Photography

Well its been ten months since I brought my D70 and I've already clocked up over 4000 shots. I have built up an arsenal of equipment to suit my needs and would like to become a semi-professional one day aiming to make some money from my work.

When I first got my D70 I set about looking on the internet for some courses I could take to refresh my memory and help me learn. During this search I came across www.phototakers.com this forum has been the key to my development of photography. Togehter with some books I have witnesses my photography develop over the last 10 months and I hope to see it develop more in the months and years ahead.

leediggle at 13:24:32 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

So with my new second hand, 30yr old SLR I began my quest back into photography in ernest.

The first time I used it was on a trip to Bath. I forgot how easy and simple photography can be, it seems over the years the influence on digital photography has manouvred it away form the simple basics. Digital cameras boast of how many megapixels they have and maximum print sizes together with the ability to record video and sound. Whilst being taken in by these features it wasnt until I got my Ricoh that I begain to realise what photography was all about again.

The camre came with a standart 50mm lens and whilst in bath I added a zoom lens to my kit for a mere £50. Total outfit price £62 pounds.

I was eager to get the first roll of film back and see the outcome. I was very pleased when it came back as the majority of the shots were good. Having this camera taught me to look carefully at a scene, focus properly and set the correct settings for any creative shots such as portraits having a blurry background etc.

I soon found though that I was buying and using quite a lot of rolls of film and the cost of these rolls combined with the developing soon mounted up. I soon realised that the move to DLR would be the senisble option. Seeking a camera that I could manually focus, read a meter and set the desired shutter and aparture became my top priority. Moreover the digital era had come a long way and digital SLRs were soon producing images which easily rival that from a 35mm negative. Shooting digital also has several advantages over film:

1. Instant review of your shots;

2. Shooting for free - i.e. you were only limiteds to your storage card as to how many shots you could take.

3. Instant ISO adjustment - Digital Cameras have the ability to change ISO settings thus making the more versitile that film SLRs as you do not have to change a roll of film for chaning light conditions.

There are downsides to any product but I felt the pros outweighed the cons.

leediggle at 13:15:38 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Having brought my Fuji and growing out of it, the decision to switch to a DLSR was not entirely based on my changing needs. The was another influencing factor.

You may recall that my granddad gave me an old SLR camera of his own for me to use. Well unfortunately this camera got mislaid and I never could find it again. I was very dissapointed as all photography has is basis on film and slide and I found the camera very easy to use. So one day, aout 18months ago I decided to keep a look out for a new film SLR camera. I could not afford a new one from the lieks of London Camera Exhange or Dixons etc so I set about looking in car boot sales....

...One day at the Cheddar Car Boot Sale and indoor market I came across a stall which had an oild Ricoh film SLR camera, with case and flash. I was intrigued by it and since misplacing the camera my granddad gave me it sparked my enthusiasm again. The person on the stall was very helpful, he opened the back and showed me the camera was in full working order. So I asked him how much he wanted. "£12" he said. So I brought it. I brought a bunch of batteries to power the film winder and some film and took great pleasure in using a film SLR again.

 

 

leediggle at 13:08:32 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Let me expand slightly on the shortfalls of my old camera and why I made the switch.

My old fuji was quite a complicated camera to use in manual mode. Changing the aperture/shutter settings was a complicated task requiring you to cycle through menus and by the time you've got it right the moment has passed. Focussing manually was difficult as it required you to hold a button down and use the W and T buttons to move the focus plane to suit. This took a long time and was very diffcult to get correct down to the screen. Added to this the start up time of the camera was far too long, again by the time it had initiated and you've focussed the moment would have definately passed.

This is where a DSLR comes into play. The very nature of their setup means you see exactly what the lens sees via mirrors and prisms. Manual focussing is also easy via foccussing rings on the lenses. Start up times are also instantaneous meaning in the time takes you to move your finger from the on/off button to the shutter button and its ready to go.

One improtant feature of DSLRs are the ability to change lenses to suit evey need. And this is where the leap into photography full steam beings and the spending starts.

leediggle at 19:26:14 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Having made my decision I set about testing my camera and skills to the limit.

".... Having a DLSR brought me back to my childhood and my first SLR camera. The feeling of being able to view a scene through a lens and record it for prosperity and memory sake. But it was more involved than that. Choosing the right exposure and getting the correct exposure was all part of the enjoyment. having the creative control separated you out from just recording the moment to creating art.

So why did I make the switch? Begin able to see in the viewfinder instead of a digital representation was a big factor in deciding to switch. Compouned onto this was the ablility to switch the camera on and be ready to shot instantaneously and beign able to manually focus with ease. Non of which the Fuji did.

Being a total newbie I purchsed the camera with the standard kit lens (28-80mm) whilst not being the best lens that came with it, it was a start and enabled me to progress...."

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Having quickly outgrew my digital camera I quickly began the hunt for a DLR that offered me greater versitility and meet my expanding needs and demands.

".... So where do I start? There are sooo many DSLR on the market aimed at various levels of competance and budget. I began by consulting my Photography Magazine that I became acustom to reading. They often contain reviews on new gear and side by side comparision. It quickly became apparent that I had three choices that my budget could suit. The choices came down to Canon, Pentax or Nikon.

I brought a copy of Which Camera to help me in my decision as it contained reviews on all three cameras. Ultimately it would come down to going into London Camera Exchange and holding and testing each camera.

When it came down to it I went for the Nikon D70. I discounted the Canon as being a little too far for my budget to stretch to and the Pentak *ist was a little too compact for my hands. So the  Nikon won....."

leediggle at 18:56:49 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

This camera rekindled my passion for photography and started me off on a wonderful journey back into photography and art, which will go hand in hand with my chosen profession.

".....So I opened my newly delivered camera and began to sort through the contents. Not only had I ordered the camera but a spate of accessories including a bag and rechargable batteries.

The camera was black and although a 'compact' digital camera it had the style and feel of a DSLR. This was a great camera for me to learn on. Whilst being able to use it as a point and shoot camera, during my re-learning about aperture, shutterspeed, ISO etc etc, I was able to put it into one of three programmed modes - Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or Manual. This enabled me to practice the new techniques I had learned.

But I quickly outgrew this camera. Although a really good camera it just didnt suit my demands. So I decided to upgrade to a DSLR....."

leediggle at 18:40:20 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

So what rekindled my passion in Photography?

It began around a year ago whilst visiting my parents before christmas. We were watching the shopping channel QVC and there todays special value was a digital camera. Now as part of the nature of my higher education a digital camera was essential for photographing models, sites and when on field trips and I was in need of a new camera as I had outgrown my 3 megapixel Fuji one. The one being advertised was the next model which was a 4 megapixel camera boasting a 10x optical zoom. I ordered it there and then on their easypay option.

Shortly after returing home a few days later my camera was delivered. I was soooo excited and egar to try it out.

leediggle at 18:33:04 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Since an early age I have made my mind up to persue a carreer in Architecture. My Architecture Blog tells this story.

I have also developed an interest in photography at an early age. It all began when my grandfather gave me one of his old film SLR cameras. I was so privaleged to get such a piece of equipment that I cherished it and wanted to learn the ins and outs of how it works.

Sadly my interest was interrupted when it came to my GCSE's, 'A' Level and my Architecture Degree. However since taking my gap year (which extended itself into two years) I have rekindled my passion for photography.

leediggle at 18:15:59 o'clock BST Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Well its a windy, bright April day and I've decided to start my own Blog.

They seem to be all the rage at present so why not join the preverbial band waggon. I have lot of interests which I will try and put down in a coherent ordered manner. However this blog will be primarily aimed at my interest in Photography as it develops

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