It’s true that change is inevitable; in fact, the only thing that’s certain in life is that there will be change. And so we see that all good things must come to an end, but then, on the other side of the coin, we can also take heart in the fact that it’s only a matter of time before things begin to look up when they’re really down. Yes, what goes up must come down and vice versa – that’s the law of nature. And that’s what I realized the day I read came across the news item that Polaroid was saying goodbye to the process of manufacturing films. Reading further, I discovered that the company had already stopped manufacturing its range of instant film cameras that were a rage in the 70s and 80s.
I was overcome by nostalgia, and my heart took a trip down memory lane to the time when I received my first Polaroid camera as a gift for Christmas. Sure, the pictures were a bit grainy and the colors mostly of yellow hues, but then, I took great pride in being the only kid on the block who had her own instant picture machine. And so the board above my study table began to take on the shape of a collage, one that reflected my daily, weekly, and monthly routines.
I began to hone my photography skills, amateurish though they were. I figured out the best angles and the kind of lighting needed to take the most effective and dramatic shots. I would linger and loiter on the way home from school hoping for a new photo opportunity, and would sometimes be rewarded by the sight of a bird bathing in a fresh puddle of water or a sunset so brilliant I wished my camera captured colors more effectively.
My hobby also taught me another valuable lesson, one that has stood me in good stead during various parts of my life – that of frugality. I did all the odd jobs that I could to save enough money to be able to afford the film – for an 11-year-old, it was a pretty expensive hobby. But I managed to scrape by, although I have a sneaking suspicion my indulgent mother found some way to sneak in a dollar or two into my piggy bank for no reason at all, well, other than the fact that she loved me to bits.
It’s been years now since I switched to a digital SLR, but my first camera still finds pride of place among my collectibles. I was hit by a sense of sadness by the news that Polaroid was calling it quits, but I realized that the company had to do all it could to stay out of the red. Maybe it just wasn’t possible to keep up with the likes of the most sophisticated digital cameras hitting the market with alarming regularity every now and then.
It’s been almost a year now since I saw that news item, and today, another article caught my eye, this time, one that made my heart sings with joy. Apparently Polaroid has figured out a way to keep up with the times – it seems that they’re now making digital cameras that print photos on the spot! A perfect example of the adage – If you can’t beat the crowd, join it!