Nikon's useless built in wifi cameras nevertheless got me thinking that this is the point at which suddenly, digital cameras can become accessible to children. Think about it - those plastic knockabout Fisher Price cameras in bright colours? Think about one of those with a *hell* of alot of rubber or silicon to help against knocks; no monitor window; basic autofocus, and then all you have to do is have the computer on and click on a special button on the desktop: "Get your pics". No wires, no weird ports and things you have to clamp the camera in to to get it to work.
With some help and a big enough viewfinger, Nora could use a camera like that. Imagine learning at her age, and getting proficient in it by the age of 3 or 4. How rockin' would that be.
I've forgotten his name (Upate: McK remembered and had previously found the website - his name was Jacques Henri lartigue), but there were some absolutely glorious photos done by a french photographer whose well off family had given him a turn of the century camera to play with (ie: a box and plates job) when he was really quite young - and he was a natural, wonderful photographer. His photos of his family at play were extraordinary, capturing an increidible vivacity, and joy as well as simply being really technically good photos (this is when he was 7 or 8, don't forget).
I wish I could remember his bloody name. When he got older he started taking pictures of ladies promenading (well, he was an adolecent boy, after all) but instead of trying to make money from the thing he loved, he tried to be a painter,and spent years literally in attics, eating nothing but porridge whilst his gorgeous looking muse girlfriend / wife tried to look after him. His paintings were average at best.
He was discovered in the end when he went on a trip of a lifetime, sort of thing, with his elderly wife, and was sitting on a greyhound bus sorting through an old photo album. Someone on the bus saw his photos, jaw dropped and said "You have to go see a friend of mine" giving him a card (I'm remembering this vaguely, so I may be a bit dodgy with the facts). Next thing he had an exhibition in New York, and a lifetime of gorgeous photos came out of the woodwork. Amazing.
Anyway. So. Wifi cameras & kids. Oi, Kodak, sort it out!
Posted by cait at March 9, 2006 08:10 PM