A Tale of Two Nikons

Posted by Laurie (Lincoln, United States) on 20 November 2007 in Art & Design and Portfolio.

When my Dad bought his first Nikon-the black one on the left-back in the mid to late 70's it was like the Holy Grail to me. It was the camera I aspired to shoot with someday. I remember it hanging around his neck in all of its SLR righteousness and I remember that wonderful shutter click sound when he took pictures.

I remember times when he would let me carry it. I was never to remove it from its leather case lest I lose my hands when slapped by one of Dad's steering-wheel calloused truck-driver hands. So I would hold it up to my face (case and all) and pretend to take pictures.

I finally got my own Nikon when I was in Highschool-I needed one for my second year of photography class. You can't imagine how bummed I was when the Grail wasn't passed down to me then, but I couldn't complain. Even though it was a pre-owned Nikon, it was a good camera. I know I never asked to take his Nikon with me to school. I can't imagine the Jackie Chan blow to any one of my extremities I would have received if I had tried to take it out of the house without his permission.

So I was content to shoot away with my Nikon. I was pleased.

But now, the Grail has passed to me. I have held it several times, but I haven't used it. I guess that's because in my mind that Nikon will always be my Dad's and in my eyes, his Nikon is and will always be the height of 35mm greatness.

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