[my favorite shot - till tomorrow]I received a lot of emails lately about the type of camera I use for shooting, and the equipment necessary to begin taking good photos. By no means am I a professional. Quite the contrary; I picked up my first DSLR last year, and have been in love with capturing moments in time ever since. It really allows me to see the beauty in every day life, to sit back and smile at a moment I would have otherwise forgotten about. Life's simple pleasures. It is easy to get caught up in "things", and in doing so we forget about the beauty that surrounds us, and even the beauty that radiates from the energy of others.
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I shoot everything with my Nikon D60, and the standard 18-55 lens. The camera and lens combo will run you about $600, but if you plan on traveling, taking up photography, starting a business, or have a blog you want to showcase some of your photojournalism on, the price can definitely be justified in my opinion. You can even start off by purchasing a refurbished Nikon D60 body [varies from $399 on up] from a reputable camera shop [add a warranty too], and buy the lens new [varies from $99].
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I also have a Hoya Polarizing UV filter [$20.00] that is on my camera at all times when I shoot. I use this to filter out light, enhance the the sky, clouds, and landscaping. Filters also help to reduce reflections from certain surfaces, such as glass, and water. A lens filter is also handy because it protects the lens.
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With just those two purchases, you can begin taking photos like the ones below. I took these while attending a march protesting Immigration Bills just a few days after purchasing my camera!
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Have fun, find out if you really dig photography. If you do, there are lots of goodies [some very expensive goodies] that are out there to enhance your experience. A nice little starter kit would include:
- A Nice Sturdy Tripod
- Remote control - Perfect for self-portraits or shooting in certain conditions where you need absolutely no movement.
- External Flash
- Camera Bag
- Wide Angle Lens
- Nikon D60 Book - This book has helped me out IMMENSELY. Even today, it remains an indispensable tool.
Running off to Amazon to look for the Nikon book and looking for a filter this week. I can tell the difference in the clarity of your pictures, its very pure with so much attention to detail and color, I'm going to get the book and filter as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteAnd I couldn't agree more, its an investment but so worth it if you frequently take pictures. We have a pretty good digital camera but the difference in quality between that and the Nikon is amazing.
I'm getting into photography as well. I don't have a DSLR but my digital camera is pretty good and I learned a lot of great techniques from my photographer friends to take just as nice photos. I just may have to do a little more editing. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI luv the first picture! It's so Alice in Wonderland like. :D
I have a question for you... Im looking for a camera and i came across the Canon G11....What are your thoughts on that camera? I travel a lot overseas and it seemed to do a lot for its size...... Just wondering before i pick a camera.... I just love your pics
ReplyDeleteI am buying the cam, lens, and filter this coming week before i leave the country... I HAVE TONS OF QUESTIONS... I want to make sure i get all the right stuff....Help...Nita
ReplyDelete@Nita, It's funny you mentioned the Canon G11, that is one of the camera's that is on my list. I did a few test shots @ a camera store, and I was very impressed with the quality of the cam. The image quality was top knotch, and there is the option of shooting in RAW mode (this is good for when you want to start tinkering with editing photos). - If you do purchase this camera, you will appreciate the Wide Angle Optical Zoom, this really comes in handy when you are taking landscape-style photos.
ReplyDeleteFor the money, you are getting a very good camera. You get a lot of features that are included in DSLR cameras, without all of the hassles of learning how to use one.
@Nita send me an email so that we can go over some options :) My email addy is nikole@themoptopmaven.com
ReplyDeleteHave you also looked at the Canon EOS Rebel? It's about $50 bucks more, yet it is DSLR. Honestly you can't go wrong with either or. It depends on how heavily you plan on getting into photography.
Send me an email, I can shoot you a few other options as well.
@Milan Thank you! It does kinda have that Alice & Wonderland feel to it! And you can definitely get some good photos from a point and shoot camera! The quality of those camera's have really come a long way...My regular digital camera is a piece of junk though. It is time to upgrade. lol
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! How do you take pictures of yourself? Does someone help you?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely luv that pic of you!!! We should get together and go shoot!
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