A Still Life of Nostalgic Anticipation

A Still Life of Nostalgic Anticipation

I recently decided to revisit my photographic "roots" with the wonderful little camera
that got this pursuit started in childhood -- the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye box camera.

The "prime objective" was to see what I might be able to do in serious photography,
while working within the limitations of 1950s "point-and-shoot" technology.

I decided to document the adventure with some broadcast features, as well as a slide
show to represent what “point-and-shoot” was all about when the Brownie Hawkeye
was mid-20th century America’s favorite snapshot camera. So, before the Brownie took
its first picture, I wanted to capture it surrounded by some of the rolls of film I look forward to
shooting with it, including some "old-look" black and white films by ADOX and Rollei.

The camera in the photo is my “new” Brownie Hawkeye, modified with tripod socket
and cable release receptacle by Randy Smith at hawkeyemods.com.

If you’re wondering about the “frosty” surround…

Two reasons…

An “escape” from a beastly summer of unremitting heat and humidity, but it’s also an evocation
of my personal history with the Brownie Hawkeye. My original Brownie was a birthday gift from
my parents. My birthday is in December, and I still remember bracing the camera on a window
sill and taking time exposures of automobile “light-trails” during an evening snowstorm.

This image is available in archival gallery prints and as a custom printed Photo Note Card.

©2012 Steve Ember

Like to read (and hear) more about this iconic little camera?

http://www.hawkeyemods.com/