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My first recollection of photography involved instant adoration thanks to my Great Grandmother, Sidney (Bolich) Binns, gifting me a Kodak Hawkeye Instamatic R4. This made a complete and long-lasting impression on me. I have a lot of wonderful memories of her as well as my Great Aunts’ Families on my Father’s side (The Bolichs). This little plastic wonder felt good in the hands and had a very appealing nature to me as a small child. 126 Film, flash cube, and a rangefinder. What more do I really need? I can work with it. I’ve made pinhole cameras from cardboard boxes which worked fine….
As I recall, we were still living in Pittsburgh, PA for my Father’s work around that time, hence the Steeler’s jacket. I generally don’t hate on other teams much, even as a Philly fan. Except for Dallas. Dallas SUCKS. My Mother took the photo of my Father and I at Barnegat Light House in New Jersey. It was around Columbus Day 1970 something. This photo is proof that I probably received most of her talent.
Shortly after receiving this amazing little device from my GGM, my Father took notice of how much I loved it and hatched a plan. In 1982, we moved back to Southeastern PA following living in Pittsburgh, PA and Willingboro, NJ several years for work. We had arrived in King of Prussia, PA and it’s a special place which holds a lot of positive nostalgia for me.
We just moved into a very humble little cape cod behind Upper Merion High School w/ 3 bedrooms, no basement, no air conditioning, an eat-in-kitchen, and one downstairs bathroom. I consider my neighborhood, friends, and The 1980’s to be Heaven. I also really loved the smell of the outside utility room attached to the rear of our wonderful little house. It had “Aldrin” stickers planted throughout the framing indicating the preferred insecticide used by the exterminator. We had milk delivery at first! The utility room smelled of chemical sweet mixed with fresh clean laundry, rusty parts bins and oily shelves. I love the smell of carcinogens in the morning!
It was Christmas 1982 when my father did something completely out of character and decided that I should have access to an authentic SLR camera and darkroom for Christmas! This is literally the single greatest thing he ever did, IMO. It was special. He headed up to The Camera Shop in Valley Forge and found a brand new Ricoh XR7. He already had a Vivitar enlarger, a safelight, a Time-O-Light plus some film tanks on-hand from his previous darkroom setup. In addition to the camera, he managed to score some UV haze filters, trays, tongs, chemistry, a cropping table, hangers, and plenty of Plus-X and Tri-X Pan. Mmmmmm, hmmmmmm! Now you’re talking my language.
I recall the anticipation for Christmas that year. I knew something was up. In typical 8 year old fashion, I couldn’t sleep and was up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed around 6:30AM. I wasn’t allowed to open the gifts yet but we did have a Sony Trinitron and MTV. I flicked the remote button to “on” and punched in channel 35. Martha Quinn, David Bowie and Bing Crosby. FUCKING EPIC. I had never seen it until this very instant. I loved every second. It was then that Bowie became my favorite “artist” of all. There was only one thing nagging me in the back of my (unsophisticated) mind. What is his accent? Oh, yeah.
“What is British? Why do all these rock stars talk like that but sing in “American?” Me
To this day, I find that Photography settles my mind, feeds my soul, and allows me to be creative. It remains among my very favorite things.
Jason C. Arthur
“Hey, Dad
What do you think about your son now?
Ah, hey, Dad
What do you think about your son now?
Could you wanna take my picture?
‘Cause I won’t remember
Could you wanna take my picture?
‘Cause I won’t remember
Could you wanna take my picture?
‘Cause I won’t remember” Richard Michael Patrick
