This is my cousin Shawn (circa early 80s?) and I have no idea what he is doing here, but it looks like he might be disabling the backup lights on this vintage Civic. Apparently (and astonishingly) the owner of this car is anti-chocolate and thus deserving of whatever Shawn did.
My cousin Shawn sent around one of those online Kodak photobooks today and as I was looking through it and remembering some of the faces and places from years gone by, I could not help but think of my Uncle Tom (his dad). My Uncle Tom was the funny, loud, joke cracking guy … and the guy who always had his camera with him. I remember seeing that big complicated looking thing with the big old lens sticking out the front of it and him with his hat on backwards (gets in the way if it is on forward) snapping pictures of family gatherings. I remember looking at all those pictures of Cape Cod and photos of amazing sunsets and thinking to myself, wow… I wish I could take pictures like that. It was my Uncle Tom who inspired me to take pictures even though I bet he didn’t realize it. Going to Uncle Tom’s was always something we looked forward to. It was fun playing in the woods with Brian and Shawn – they had all these trails and this big ravine behind their house. Of course, there was a great pool too, and who could forget the barbeques… Their house was a great place for the big family gatherings. Tom and Kathy were into harbor decor – they had all kinds of ship and ocean related stuff in their house. I always thought it was cool. (That and they were obsessed with Irish stuff. And no, I am not talking about Notre Dame. You’d think they came from Ireland or something!) I think my favorite place was the log cabin though. That was a really great house. It had a wonderful balcony that overlooked the living room with a big fireplace. Anyway, I’ve rambled and reminisced a bit here… So to my Uncle Tom, I say a great big thank you for inspiring me to be “one of those guys” who never goes anywhere without his camera.
My cousin Brian and Uncle Tom, same day, same vintage.
Aunt Kathy, grandson Declan, Uncle Tom
Very nice.
Josh you wrote the words I should have said, my dad(Tom)is an inspiration! I can recall all the photography my dad(Tom) has done throughout my childhood! I can remember waking up early to get those sunrise photos on Cape Cod, staying awake late at night to get the exposure of stars and eclipses, holding the sun in my hands, posing for the camera was very common. Thanks to my Dad, I have a very well documented family gatherings and childhood. I would videotape and make home movies of my brother and our neighborhood friends. This probably came from inspiration. I would look at my dad’s photos he had framed and hung throughout our house with inspiration. Being around such inspiration must ruboff, techniques of getting the proper angle, proper light, and crucial timing. Today I have some of my first photography shots hanging in my home! Photography puts importance into perspective. You can document the most detailed object or the distance of the mountains. You know your just a little part in this big world! I hope I inspire my friends, family and children.
Thanks Dad for your inspiration!