Yes, after my rant about consumerism, off I went like a true Joburger and bought myself a second lens and a Manfrotto tripod. And PhotoShop Elements (which I could not pass up at the special show price).
I was seriously stressing about spending the money (work funded this not so little spree), but TSC has convinced me that it is an investment.
It is *she says, still trying to justify*. The two lenses I now have, although they are not the biggest or best, give me a good range for a beginner, and the tripod has already proven itself more than worth its price during this week's assignment, where I was lying on the floor to shoot, with the camera upside down on the tripod's centre column to get as close to the ground as possible.
PhotoShop... flip! I forgot how complicated it is. I last worked on it back at varsity. So this one will take a little longer than the others to prove its worth because I have no idea how it works yet, but it is now loaded on the PC and I'm looking forward to experimenting when I have some time.
This photography course is keeping me smiling in between all the stress of work and TSC writing tests and preparing for exams. Yay for a hobby rediscovered!
21 comments:
You do realise now that you have exactly ZERO excuses for not showing us more photos? ;)
But seriously I'm just a little green with jealousy. J planted the seed of an idea of me getting a DSLR (I have a very nice point and shoot) and now...now it's all I think about! Damn him! Anyone want to sponsor me a couple of grand?
Hehehe... I've wanted one for years. And this post did have some of my photos!
*awesome* I am dying to see the results of your photo course and experiments with the new gear :) And of course here is a little nag for you to start a #365 ;) hahaha. Plus I can completely relate on the rediscovered hobby topic. It can be such fun!
Yay for you!
Fantastic! TSC sounds like a good rationaliser...
Which lenses did you buy? And which Manfrotto tripod? I need one too, also for a photography course!
Phillygirl: As soon as I figure out how to watermark images, I'll post some more (my lecturer has terrified us on the topic of copyright and photo sharing etc. He trusts no-one. Especially not Google or Yahoo).
Hardspear: You have no idea!
CY: My camera came with a little kit lens (18mm - 55mm). I bought a second lens that will allow me to shoot better portrait shots, so I went for the 55mm - 300mm. where are you doing your course?
Hooray! New camera equipment!! Elements!!! Fun fun fun! Can't wait to see results!
i'll email you how to watermark images - well the way i do it anyway!
Stunning pics Tam, well done. I can just hear your excitement!
I am HOPEFULLY (fingers crossed here) getting a whole photo kit, including 2 lenses for my b'day, am so excited i can hardly wait - only a nother month to go!
and then a tripod is on my wishlist for christmas!
did you see the butterfly pics I posted on my blog today? Loved how they came out.
Doing it through Vega in Pretoria. Very excited :) Can you recommend the tripod you have? Which one did you get?
Bagman and Butler: Eep! No pressure, hey? ;-)
Shayne: off to look at the pics now.
CY: Awesome. Would def recommend mine (the Manfrotto 190XDB tripod with 804RC2 threeway head). It's the most popular Manfrotto model with beginners. If you've got the extra bucks, go for the model one up from mine, which has quick lock clamps on each leg. Mine has little screws, which means setting up takes a tiny bit longer. But overall, I'm very happy with mine - it's sturdy, well-made, easy to handle and you can take the centre column out and turn it upside down to hang your camera close to the ground if you need to.
I know how you feel, loving our new camera as well. I also got photoshop elements, and have been trying to figure it out...yet.
Thinking of taking a class too.
Very very nice! You can get some really cool actions here http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/ that'll work with elements, and her tutorials are very very good.
Let me know if you want more, and I'll send you some links
Woohoo sounds fab! I hear you on the consumerism front but sometimes it is totally awesome to splurge and invest in yourself *says the one who sees a pedi as investing in herself*.
I hope to get more into photography next year but for now all I can do is point and shoot - ha ha!
Much of this post is in a mysterious language for me. I never owned a camera til about age 26. So if I can manage to find the button thingy that takes the pictures, that is an acheivement. Your pics look amazing!
Ha, you went to the show! I stopped myself because I was scared of what I would have bought...
Enjoy trhe new cam and post some more pics.
yay indeed! Hobbies are the best....rediscovered hobbies are even better:) Enjoy the stuff and do not spend another second stressing about it:)
Yay for DSLR! The only issue I have with mine is that it's too big to carry around everywhere and so I tend to not use it for long periods of time and then need to spend days getting back into the 'feel' of it.
But there's definitely no going back to point-and-shoot! What lenses did you get?
Photo shop is great! I could spend hours touching up and playing around with the functions. I can't aim a camera though... I'll leave that up to you :)
Your photos are awesome. Now you can never use generics for your blogs. (and maybe turn one into your blog background)
I got a camera too. I am looking to buy new lenses too. Where do you hear about all these fairs? I always feel like such a knob when you mention them and its the first I hear about them...
I am pathetic on photoshop re: pictures. Absolutely pathetic. But I don't mind so much.
Hayley: Ja, I think when I finish my photography class (which I seriously recommend), I'll do a Photoshop course too. I learn far more easily when I can ask someone questions and be shown how to do things, rather than reading a manual.
Jeanette: Thank you! Now I just need to figure out what actions are! LOL. So much to learn.
Benny: Well, personally I HATE pedis, but I think you're making a valid point ;-)
Po: Hehehe... don't worry, I didn't know any of this stuff two weeks ago - this phototgraphy course is teaching me a new language ;-)
Cam: I actually wanted to stay away because of all the temptations, but TSC dragged me there and made sure I spent money. And I'm glad he did ;-)
Ruby: Yes, maam!
Helen: Knowing me I will tote mine everywhere and give myself back ache ;-) I got a Nikon 55 - 300mm VR lens.
Olivia: I need to learn some of your mad skills on PhotoShop!
Paula: Ja, I'll get there. One day. Don't feel like a knob - the only reason I knew about the show was because my lecturer mentioned it and I have a friend who was working there.
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