Counting words.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Not quite sure if it's true. Ever since the boss had my house burgaled I've found myself without a camera. I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually needed to take a photograph. For all the other times I've cried out for a camera I've discovered words are even better at freezing the moment in time.
Just the other day I was sitting in the park, discussing the reality of existance with a pack of Tarot cards, and I had a "wish I had a camera" moment. A Magpie was dancing up and down in front of the bench I was sitting on getting closer and closer. A red breasted Robin took it upon itself to teach me to fly; jumping from one tree, swooping to mere inches from the ground, then gliding back up into another tree - over and over, right to left, left to right. A Raven flew by on a gust of wind, and May blossom fell from the trees. For a moment I saw an armada of pink butterflies doing their best to leave chaos intact. It left me speechless, for several moments. And as the last piece of May blossom fell to the floor the word "camera" uselessley crossed my mind.
In fact now I come to think of it the only time I really need a camera is to allow me to update my desktop wallpaper. I'll find myself out and about and see a wonderful piece of scenery and think how wonderful it would be to see that image every time I open the lid of my PowerBook. The thing is whenever I find myself at such a place I invariably find myself standing next to some guy who falls into the prosumer category. You've seen the sort, expensive camera, specifications on the tip of his mind, is more bothered about what people think of his camera than what he's taking a photo of. It always seems such a shame.
But I think with a bit of effort we could both be happy. I mean all cameras which are non-disposable are digital these days. So what's stopping prosumer man from mailing me the odd photo. I mean just stand there, exchange the odd 'Oooh, ah' over his digital bride, and drop him a business card with an email address on it. I get the photo I wanted, taken with a camera more expensive than any I'd buy, and he gets an ego massage.