I’m seeing this happen more and more over time. And to be totally honest… I’m kinda digging it.
A month or so ago, one of my blog readers – CountryMama – bought one of my photo artworks, The Final Sermon (the shot of St. Patrick’s Church in Watervliet). As I dropped the picture off at her place, she introduced me to her family, and then told me that she was purchasing a camera. A real, honest-to-goodness, digital single-lens-reflex camera. Her new photo-weapon? A Nikon D70.
Wow, that brought back memories. The D70 was my first digital SLR, and I learned a lot from using it.
The other day, my fellow Times Union community blogger Stephanie Snyder told me that she received a digital SLR as a Christmas gift.
This is awesome. My friends are putting aside their iPhones and are stepping into a new world of photography.
And both of them asked me for advice.
Geez, where to start?
First off… read your manual. Cameras come with manuals because you just can’t take a camera out of a box and snap photos like you’re Herb Ritts. The manual has instructions on settings, on maintenance, and even some tips on how to get the best pictures.
Next… test drive your camera. Go somewhere and just take a series of pictures. And by “series of pictures,” I mean something like a stop sign or a flower garden. Take a picture. Adjust something on the camera – maybe the f-stop or the ISO – and then take another picture. After you’re done, go through all the pictures and see where the best images came from. From there, you’ll learn – by trial and error and experimentation – the best settings for the best situations.
Next… get some magazines. I recommend Popular Photography as a starter; they have tips and techniques and reviews of the top cameras and equipment.
Next… make sure your camera is properly maintained. And for that, I recommend CameraWorks in Latham. Alan at CameraWorks can clean your camera’s internal sensors and he does a great job for the price.
Next… join a photo club. There are plenty of meet-up groups available, and you could also consider joining the PhotoCenter of the Capital District’s club in Troy. The PhotoCenter hosts salon nights (bring in your pictures and let others give you tips on how to make them better) and members’ shows.
Next… don’t be afraid to experiment. See what happens when you use different settings on the camera in different situations. You migth actually surprise yourself.
Next… get good quality SD or CompactFlash cards for your camera. And never be afraid to take too many shots. This isn’t like film, where you can have only 24 or 36 images on a strip of 35mm film. You want to take 2,000 pictures of your dog? Have at it.
Next… challenge yourself. Step up to the plate and enter your work in a competition. And you might just win a ribbon or some money if you do.
And finally, above all else…
Enjoy what you’re doing. Photography is a fun hobby and it can develop into a true passion. Heck, you might end up with a nominal case of GAS (“Gear Acquisition Syndrome”) and next thing you know, your house is full of cameras and lenses and manuals.
This is the fun part of being involved with cameras and photography. You’re just one shutter-click away from the picture that’s going to make you smile.
And in the end… that’s all that matters.
Chuck The Writer 