I’ve been interested in photography since I was a teenager back in the 50’s. My first camera was a 35mm Voigtlander Vito 2a. It was a very compact wee camera with an excellent lens, and with it I produced a countless number of Kodak 35mm slides (transparencies). Later for my 21st birthday I was given the Aldis 303 projector, which is still in working order today after all these years! These items brought the family endless pleasure.
Now I use the Nikon P520 digital camera with its amazing 48x wide optical zoom lens, having tired of carrying bags with heavy cameras and lenses during the 35mm era. If you click on my Flickr page opposite you will see some of the results.
I was also once the proud owner of a super 8 cine camera with telephoto lens, and a Sanyo super 8 projector, which I also still have. I smile now when I think of the number of three minute films we would shoot when on holiday or in our travels, and the time spent splicing them together when they came back after processing. The results I have to confess were less than spectacular. Thankfully technology has moved on at a remarkable pace.
Now I use the Sony HDR-CX625 Handicam with its 60x zoom steady/shot lens, and it also has the facility to plug in a microphone, which is a big plus when filming people in my ‘Extraordinary Stories from Ordinary People’ series!
I was fascinated a year or so ago to hear people talking about ‘green screen technology’, so after reading up about it I invested in a basic kit of screens, lights and stands, all for less than £100. The first time I got this to work on my computer I confess I was smiling from ear to ear, as for me this was a huge ‘wow’ factor. I still love the fun of putting a background of my choice onto my films! (see Julie’s film below) I’m using iMovie to do this.
I frequently upload my films to You Tube, mostly travel films and also films recording peoples stories as they speak about their encounters with God. Here is a link, you may like to take a look :
A Taste of Iceland and the Faroes
Julie McAddock – Encounter with God
Matthew McKinnon's Blog 