I carried with me more than I could carry. The sides of my bag bulging, stretched to their limits, and the zippers put to the test. Cramming to fit both the necessities and the inessentials, packing was the first endeavor of this great adventure.

Beginning in July I was constantly questioned what I was going to carry with me. Not only what I would carry, but also whether or not it was ready to be carried. Until the night before I left, the answer was always no. I spent the month of August collecting items, one at a time, and setting them in one of the many piles that lined my floor, covering almost every available surface. Piece by piece the puzzle was beginning to come together, clothes, shoes, toiletries, computer, phone, and most essential, my camera.

I carried with me my Canon AE-1 35mm film camera. I left behind the used up film, the pictures of friends and family and the memories of past escapades. It was a piece of a clean slate among my baggage that burdened me. While the other items in my suitcase labeled me as an American, my camera didn’t have that ability. I know I am not unique in my decision to bring a camera as I embark upon a once in a lifetime opportunity. I realize that in a way it is a necessity when going to a place far from home. But, to me, my camera isn’t just a way for me to take pictures to send to my friends and family, it is a way for me to create a permanent, non-fading record of my experiences.

As in all things I do, my photography is a little bit different. Whereas most tech savvy millennial generation kids would use their iPhones, iPads, tablets, or digital cameras, I choose not to. I choose to use my outdated film camera I bought from Mt. Helix High School, covered with scratches and dents. The question that arises is probably why I choose this route because it clearly poses several extra challenges. I have to find a place to buy film, I need to replace the film every 24-36 shots, I have to manually adjust the f-stop and shutter speed, I need to have the film hand checked in the airport, I have to find a place to process my film, the list continues. My answer is quite simple. Because, when I take the time to compose that perfect image, adjust the settings, press the shutter release, and wait for the light to strike the film and create that single image, I know the image is mine. It is an image that was taken in a single moment when time seemed to stop. It is a moment frozen in time. Technically speaking a digital camera has the same concept, but those images can be duplicated and highly edited, losing all of their originality. My Canon AE-1 35mm film camera allows me to pause the remarkable moments I encounter, preserving the personal moment of me standing there with my camera as light entered the lens, is reflected by the mirror, stroked the film, and left through the viewfinder, one click, one image, one moment in time.

I carried with me a fresh start. A necessity that will allow me to forever remember the experiences I have had. It is my personalized version of a diary, a material that can withhold the test of time.