MB#28: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙁𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮.

MemoirBlogthont#28] At age 15, I literally found my passion in the form of an Agfa Click III camera on the road. My father, a man of practical caution, offered zero encouragement for the expensive hobby. This memoir reveals how I pursued photography—from setting up a homemade darkroom to funding my upgrades—without burdening my family. It’s a story of resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and the drive to master a craft, proving that passion, when pursued independently, always finds a way to thrive.

MB#28: My Journey to Self-Sufficient Photography

The Found Camera, Darkroom, and Digital Photography

In 1969, at the age of 15, I found my iconic passion, but it was not handed to me—it was quite literally found.

My father had always viewed photography with cautious practicality. While he never directly forbade my interest, he offered zero encouragement, believing that cameras, films, and accessories were beyond a common man's budget. In his view, academics came first; to capture memories, one should use a professional photographer, not pinch the family's pockets.

The Unsolicited Gift and the Ethical Test

My journey began late one evening when I was walking home from a friend's house on the main Bandar Road. Suddenly, I saw a carry bag on my path. I picked it up and found a camera tucked neatly inside a leather case.

I waited for about fifteen minutes, convinced the owner would return for such a valuable item. When no one appeared, I hurried home. My initial thought was to surrender it to the police, but my mother cautioned against it, worrying the police might accuse me of theft. My father, acknowledging my attempt to wait for the owner, simply said, "You have waited sufficient time at the place you found the item, but no one turned up. You made your attempt. That is sufficient. Just ignore it."

The camera was an Agfa Click III, a popular and affordable box-style camera manufactured in India in collaboration with Agfa Germany. This unsolicited gift became the ignition for my passion.

The Darkroom Breakthrough

My immediate challenge—and the core contrast—was how to pursue this expensive hobby without burdening my father or seeking his support.

I spent my own pocket money on film and began taking photos at weddings, meetings, and nature scenes, posing like a professional despite my basic camera. The real breakthrough came when I learned film processing in a darkroom owned by a friend. I decided to master the entire process myself, not just the clicking.

I set up my own darkroom at home, acquiring the necessary solutions, a kit, a deep red light, and photo paper. I would process the films and print the photos myself, complete with a special cutter for trimming them for albums. My father still didn't support my desire for an advanced camera, but my commitment was clear.

Finally, seeing my deep interest, my mother gave me a cash gift for the Sankranthi festival. I immediately took that money and bought a used, advanced camera for Rs 100 at a secondhand goods shop. This, combined with my eventual knowledge of the Hotshot series and the shift to more economical cameras, allowed me to capture more snaps while minimizing the cost per picture.

The Digital Legacy

I learned early that to pursue a passion, you must be resourceful. The ethical 'why' behind this story is that my ambition was never to go against my father's wishes but to uphold his principle of financial caution while still pursuing my avocation.

This dedication to self-sufficiency and continuous learning has defined my photography journey, from those film days to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F1 digital camera gifted by my wife on our silver jubilee anniversary. Today, I continue to capture nature, sunrises, and natural movements, generating views and comments on social media—a new kind of validation for skills honed in a homemade darkroom decades ago.

This lifelong pursuit, started with a found item and fueled by independence, has culminated in a recent nomination for a photo contest, proving that passion, backed by dedication, always finds a way.

MB#28: Quiz

MB28 Question: At age 15, the author literally found his passion in the form of what specific camera model?

Change Image

• A. Kodak Brownie.
• B. Canon AE-1.
• C. Agfa Click III. (Correct)
• D. Nikon F.

MB#28: Quote

"Passion is the difference between having a job and having a career."