Damn tax season. It never fails that that influx of cash from my tax return pushes my “instant gratification” button and I Just.Have.To.Buy.Something “for me” (read: expensive). God forbid I do something smart like pay off that last credit card. Oh no. That’s definitely not the American way. Who needs an economic stimulus package when I can just blow my entire tax return? Nevermind the fact that I’m just getting back all those taxes I overpaid over the course of the year. Huh. Maybe I’ll just start calling it my Federal savings account. One I only take a distribution from once a year. Ugh. Nevermind.
Anyway…I’ve really never had a hobby that was mine alone. Volunteer firefighter: group thing. Boat races: again, group thing. One of the things I love the most about reading a few of my staple blogs is their amazing photos. I’ve had a jealous streak a mile long over those gorgeous photos (by the way, I’m a professional “lurker”, so if any of the owners of those fabulous photos makes their way back here, “HI!”). Whether it is just images of day to day life or composition shots, I love the crispness of the photos. The common thread here is they all use a SLR camera vs. a point and shoot. So, I’ve been kicking around the idea for a while about getting a beginners Digital SLR camera and playing around a little myself.
After hours of slogging around on research websites, I’ve settled on a Nikon D40. Since I’m hit or miss on if a new hobby will stick, the combination of raving reviews (it seems the D40 is the go-to camera for professionals who want to take “everyday” pictures) and price seems perfect.
My first real test will be in a few weeks. I’m off to Paris and Orleans, France for work for a week and a half, so we’ll see what turns up. More on that trip later.
February 11, 2008 at 1:36 pm
The camera is half the battle. I use a canon but they are all as good as each other really.
Google the rule of thirds, as once I understood that I started taking much better shots (you can obviously (break the rule, but its nevertheless useful to a beginner like me).
February 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm
“The common thread here is they all use a SLR camera vs. a point and shoot.”
Not true in my case. I do not use a SLR. In fact, I almost always use my Sony H2 while on the auto setting! Drives my (wishes he were pro) dad crazy. I can’t be bothered to invest more in my camera when the one I’ve got produces such great images!
But hey, thanks for the shout-out and kudos!
February 11, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Where is the flickr site w/ your first shot of your thumb in the lens?
February 11, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Dan – Good point, and interesting reading. I had heard of the Rule of Thirds, but always assumed it referred to my only-child theory of “one-third for you..two-thirds for me”, my idea of sharing, as well as the reason I probably should become one of your “Fit Friends”.
Jen – Interesting. I’ll admit I made a (poor) assumption on your part. I had seen the picture of you and your camera on your page, but decided that you had “upgraded”. Wow. That’ll teach me. Your dad should be jealous!
circuitBeta – flickr site and all mistakes on prominent display coming as soon as the new toy shows up from Amazon.com!
February 12, 2008 at 9:42 am
In all fairness, I did get a new lens for Christmas, which I blogged about. It’s a conversion lens, though, and it doesn’t quite work like an interchangeable lens you’d find on a SLR.
Someday I will upgrade, though. Can’t avoid that when we have kids.