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Dreams long past, almost forgotten are not any less valuable as the latest hair brain idea that wishes to be a dream. For example, some 30+ years ago I wanted to be a photographer. I know that this is news to everyone for I think that I have told no one. Having a dream about a career that did not involve sore back muscles was not something that was glorified to me as a child. So I chased the dragon more easily sleighed. Though the dream of photography has occasionally reared its head through out my life as displayed in the picture of me at age 19 trying to look the part as a western Ansel Adams. Also at age 19, I bought my one “serious” camera (hence the self-portrait). It was a Canon AT1, which was the first 35mm camera that included on board electronics, or so I was told by the salesman (and we know that they never lie). At the time, the camera cost more then I should have spent, but after 30 years of service, I now think that point of spending too much is moot. I still have that camera, for though it did not fulfill a dream, it did not kill it either.

There are other instances where the dream has reared its head and poked its way out from behind the veiled curtains of the sub-consciousness to the ever on-going reality that we call life, or at least what I call my life. One was at the time of when digital photography was just starting to become less expensive yet was still slightly obscure and more or less dismissed by the professional crowd. As different and as original as Ansel was in his day, I went out and bought a refurbished Olympus D-100 (I still retain this camera also)to advance my art. The camera was/is severely low-powered with only 1.3 megapixels, but the idea of capturing a moment of time without the expense of film was all I needed to have the dream joining up with the circus and leaving town again. When I consider the ramifications of that camera and other following “digitals” along with the lure of the dream, I must admit that the dream was the soul behind the creation of the Wray Post and PhotoBlog.

There is one more turn of advents of the dream that I care to share with you that has me setting here writing this long winded drivel, and that is the dream has reared again for I am waiting (maybe not so patiently) for the delivery of “serious” camera number 2. I ordered a Nikon D-60! For those of us that have been stricken with the photography dream (please note I did not say ‘bug’), know that Nikon is the brand brand name for a 35mm buff. I will not argue that this the best camera to have, nor did a slick salesman spout off a ‘hook and loop’ catch phrase that could snag someone with weak will power such as “this the first camera that has …” But before rebuffing me with why and what I should have or should have not bought, please remember that this is my “dream” camera and hope that although I spent probably more then I should afford for it (and the other paraphernalia that one has to have with a “serious” camera), this dream I hope will play on and on again for at least another 30+ years when I can say, “I still have that camera”! Step aside Ansel, here I come!