--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny…" description: "\"When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny, automatic Yashica camera and I just started shooting. We didn't have iPhones back then, we didn't even have ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/drew-barrymore-921_camera_when-i-was-19-i-picked-up-an-old-tiny-au_3031378.jpg" --- # When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny, automatic Yashica… ![“When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny, automatic Yashica camera and I just started shooting. We didn't have iPhones back then, we didn't even have cell phones. I loved having a camera in my hand.” quote by Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/drew-barrymore-921_camera_when-i-was-19-i-picked-up-an-old-tiny-au_3031378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/drew-barrymore-921_camera_when-i-was-19-i-picked-up-an-old-tiny-au_3031378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/drew-barrymore-921_camera_when-i-was-19-i-picked-up-an-old-tiny-au_3031378.jpg) > “When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny, automatic Yashica camera and I just started shooting. We didn't have iPhones back then, we didn't even have cell phones. I loved having a camera in my hand.” [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She began photography with a simple Yashica, valuing the tactile experience before smartphones existed **In simple terms:** Old camera sparked her love for photography Key Takeaway Embrace simple tools to discover passion Themes creativity nostalgia technology Mood nostalgic enthusiastic Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - travel photography - portrait sessions - documenting daily life Key Concepts analog photography hand‑held cameras Questions to Reflect On - What does a physical camera teach that phones don’t? - How can analog methods inspire modern creators? A Different Perspective Modern tech may replace analog interest ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automatic Yashica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automatic-yashica-4953499/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Camera Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-just-243000/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Cell phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phones/) [Cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cells/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Having Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-camera-568797/) [Iphone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iphone/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Tiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiny/) [Yashica Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yashica-camera-4953498/) ## Related quotes > [The iPhone is not and never was a phone. It is a pocket-sized computer that obviates the phone. The iPhone is to cell phones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gruber/the-iphone-is-not-and-never-was-a-phone-it-is-a-pocket-sized-computer/) [John Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gruber/) > [It's the best, it's so weird because, having your camera on constantly is known to be such a bad thing because it's like, 'Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobrik/it-s-the-best-it-s-so-weird-because-having-your-camera-on-constantly/) [David Dobrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobrik/) > [For an actress there is no greater gift than having a camera in front of you, listening to the most beautiful music in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/for-an-actress-there-is-no-greater-gift-than-having-a-camera-in-front/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [“Having a camera is not enough. You must understand, appreciate, and harness the power you hold!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-denman/having-a-camera-is-not-enough-you-must-understand-appreciate-and/) [Mark Denman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-denman/) > [It's always kind of a bit rough having a camera crew documenting your life. And then you just kind of forget that they're there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-mcdermott/it-s-always-kind-of-a-bit-rough-having-a-camera-crew-documenting-your/) [Dean McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-mcdermott/) > [The simple act of having a camera, not a cell phone, but a camera-camera, there’s a kind of a heightened perceptional awareness that occurs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-uelsmann/the-simple-act-of-having-a-camera-not-a-cell-phone-but-a-camera/) [Jerry Uelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-uelsmann/) > [I knew from a very early age, that what I saw on tv had nothing to do with real life. So I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-knew-from-a-very-early-age-that-what-i-saw-on-tv-had-nothing-to-do/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I'm used to having a camera in my face but not a camera following me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/i-m-used-to-having-a-camera-in-my-face-but-not-a-camera-following-me/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [Having been on the other side of the camera gives me such perspective on what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/having-been-on-the-other-side-of-the-camera-gives-me-such-perspective/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [My parents, though very loving, were not what one would ever describe as outgoing and therefore when I was young I was quite shy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-ridgers/my-parents-though-very-loving-were-not-what-one-would-ever-describe/) [Derek Ridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-ridgers/) > [Just having the camera, being able to pull back from situations and be an observer, it saved my life... I realised I could find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/just-having-the-camera-being-able-to-pull-back-from-situations-and-be/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [Sometimes my fashion pictures can look a little bit like documentary style pictures. So having a camera in my hand was normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sebring/sometimes-my-fashion-pictures-can-look-a-little-bit-like-documentary/) [Steven Sebring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sebring/) > [The problem with not having a camera is that one must trust the analysis of a reporter who's telling you what occurred in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-ito/the-problem-with-not-having-a-camera-is-that-one-must-trust-the/) [Lance Ito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-ito/) > [It was normal to us, like having a camera or seeing Mum and Dad play live - what you grow up with is normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/it-was-normal-to-us-like-having-a-camera-or-seeing-mum-and-dad-play/) [Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/) > [Having been in front of the camera just a couple of times, I'm empathetic, because it's very disconcerting. Someone shuffles you off to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-voss/having-been-in-front-of-the-camera-just-a-couple-of-times-i-m/) [Kurt Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-voss/) ## More by Drew Barrymore > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I've produced and gotten to do a lot of optimistic love stories, and that was so where I was at for 10 years in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-produced-and-gotten-to-do-a-lot-of-optimistic-love-stories-and/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I've always been a homemaker, like, I like creating spaces. Even if I stay in a hotel, I'll unpack, I'll put my books out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-been-a-homemaker-like-i-like-creating-spaces-even-if-i/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I am fundamentally happy. Everyone has experiences that makes them cynical, jaded or unhappy - you just have to fight those things off. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-am-fundamentally-happy-everyone-has-experiences-that-makes-them/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-loved-butterflies-because-they-remind-us-that-it-s-never/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I grew up in a makeup chair, to see! the women around me getting ready was so aspirational, It is about mothers and daughters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-grew-up-in-a-makeup-chair-to-see-the-women-around-me-getting-ready/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Everything I do, I do infinite percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/everything-i-do-i-do-infinite-percent/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I am who I am because of the people who influenced me growing up, and many of them were gay. No one has any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-am-who-i-am-because-of-the-people-who-influenced-me-growing-up-and/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Falling in love with yourself is kind of interesting. You put so much stock into other people and then youre like, Im going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/falling-in-love-with-yourself-is-kind-of-interesting-you-put-so-much/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Everything I touched in the kitchen turned out crappy, no matter how closely I followed the recipe or copied the cooking show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/everything-i-touched-in-the-kitchen-turned-out-crappy-no-matter-how/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm okay with the idea that slow and steady wins the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-m-okay-with-the-idea-that-slow-and-steady-wins-the-race/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm glad I lived such a full life before I settled down into a family because I got to enjoy it and get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-m-glad-i-lived-such-a-full-life-before-i-settled-down-into-a-family/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm not after fame and success and fortune and power. It's mostly that I want to have a good job and have good friends;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-m-not-after-fame-and-success-and-fortune-and-power-it-s-mostly-that/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Producing is so exciting because you can enable things to happen, whether it's like discovering a filmmaker who you're taking a chance on, protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/producing-is-so-exciting-because-you-can-enable-things-to-happen/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Indecision is the most unsexy thing on the planet. I dont know if Im sexy but I think decisiveness is sexy. I also lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/indecision-is-the-most-unsexy-thing-on-the-planet-i-dont-know-if-im/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) [Explore all 329 Drew Barrymore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) [Mitra Farahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitra-farahani/) > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was 19, I picked up an old, tiny, automatic Yashica camera and I just started shooting. We didn't have iPhones back then, we didn't even have cell phones. 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