Photography
My first ever camera was one of those flat Instamatic types that took the 110 film cartridges. Way back in the day of film cameras. For a birthday, or Christmas, when I was in college, I was given a Ricoh 35MM. Still film, but a lot more options on how to take pictures. I dragged that along on field trips and then job sites. I have incredible pics that I took of the things around me. For the job sites, I paid for double prints, one set for the files and one for me. Then I didn't feel guilty about taking pictures of a dragonfly, or interesting cloud.
The first digital camera was a Panasonic FZ80, what is known as a super zoom. More options than a simple point and shoot, but the lens is fixed. DSLR cameras were expensive even on the cheap end, and then add the cost of lenses. They were also really heavy and bulky. I'm a hobbyist photographer that travels. Weight and size were considerations. I kept this one for years until a few too many hard landings took out the focus. It's replacement was an FZ150. DSLRs were giving way to mirrorless, but cost and bulk were still too high to entice me.
It was in the last two years I moved into a Panasonic Mirrorless G85. I have a few lenses for it, but generally use the 12-60 for most shots. It's heavier than my previous cameras, but not by much.
Things I Photograph
My photographs fall into three main categories. Static things, either nature or architecture, blurry photos of small birds flying away, and activities.
Back when I ran a sport fencing club, I was the club photographer and got really good at catching action shots. That skill never translated to birding photos. Static scenes, where things stay still, are the best.
I will be caught by small things, like stools at an abandoned bar, a small bit of graffiti, or a downed tree, and want to photograph it.