In 2004, I lived in Tomsk, Russia, finishing 9th grade, working part-time assembling computers in a basement somewhere, and saving up for a dream: a Digital Camera. We didn’t have much money, so the dream had to be realistic. For around $40, I bought an Aiptek PenCam Plus – essentially a webcam with a battery.
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/aiptek_pencam-300x222.jpg)
The camera was incredible:
- Photos at 1.4 MP (or 1248×960), with a memory capacity of about 30 shots.
- Soundless videos at 624×480 and a whopping 8 frames per second.
- Separate volatile memory for video (remove the batteries – lose the recordings).
(remember, in 2004, camera phones were still a novelty)
These limitations didn’t stop me; in 2004, I took 1,624 photos. Here are the best from Tomsk, 2004:
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-07-20_VOVA_IMAGE0008_20040720.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-12-25_VOVA_IMAGE0031_20041225.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-12-19_VOVA_IMAGE0009_20041219.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-11-26_VOVA_IMAGE0030_20041126.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-11-26_VOVA_IMAGE0020_20041126.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-11-25_VOVA_IMAGE0002_20041125.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-07-22_VOVA_IMAGE0001_1_20040722.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-07-24_VOVA_IMAGE0005_20040724.jpg)
![](https://blog.wtigga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2004-07-27-12-12-46-IMAGE0008_5_20040727.jpg)