A new road to follow?
Many years ago, I was introduced to film photography and the Canon AE-1 camera while serving in the US Marines in Futema, Okinawa, an island just off the coast of Japan. I took to the AE1 like a baby to a pacifier. Learning from the ground up from several much more experienced photographers, I used my weekends to tour the small 15 mile long, 8 mile wide island on foot. WOW, what an experience it was.
I learned quickly that the beauty of this samll oasis in the middle of the ocean hid the hideous very effectively.
The islands beauty, culture and people were absolutely breathe-taking and there were many objects to concentrate my camera lens on. However, within and behind the beauty, hid the hideous truth of just how poverty stricken this island was. I joined a group of Marines that volunteered their time spending one full weekend a month living with a family in their environment, experiencing their customs, eating the food they had (if they had any). I truly appreciate what we have in the United States and I encourage everyone to make a trip to this beautiful island and experience what it has to offer.
