Rewinding the Reel - Memories of a Simpler Time
Strolling down memory lane, I find that old photo albums are an excellent medium for quick recollection. Recalling incidents from sixty years ago can be a daunting task. Back then, photography was a luxury, only a few could afford. Even when cameras became more accessible to middle-class families, capturing life's moments wasn't a priority for many. Consequently, memories from that era often remain uncaptured, relying solely on personal recollection.
Initially, cameras utilized mechanical units loaded with black and white film reels. It wasn't until the early 1980s that color cameras and color film reels became widely available and affordable, marking a significant shift in photography technology.
And look at the time-elapsed in getting the actual photos on hand!
Capturing memories was a deliberate process. During the late 1960s or in 1970s we'd buy a film reel, carefully load it into the camera, and make every click count. Each reel held only 12 precious black and white shots, so we'd choose our moments wisely, often limiting ourselves to just a couple of photos per occasion.
Once the 12 shots were used up, we'd gingerly open the camera in a dark room, fearful of exposing the film. Many people opted to take their cameras to a studio, where professionals would safely remove the film reel and replace it with a new one – another purchase to be made.
The development process required a dark room, and it would take the studio owner at least a day to complete. The negatives needed to be carefully washed and dried, a labor-intensive process. As a result, every photography studio had a dark room until the late 2000s, when digital technology revolutionized the photography landscape.
The process was laborious, but each photo was treasured, and the anticipation of seeing the developed pictures was always exciting.
Furthermore, the entire process of photography was costly. From purchasing new film reels to paying for processing and printing each picture, every step added to the expense. Even the photo albums themselves were a significant cost, making photography a luxury that required careful budgeting.
The cumulative costs of photography made it a luxury many couldn't afford, particularly among middle-class and lower-middle-class families. As a result, many individuals from these backgrounds have few or no childhood photos. Their families' priorities were understandably focused on providing education and meeting basic needs, leaving little room for discretionary expenses like photography.
Despite the expense, many families would eagerly await special events like the Dasara Exhibition in Mysore. These occasions presented a rare opportunity for a family portrait, with everyone gathering together to capture a precious moment in time. Alternatively, smaller groups of two or three family members would also take advantage of these events to sit for a joint photograph, creating cherished memories that would last a lifetime.
The accompanying photograph is a treasured example of one such family portrait, taken during the Dasara Exhibition in the mid-1960s. Pictured are my three older brothers and I, posing together for a rare and treasured group photo. It serves as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era, when family photos were rare and precious commodities.
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