this year.

I didn’t know to much about the film that won the 77th Academy Award for best Documentary this year, other then it’s title, and what I could infer from that; Born Into Brothels. I had a chance to view this documentary tonight and would recommend it to everyone.

Not one to ruin a good story, I will say I was surprised to discover that the film focused on photography, and how it was an escape for these children, and provided them with buckets and buckets of smiles.These children, who live in such trying and dire situations, still find time to laugh, to play, and be children. What really took my breath away was the quality of the photographs they took with simple, automatic, 35mm film cameras. No zoom, no manual focus, no long shutters. Just point and shot. I do concede that any photo that is of a place I am not familiar with is fascinating, and the images of Calcutta’s red light district fall into this category. That being said, the images they captured were spectacular, and can be seen at Kids with Cameras. Despite the digital age, nothing beats the richness, and detail that can be captured on film.

It got me to thinking about picking up a film camera. Digital is great and all, but my one main complaint is the delay between shutter press and actual image. I’m hoping someone can point me in the direction of a fun 35mm camera. Nothing fancy. Heck, I’d be happier with plain, and inexpensive. It is obvious the children in the film had a talent for photography. I would venture a guess and say it is because they are children and look at the world in a different way. I would also say it is because of the life and world they live in, and being able to capture images that show that, or not show as the case may be, is therapeutic.

I’m rooting for those kids. I hope they, and others like them the world over, make it.