The annual Tokeland 4th of July Parade took place on Saturday, July 1, 2000. The Silver Nitrate Queen’s camera totin’ becak was on hand, spreading the word that "traditional" photography is alive and well in this world. It was parade duty (and a hangover) that kept the folks here at Junk Store Cameras from announcing the "Beyond Nikon" poetry contest winners on July 1st. On the night of June 30th, though, we diligently drank beer around the campfire and poured over each entry. We laughed and, at times, we cried. The goal was to come away with one winner. Though every poem we received was a damn fine entry, we were able to narrow down our selection to five of the entries. Each of the five had "potential winner" written all over it. One entry stood out above the rest. That winning poem belongs to Doug Wilcox. So, Doug, the Junk Store Cameras crew would like to congratulate you on a job well done. We know that you will carry your new title of "WINNER" (and your new old Beacon Camera) with pride and grace. We know that you will never disgrace that title (hopefully no photos taken of you in a compromising situation will surface from your sordid past...other than the two you sent with your entry).

But selecting a winner left us in a quandary. What about the other four potential winners? They deserve some sort of recognition, right? Nowhere did we state that we couldn’t change our rules in midstream. So, the decision was made to create three levels of winning entries. There’s the grand prize winner, Doug. Then there’s the runner up, Robert McGraw. Now, Robert is a collector of fine cameras. Cameras of the type which Robert collects are well out of reach of the Junk Stores’ budget. We thought it only fitting that the runner up in this case should receive the finest of squirt gun cameras.

We also created three honorable mention positions. Honorable mention means you get jack, but you can feel pride because your work was recognized. The three honorable mentions are:

1.) Michael Levy’s haiku entry- because...well, it made us laugh.

2.) Ryan Buck’s "Ode to an Argus" - poignant and inspirational.

3.) 9-year-old Alexander Thompson Klug’s "Weird Photo". Our panel of judges agreed that the Frankenstein syndrome is a universal problem we can all relate to.

We had so much fun judging these poems (and coercing and cajoling you folks into writing them) that we’ve decided this year’s contest will be considered the first annual. So, look for the second annual Beyond Nikon Poetry Contest guidelines soon!

First Annual Beyond Nikon Poetry contest winners:

Grand Prize: Doug Wilcox

"The Sickness"

While traveling on vacation as a tiny tot,
I sported a Starflash, a Kodak I got.

I carried that plastic wonder around my neck,
Like a pro on assignment I was a photographer by heck.

I soon outgrew that Brownie of mine,
and longed for a 35, Oh, that would be fine.

Dad got a new camera, and handed down to me,
The finest little camera that ever could be.

I felt so proud at school that day.
as I showed off my beautiful, Tower 57a.

Worn out, dropped, broken, the Tower soon died,.
Now what would I do to recover my pride.

I saved all the money I earned and was given,
Until I could afford a Yashica J-7.

A pattern emerged that holds true today,
I buy cameras, trade cameras and give them away.

I collect them all old or new,
big, little, green, red or blue.

I just can't stop this passion of mine,
It takes all my money and most of my time.

I like all cameras from Agfa to Zeiss,
and even a Contax IIIa would be nice.

How many cameras does one guy need?
Maybe it's selfish or maybe it's greed.

My wife likes to help me buy cameras you know,
and we look for them everywhere we go.

Sometimes I call it a hobby sometimes a business,
but It's not a hobby it's really a sickness.

Doug Wilcox
"The Camera Collector"

The Runner Up: Robert McGraw

These moldy cameras, some might say,
have had their run; lived out their day.
To feed them film just wouldn't pay,
They're only good to throw away.

But there are those who disagree.
And though we can't afford a fee,
we still would really like to see
these cameras spared. So let them be. 

True, screws are missing here and there,
the leather cover has a tear,
the hinge is showing signs of wear.
But do we care?  NO! Au contraire.

Frozen shutters?  Mangy bellows?
Down deep they're still all faithful fellows.
And so the way we'd give them thanks
is to let them join our collections' ranks.

Embrace them, lovely Marcy mild,
Just as you'd hug a homely child.
Let all their defects not detract
from this one universal fact:

When someday we're as old as they,
our joints froze up, our hair turned gray,
shall we not lift our eyes and cry
to that great artisan on high,

"Grant one-half second more of rapture,
As some sweet scene we try to capture.
And then at last, through your kind grace,
in your collection, give us a place."

-Robert McGraw

Honorable Mention: Michael Levy

Kodachrome is nice,
But for high saturation
I take Fujichrome

A haiku - Michael Levy

Honorable Mention: Ryan Buck

"Ode to an Argus"

-Ryan Buck

Honorable Mention: Alexander Thompson Klug

"Weird Photo"

Your picture is beautiful
you look fine
except that guy there
looks like Frankenstein!


by Alexander Thompson Klug
9 year old photo-enthusiast

Click here to view all of the entries!

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Our distinguished panel of judges.