In a world where everyone carries a camera in their smartphone, it seems like every Big Lap landmark and every memorable moment is captured for posterity … and often multiple times from multiple angles.
However, sometimes the sheer volume of images hovering around in some electronic storage device somewhere is overwhelming. And, for the less organised grey nomad, that can mean many magical photographic records are simply buried in a digital dumping ground never to see the light of day.
It’s all a far cry from the days of cameras which used film and the decision to take a photo was a big one, and the excitement of getting a roll developed at a chemist or camera shop was palpable, and every printed image was treasured.
While today’s traveller might take 100 times more photos than their predecessors, it may be a case of more is not always better.
Basil and Bev captured their Jardine River crossing with their trusty Kodak Instamatic 100 (inset). Note that this crossing is no longer allowed
Veteran nomads Basil and Bev Powley, now both 80, still love to look back over their photos taken in what seems like a bygone era on a Kodak Instamatic 100. The camera was part of the Instamatic range which was launched worldwide in 1963 and, with its pop-up flash and drop-in plastic film cartridge, revolutionised amateur photography.
The Powleys began their adventures back in 1967 when, as 21-year-old newlyweds, they bought a Valiant AP5 sedan and headed off across the Nullarbor from the WA town of Denmark.
Back then, a trip across the treeless plain was an adrenaline-filled adventure and, for Basil and Bev, it was the beginning of a lifetime of caravan and camping adventures.
Their first van was a 12’ 9 Viscount and they’ve since owned another Viscount, a camper trailer, a Gazal ATV tandem, and their current 20’ Bushtracker. They’ve been along unbelievably rough tracks, tackled numerous challenging river crossings, dealt with dozens of punctures, and countless hairy moments. They’ve been to Mitchell Falls, Uluru, Cape York, and pretty much everywhere in between.
And, as the years pass, the special memories of every one of those trips is still fresh, thanks in no small part to the couple’s photo albums … and the sterling work of their Kodak Instamatic 100. The camera only allowed 12 shots to be taken from each film cartridge and, with the cost of developing another consideration, if a photo was taken it was definitely worth remembering.
It’s a far cry from today when every day on the road can mean hundreds of photos taken … but not necessarily looked at more than once.
Mark David has taken two full laps in recent years and is one of many nomads who is still ‘threatening’ to sort through and organise those pictures.
“I think we were probably guilty of just taking too many photos, but at the time we just thought ‘why not?,” he said. “It seems pretty daunting having to wade through all of the pictures now, assuming I can work out which devices they’re stored on … but I’m sure I’ll get there one day.”
We’ve been travelling extensively since 1971.
Over the years we’ve taken many thousands of photos with film cameras as prints & slides.
At the age of 75 we haven’t got time to look back at them all.
These days we use our phones but take less images than we used to.
The best thing about digital photography is that you can get rid of the rubbish with the push of a button.