However taking a nice good picture ,to post up on a blog or a nice poster print, can be a difficult task. Every mobile phone now has a built in camera, but still not great enough to capture amazing shots. Pictures outcome are commonly blurry, too dark or even too slow to capture the best moments.
I would highly recommend anyone investing on a DSLR today. Its cheap, affordable and very easy to use. Its a long term investment as well as a tool to help capture moments which would never be seen again. Have you walked down a beach and enjoyed the view so much hoping you can see it once more when the winter snow comes in? Have you ever walked on the great wall of china and wish to share your experience with your mates back home? Have you ever seen your baby daughter smiled during her 3rd birthday party and wished you could have shown her the very moment with her wedding night?
Investing on a good camera (yet cheap) will help you do all these possibilities. It does help me touch on my artistic and creativity side as well, since i am a a boring engineer.
Since DSLR have become very very cheap indeed from various inter-competing companies like Canon, Nikon and Sony. I will spare the details on technological advancement and the economy of these companies and just get straight to the point on how we can be a good photographer on a shoestring budget.
Firstly I would like to share some of my favourite pictures with everyone.
Macro shot with kit lens on a Bioshock Model
Tim Burton Theme shot of a town called Aberdeen in Scotland
Opening of a new cake shop in town.
My Wedding Venue!
A night in Florence Italy
A local night event in Brunei on Chinese New Year 2010
Lion Dance in Brunei during Chinese New Year 2010
All I used in all these pictures displayed are:-
1. Nikon D40 with Kit Lens (£250 after cash back rebate from Nikon)
I own a Nikon D40, which i bought just for £250 (in 2007) with a 18-55mm kit lens included. Taking the advise from Mr Ken Rockwell (www.kenrockwell.com), we don't need a $5000 camera to take nice pictures. All we need is a basic 30 buck camera we can do the very same. But I am not as an expert as Mr Ken Rockwell himself, I have invested my good £250 for a longer term. Basically it increases my probability of taking better pictures as well.
2. Editing Tool - Picasa 3 (Free from Google)
I don't use any expensive photo shop programme at all. All the picture shown are basic edditing from these programmes. Except for theme burton above where i use Photomatix for a very cheap fee.
3. Additional items
A nice looking crumpler bag if i am doing urban photography. I have too look cool as well if i am taking pictures with women around. (£25)
A 8G memory card which i got from play.com which can allow me about a thousand pictures on 6meg. (£12)
4. Things i Don't even own yet!!
-TRIPOD - important for night photography, dont need one cause i can find things which my camera can sit on for stability
-flashgun - i dont even have these yet. I just try multiple times till i get a good shot, or just a pair of steady hands will do.
5. Macro Lens
My first picture macro shot only cost me additonal £17.00. Its just a macro lens convertor which i got from amazon.co.uk. DOnt need a £700 lens as this one will do just fine! Just need the patience to do so!
6. Other items you might need.
-Patience - your first 10 good pictures may come from a batch of 1000 pictures. take your time cause its a learning curve on creativity and the physics of light.
-Sharing information - a good photographer does not work alone in isolation. feedback and reviews are important for others to comment. Its a good feeling sometimes when someone thinks your picture is excellent and give their views about it. I do mine alot on facebook.
-Observationary - Yes i came up with that word. Its being observant with great vision. Just imagine looking at something and hoping to capture it with a basic pin-hole camera and make it last a long time. No...er...wait, u can do the same with a DSLR at a shorter time span.
-Other people's work and vision - many can be learned from others. keep your eyes open on other people's work as well.
What you dont need!
- A $5k budget on your camera and kits
-50megapixle camera
- biggest lens available
- travel the world - you may even capture an award winning picture from your own garden.
Last piece of advise! Get out there and start snapping pictures. No one learns photography from classes alone, listening to blogs alone or buying the top end product. All you need is passion to go out there and capture the moments!
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