When I was pretty young, someone, probably my dad, gave me a camera. It was old and needed flash bulbs to be replaced after a single use. It took film and I had to wait until the entire roll of film was used to take it to be processed into prints. All of this involved my parents spending money since I was young enough to not have any money of my own. 

This camera was a Kodak Brownie 20 TLR Flashmite just like this one: http://cdn5.shop.vintagecameraclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/kodak-brownie-flashmite-20.jpg

I loved that camera and probably mostly took pictures of my dog with it. Of course, I had to dress her up before taking her portrait. I guess I've always loved doing that. I don't really remember which photos came out of that camera or at what age I graduated to my next camera, but I do remember it and the creativity I experienced while using it. 

That feeling has never gone away. I'm not a great painter, my handwriting is atrocious, but I just love to create. Still life, nature, and most of all portraiture. This is my creative outlet. It makes me feel calm and lights up a part of my brain that might otherwise lie dormant. 

Thanks, Dad, for giving me a camera and letting me learn and explore this avenue at a very young age.