DrCason.org

A Few Things About My Camera

Posted by Dr. Cason on Saturday, November 8th, 2008

I love photography
I’m a total amateur
But it’s what keeps me interested in it
I Use a Canon Rebel XTi
With a standard lens
I need to get a polarizer, good flash, better lens and come to think of it- a more robust camera
But it doesn’t matter
I still take photos none-the-less
Because it’s about getting out there and trying
I shoot mostly with natural light
Compose my shot right from the get go
Don’t overly rely on post processing
When I need it I will use Adobe Photoshop CS2
I’d like CS3 but can’t justify the expense
You don’t need a good camera to take cool photos
Just the desire to catch a moment otherwise left to your memory
The above photo is taken with an inexpensive point and shoot
It’s one of my favorite photos
Ansel Adams once said:
If it’s not good enough then you’re not close enough
He also said:
It’s not how a photo looks that’s important, but how it makes you feel

Tags: Photography

Filed in My Favorite Photos,The Joy of Photography | 12 responses so far

12 Responses to “A Few Things About My Camera”

Kathleenon 08 Nov 2008 at 5:00 pm 1

Sheila – Thank you so much for this wonderful post. It has exactly the info I was interested in and more. What a great way to present the information! A friend gave me an Ansel Adams book years ago, and I fell in love then with his knowledge of photography. This photo is “absolutely gorgeous” — of course how could you go wrong with such a beautiful subject! It is hard to believe you took this with an inexpensive camera. Very interesting your statement, “Compose my shot right from the get go.” So many just look and shoot and often call this “artsy,” and I find these types of non-composed shots often very boring myself.

I guess I’ll get my present camera out and give it a whirl today, but I definitely want to purchase a Canon Rebel XTi and that standard lens. I just cannot justify anything more expensive at this point for me. I’ll be shopping for the best deal.

I, too, own Adobe CS 2.0. The price for CS 3.0 I just cannot justify either. The package for Adobe CS 2.0 I purchased included Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady, InDesign, and Reader all by Adobe. I purchased this package for a Digital Art class I took at The University of Memphis. I was SO lucky, as I found it for sell on e-Bay, camped out all night at my computer to make sure I could bid the highest, and ended up purchasing it for around $150 (amazing, huh). My copy was used, but the owner transferred the full license to me for this price. I wanted to recommend a wonderful set of training books from Adobe we used. You can purchase the single books, or the package for all the above programs. The name of the series of books is “Classroom in a Book” by Adobe. These books are incredible for learning all the areas of Photoshop and the others as well. You can usually find these online (used) pretty cheap. Here is a link for some examples of this book at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=adobe+classroom+in+a+book&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=1153236221&ref=pd_sl_441277m8wu_b

Thanks again for the encouragement. I can hardly wait to get started again. It must have been the rapid changing in Memphis to our cold weather or something, because I have never seen our trees with such incredible colors and beauty – or maybe I just did not notice before I started enjoying your photography so much. Thank you so much for again renewing my enjoyment and interest in this wonderful hobby.

Kathleens last blog post..Jesse, You’re So Funny . . .
Carrieon 08 Nov 2008 at 6:20 pm 2

Your photos are always beautiful and evoke so much feeling and emotion. Thank you for sharing your tips and congratulations on your Weblog nomination! I hope you win!

Carries last blog post..Sixty Months
Jadenon 08 Nov 2008 at 10:50 pm 3

YAY! I can see your pics when I look at your blog from home I usually check things from work, which is why it took me so long to discover this.

I am so happy to be able to see your awesome photos again!

Thanks for all the tips, I am just getting into photography myself…
Audubon Ronon 08 Nov 2008 at 11:50 pm 4

Thanks for sharing that. It’s not the camera, it’s your eye. You share a special observation. You’re good, srsly.

Audubon Rons last blog post..A Wife of Noble Character
Kristinon 09 Nov 2008 at 1:54 am 5

Photography is art in some peoples hands and documentation in others. I just snap photos. All of my photos are SOTC & I just use my photos to document my life and what I see. If one of the pictures happens to look like art, I just got lucky! You my dear have the photographic eye and I love every photo you post.

Kristins last blog post..I’m famous! for a second
Kylaon 09 Nov 2008 at 2:27 am 6

That IS a great photo. Ahhh, Christmas and kids.

Kylas last blog post..More of the same…
Lisaon 10 Nov 2008 at 7:50 am 7

Nikon D40, and I have no photo programs. All my pics are staight from the camera to you. But I’d love to get adobe…

I would like to learn to take better people shots……

Lisas last blog post..We Shall Overcome
Nikkion 11 Nov 2008 at 1:25 am 8

I use a Nikon D40X I like it but really should figure out how to use it properly… I use a mac and thus am coveting Aperture 2 maybe for Christmas!
Cabeon 11 Nov 2008 at 9:19 am 9

Here Here! Some of my favorite photos have no visual appeal by others, but it’s how the photos makes me feel when I see them. That’s what is beautiful about photography, it can change your outlook on life and your perspective. Amen on that you don’t need a super fancy camera, just the desire and “eye”.

Well put Sheila

Cabes last blog post..VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE! WEEK 4
Lisa's Chaoson 12 Nov 2008 at 3:32 am 10

I love your photo and thoughts of Christmas keep running through my head, I can’t wait to decorate. I’m like you and believe in using the most natural light I can. I hate it when forced to use a flash. And yes, those point and shoots can work just fine.

Lisa’s Chaoss last blog post..Elegant Water Orchid
Charlieon 27 Jan 2009 at 10:38 pm 11

Im glad you find such a joy in taking photos.

Charlies last blog post..Celebration Day
Keri (Auburn Gal Always)on 30 Mar 2009 at 4:55 am 12

I also have a Rebel XTi. For Christmas, The Mighty Hunter (hubby) gave me a new lens. It’s nothing special, really. It’s a 1.4, 50mm. It’s yummmmmmmy. I’m not very good at all. I get maybe 3 shots out of 100. My favorite subjects are my kids. It makes it easier to take beautiful pictures when your subjects are beautiful.

I found you through Google’s suggested reads.

Keri (Auburn Gal Always)s last blog post..WDW self-portraits and supper