What I would get if I wanted to get started in digital photography. Any used DSLR camera (right) with its kit lens, a 50mm lens (the one in the picture has a maximum aperture of f 1.8 and Adobe Lightroom (latest version is #4). Add your computer whatever platform it is . If your computer is too old to run version 4, get the one which will meet Adobe’s minimum specs.
The average camera owner tends to buy more camera than they need.
It’s only natural.
Who can pass up on a good deal?
So what if they don’t know what built-in HDR, Live View or Automatic White Balance bracketing means?
Those cameras look impressive especially if they spring for those white lenses or ones with a gold ring around the barrel.
Here are my suggestions if you’re toying with the idea of picking up photography as a hobby.
These suggestions also apply if you’ve bought a DSLR and are unhappy with your pictures.
My cat Shiva photographed against her favorite white sheet. On automatic exposure mode the programming for the camera would suggest an exposure that would favor not clipping the highlights on the right side of the histogram. That would surely mean letting in less light so that Shiva would be under-exposed.The histogram of Shiva’s picture shows clipped highlights on the right represented by the loss of detail in the white sheets she is laying on.
The ‘right’ exposure for any scene is actually quite arbitrary.
And that’s where most folks falter.
The correct, proper or right exposure depends wholly on what your subject is.
Until you, the photographer decides what your subject is, the histogram is just a guide for you to get a best guess to capture the entire scene. Continue reading Histogram & Exposure Basics→
Muka Head beach on the island of Penang where I was born is today a nature reserve and thank goodness. I wonder if the waters are still as clean today.My son playing basketball at the YMCA. When this was taken, he was 7. Time flies.ISO 1600 1/125 sec @f2.8
I don’t recall exactly when I made this conscious decision to include people.
Most of my pictures have people in them.
Not unlike many of you, I was first drawn to scenics and landscapes.
