My Dad is a bit of a camera nut. He has a TON of cameras....vintage, new, digital, manual, lenses, flashes, tripods, you name it; he has it.
He even built a dark room at my grandparents house when he was in college.
Yes, a DARK ROOM.
I like to think that I inherited even a smidge of my Dad's photography genes. After all, it was he who bought me my first REAL camera.
Taken with my Kodak C310
Over the years though, he watched as I struggled to edit my shots in Picasa. Manually increasing the quality of each shot after I had come to the conclusion that the camera just wasn't able to accomplish it on it's own.
Last Spring he had noticed my shots were lacking where Macro was needed and he ended up letting me borrow his super,super fun and easy Kodak CX7530 Zoom.
"Borrow" is a relative term in regards to putting a camera in my hands.
Honestly, that was almost a year ago and he has yet to get HIS hands back on it.
Taken with the Kodak CX7530 zoom
I LOVE that camera. The macro is crazy good and the landscape shots that it can make happen are so pretty. There really isn't much that don't like about it. If I had to choose one area that I felt a bit disappointed in, it would be taking indoor shots.
Indoor night shot, taken with the Kodak CX7530 zoom
If it was daylight, the shots were awesome, but if it wasn't, I spent a lot of time adjusting the lighting and contrast in Picasa. Even then, I still was a bit let down with the shot's grainy-ness.
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Not too long ago, my mom directed my dad to my Flickr, and as he browsed through some of the THOUSAND+ shots that I have taken and posted....I swear, he must have been able to sense the itch that I've been feeling lately.
The itch to get my hands on a more high tech camera.
And so now, he has offered me his Minolta Dimage 7i.
I swear....I almost fainted.
I started using it yesterday; fiddling with all the buttons and settings...reading the manual and a photography book....absorbing all of the tips and tricks.
It's enough to make your head hurt.
Seriously.
In a good way though.
Taken with the Dimage 7i
This camera does have a Pro setting which will let it be a "point and shoot"; Automatically making the shot good, focused, lit and contrasted in just the right way. But, I wanted to figure it out on my own. Manually focusing and setting up the shot. I never really realized the skill that it takes to get a good shot when the camera doesn't do the job for you.
Taken with the Dimage 7i
I mean, I knew that it took skill, but really....this is hard work.
Taken with the Dimage 7i
But, I'm getting there and I am super impressed with it's capabilties already. It is truly like having Picasa right there.....in the camera. The time that I spent editing my photos has been cut drastically.
Taken with the Dimage 7i
I know that it's not just the camera... it is a combination of countless variables that add up to the perfect shot. Now though, I feel even one step closer to taking one.
And hopefully my dad will continue to be my number one supporter.
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What camera helps you take your perfect shot?
8 comments:
Beautiful - I love the one with you and the cat in the window, the light is amazing. I use a Canon DS6031, which I know far too little about, no doubt.
Wow! Camera envy! I have a little (as in, can fit in my pocket) point and shoot...I read through the manual, but I'm either limited by the equipment or by my lack of skill. Probably a little of both.
All of those shots were just gorgeous!
Congrats on the new camera...great shots!
stunning photos. isn't the journey to improvement amazing and fulfilling? my dad is like yours. we had a dark room in our basement growing up. he doesn't have the collection of cameras he is willing to share, though. my photos won't get any better until i get a new camera. i have a point and shoot.
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
Gorgeous photos! I am looking forward to the day when my kids are a bit bigger and we can explore the mountains and mama can fiddle with her camera ;)
jules, I am just sitting here in awe. I am loving to see the world thru your eyes right now.
I am loving my Canon 30D (D30? I never remember) with my 50mm lens. I also love my old Pentax slr because that is what I learned on
Beautiful photos! My favorite is of the one in front of the window with the cat. I love blown-out highlights in photos. I do think the camera helps with good photos...no matter what, I can't get a decent photo on my husbands point-and-shoot.
Happy New Year[url=http://nfksghjskf.com/],[/url] everyone! :)
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