that they transport me to another time when I use them. In short, I love everything about them. But, what it most important is that they enable me to make photographs.  Of course any camera can make a good picture. Maybe some are more fun to use, or maybe built better, or have more features. Who cares! The point is grab whatever you own, dust it off if it hasn’t been used in awhile and make some photographs … in belated honor of National Camera Day. Maybe you might even decide to make some interesting photographs of almond buttercrunch, or waffle irons.  Maybe this will be the beginning of a whole new creative phase!  Maybe by next year’s National Camera Day you will have used your trusty old/new friend to create some work that you are truly proud of! Your immediate reward will be that you got out there, had some fun, maybe got a keeper and can now have some tasty waffles (I like mine with butter and syrup) and great candy bar (my wife loves Butterfingers) for a treat! The long-term rewards will be more profound.

So mark June 29^thon your calendar for next year, set some goals and see what you have accomplished when you get there!