View fullsize

Doc’s Motor Court, Room No.5

I’ve pressed the shutter on my Canon 5D Mark III over and over and over again. I bought the camera used 5 years ago and I hardly go a day without taking a picture. But lately I’ve noticed the shutter button is very sensitive. Sometimes when I press halfway to focus, the camera just goes ahead and takes the picture as though it has a mind of its own. I’ve done some research and thought about upgrading to the Canon 5D Mark IV and there are some decent arguments for a new camera. But none that seem to justify the hefty price tag—at least not right now. There are practical constraints like the new roof we need. First things first.

For some reason, I hadn’t even considered having my camera repaired. Probably because I’ve never had a problem before, and then to, I figured the cost of repair would be prohibitive. But I was wrong. I submitted a work order to Canon this morning and the cost of repair is estimated at $142. What a sweet surprise! Finally, something I CAN afford. So we’ve boxed my camera up and sent it on its way to the Canon Repair Center in Glendale, California.

I feel a little lost just knowing the camera won’t sit next to me all day long. But I figure these next few weeks will be a good time to practice with my film camera. And I’m working on processing images for a photo-poetic project I’m doing with my friend, Susan Carter Morgan. So I think I’ll have plenty to keep my need for creative work met. And perhaps this will be a time for rejuvenation and self-care.