On capturing memories the old-fashioned way
Ive been thinking about getting a vintage camera lately.
Being a 90s kid, I’ve had the luxury of experiencing technology and watching it flourish in its early stages growing up. As it further develops in an exponential range, I find myself gradually resisting modern tech and seeking comfort in the old days when it was all so simple.
Though as a young child living in a third world country, I didn’t really have much access to the old tech, other than owning a VHS tape of Anastasia for which I’ve watch 179 times as a 7 year old, and a Nokia phone which was known to be the brickest of the bricks back when i was in high school.
There was a time when our relatives living in the US sent us some cool gaming consoles, but mine was the kind that you had to connect to the TV to function. So even though it was supposed “for me,” it was set up in my aunt’s living room in their house and I barely got to use it unless I got out of my way to play it. I can barely remember what it looked like so I couldn’t search it up, but it was one with a controller and lots of built-in games (about maybe 40 or so) to choose from. I’m not quite sure what they were though. On the other hand, my cousin got a Game Boy advanced (which she let me borrow like thrice in its lifetime to play some Super Mario). This was the extent of my early childhood gaming experience.
I’ve always liked the visuals and feel of vintage. It’s very nostalgic and breathtaking, like it breathes its own life into pictures and videos; an encapsulated fragment of time captured as a memory you can revisit whenever you want.
I feel like the Polaroid is currently the most popular “vintage” equipment modernized for the public. It has that old fashioned set up catering to a wide target market with its simplistic features and easy handling. You don’t need to press different buttons or learn photographer terms and whatnot to use it. When I was a teenager I’ve always wanted one in my favorite color, but as time went on I forgot about it and eventually lost interest (convincing myself I don’t need it as I rarely go out nor have friends anyway lol).
Now that I’m a little older, I want to recapture memories like in the old days. It’s not just aesthetic to look at, but overall gives a sense of life, like it’s been lived in. There’s just something so peaceful and existentially validating about it.
I’ve been thinking about getting digital cameras or camcorders; I really love its default retro colors which camera apps just can’t replicate good enough.
But I have no idea where to start.
What should I get? Where should I get it? All of these are simple questions even google can’t answer as its enshittification will only bring results of either websites that are full of ads and bullshit articles about the top ten best digicams or web stores that paid the most bag to get shot to the top of the search results.
Once I become a bit more stable in terms of income, I’d love to revisit this idea and go through with it. I’d love to own something from my time that I’ve never had before. It would be a great time travelling experience. Hopefully by then I would have met cool photographers and creator friends with the same interests that can share their knowledge with me, and maybe a real social life as well, cuz who else will I capture these memories with?