I actually started liking photography when I was in high school, I use to own a Nikon FM-2 Film SLR camera, but taking pictures then was an expensive hobby specially when you have to constantly buy film and pay for development. You can't ill afford to be shutter happy too, as 36 shots after; you are done, I remember buying those cheap ass YKL films just to maximize my money. By the time I was in college, the interest waned and the SLR camera just did not see the light of day again. As time goes on, the idea of taking a picture was using the ubiquitous point and shoot digital camera. But in come 2008 and the Digital SLR, or DSLR for short phenomenon was on its high gear... the technology has gotten to a point that camera companies like Canon and Nikon can now offer their once expensive gears to ordinary middle class hobbyist, and in a snap, people started want to own one.
I bought my first Digital SLR from Amazon.com it was too hard to pass up as its cheaper by almost 7k if bought here in the Philippines, was lucky my parents was there on vacation, so they just brought it back with them. Got myself a Canon Rebel XS / 1000D. It is a 10 megapixel cam, entry level DSLR. It has a kit lens, the 18-55mm with Image Stabilizer. I then started to re-learn the basics of photography, shutter speed, aperture, but at same time has to learn some new stuff that old SLR did not have then Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, the old film ASA is now called ISO (since their is no film now but data to be stored on a memory card), this is its film equivalent. Shooting these days is also a very instant gratification thing, in the past you need at least a few days from shooting to development to see your masterpieces. Today, take a picture, see it in seconds, don't like the shot? Easy, delete the shot and take a new one until the one you like comes up. But at the end of the day, its still taking pictures and these are the memories that you keep until one gets old...
Anyway, after a year, I found the camera to be lacking and the new models coming out are featuring High Definition videos too. In come the Canon 550D, its a high end entry level of Canon, decided to get this one rather their mid level model 7D because the money saved here can get me a very good lens. The days of using cheap lower end lens for me is starting to set in. In a year of shooting, I got to learn that not all lens are created equal, in Canon parlance, the red lined L lens are the ones you had to have. And I got myself two in the span of two months. The EF 17-40mm F4L and the EF 70-200 F4L IS USM. And all I can say is WOW, pictures captured by these lenses were sharper, the build quality of the lenses are nothing short of extraordinary, its weather sealed. its got Canon's proprietary USM (Ultra Sonic Motor), this is the motor that make the Lens' Auto Focus move, and its very silent unlike the non USM lens. As they say, you get what you pay for.
I bought my first Digital SLR from Amazon.com it was too hard to pass up as its cheaper by almost 7k if bought here in the Philippines, was lucky my parents was there on vacation, so they just brought it back with them. Got myself a Canon Rebel XS / 1000D. It is a 10 megapixel cam, entry level DSLR. It has a kit lens, the 18-55mm with Image Stabilizer. I then started to re-learn the basics of photography, shutter speed, aperture, but at same time has to learn some new stuff that old SLR did not have then Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, the old film ASA is now called ISO (since their is no film now but data to be stored on a memory card), this is its film equivalent. Shooting these days is also a very instant gratification thing, in the past you need at least a few days from shooting to development to see your masterpieces. Today, take a picture, see it in seconds, don't like the shot? Easy, delete the shot and take a new one until the one you like comes up. But at the end of the day, its still taking pictures and these are the memories that you keep until one gets old...
Anyway, after a year, I found the camera to be lacking and the new models coming out are featuring High Definition videos too. In come the Canon 550D, its a high end entry level of Canon, decided to get this one rather their mid level model 7D because the money saved here can get me a very good lens. The days of using cheap lower end lens for me is starting to set in. In a year of shooting, I got to learn that not all lens are created equal, in Canon parlance, the red lined L lens are the ones you had to have. And I got myself two in the span of two months. The EF 17-40mm F4L and the EF 70-200 F4L IS USM. And all I can say is WOW, pictures captured by these lenses were sharper, the build quality of the lenses are nothing short of extraordinary, its weather sealed. its got Canon's proprietary USM (Ultra Sonic Motor), this is the motor that make the Lens' Auto Focus move, and its very silent unlike the non USM lens. As they say, you get what you pay for.
So now, I am in the process of learning more about IR photography, have to also learn more about the different filters to further improve all those photos. I think what makes this hobby fun is you are capturing a moment in time in your own personal circle's life and being or even other people's too. And in essence as other people have said before. Its freezing time itself. Lately, I have seen myself liking to take people's photographs than the usual landscapes but in the end this thing is really therapeutic for me. Just like watching movies on my HT does for me.
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