Philip D. Lanum

I started in photography at the age of 12 when my father bought a single roll of film for me use in my Mother’s Kodak Brownie. My first 35mm camera was purchased, at age 16, with the first paycheck from my first job – hauling rocks for my neighbors landscaping business. I really wanted to become a photographer for National Geographic and began purchasing equipment (3 SLR’s) and with my Father, built a darkroom. I was purchasing B&W film in 100 foot rolls and practicing the craft of photography. My Father surprised me with purchasing a color enlarger and we started making color prints. I earned two degrees; BA in Anthropology (figured it would help with Photography) and moved on towards building a career. After working as a staff Archaeologist for a few years, the photography fell off the wagon. I got married and moved on to Graduate School. After a few bumps in the road. I earned a degree in Computer Science. (Help pay the bills). We moved to Washington state, found jobs and started a family. Photography was now just shooting the obligatory “life” images. When we moved into our first house, it was burgled (the second week we were there) and all of my cameras were stolen. The insurance company replaced my 3 SLR’s with a Pentax SF-1. (My cousin had a Spotmatic so this was not the first time I had “used” a Pentax and all of the stolen cameras were recovered five years later and they still work.) After moving into our current residence and during one of our clean out the garage fests, my wife discovered that nearly all of my B&W and color negatives, (my slides were better protected) from the 60’s-80’s had been damaged beyond repair. I lost 20+ years of film and became quite depressed. I nearly sold all of my stuff and decided to not continue with the “hobby”/addiction. In early 2005 I noticed an advertisement for a National Geographic photo workshop - my wife said "Go do this -- NOW". I purchased my *ist DS for use during the workshop and I have been nearly all digital since. I still use my film cameras and still love film. To Paraphrase: "I love the smell of Ektachrome in the morning" In 2008 our home was burgled and all of my Pentax equipment was stolen (*istDS, K10D, SF-1 and lenses). The insurance company paid to replace the cameras, which is where I got my K20D. The police were able to locate the *istDS and K10D, but the SF-1 and a FA 50mm f1.4 are still missing. I have handed down the *istDS with the kit 18-55mm and a 50-200mm to my son, so the Pentax line continues. I am a confirmed peeling paint, rust and garbage can photographer.