Friday, July 2, 2010

My photography journey: 9 months of using a DSLR

I used to prefer my Sony Cybershot P&S because it was simpler to use.  I was intimidated by our Pentax DSLR and I always handed it off to my husband while I used the P&S.  Well, the P&S began to die and I figured after owning a DSLR for a year, I should probably learn how to use it.  So here is my path of learning to use my DSLR—it’s not the camera that takes good photos, but rather the user who knows how to use the equipment to take good photos.

(These are all straight off the camera, unless otherwise noted.)

Oct 6, 2009 Not understanding composition and used onboard flashIMGP1850

Nov 8,  2009 Beginning to understand basics of composition but still using onboard flashIMGP1944

Nov 21st  After I read my  camera manual and started using the creative settings instead of auto (cropped only)IMGP2047_crop IMGP2065_crop

Nov 29, 2009 Still not understanding indoor photography and still using onboard flashIMGP2184 

Dec 6, 2009 Began reading photography forums but I didn’t have the equipment to take indoor photos. Understood more about composition, avoiding limb chopping, and not using onboard flash.  Still not shooting in manual.IMGP2839 IMGP2711

Dec 30, 2009 Finally branching out into manual and understanding more about settings and using the light in my house due to a lack of lenses and external flashesIMGP3164

Jan 2, 2009 Purchase Lightscoop, but still blurry photosIMGP3241

Jan 4, 2010 Beginning to find my style of ‘capturing the moment’ and learning to fix white balance in postIMGP3309 IMGP3309_edit

Jan 7, 2010 Telling a storyIMGP3557

Jan 17, 2010  Trying to do studio photoshoots without studio equipmentIMGP4166

Jan 22, 2010 Testing a friend’s Nikon D90 after my Pentax died Picture 010 DSC_0204 DSC_0193

Jan 23, 2010 Purchasing a Nikon D90, 50mm f/1.8 and SB600 SpeedlightDSC_00502 DSC_00692 

Jan 31, 2010 Learning speedlight to improve indoor photosDSC_10016_straight

Feb 3, 2010 Working on perspectiveDSC_0056

Feb 12, 2010 Working on outdoor photosDSC_0345 

Feb 21, 2010  Attempting another studio photo shootDSC_0916

Feb 27, 2010 Working on telling a storyDSC_1171

Mar 10, 2010 Working on focus on the eyesDSC_1737

March 19 Remembering to focus on other details besides facesDSC_2482

March 27, 2010  Giving up on studio photo shoots and embracing my style with candidsDSC_3147  DSC_3123 DSC_3144 DSC_3448DSC_3441 

April 7  Photos for a friendDSC_3960

April 13 Understanding depth of field and how it can add interest to a photoDSC_4505

April 23  Learning about silhouettes and backlightingDSC_5007

April 25  Learning to get composition right in camera and not rely on editing/cropping.  Experimenting with macros without a macro lens.  Understanding lens distortion and wide angle.DSC_5145  DSC_5293 DSC_5158 DSC_5196

April 26  Understanding sunflare and backlighting

DSC_5340 DSC_5355

Apr 26 More macro and silhouetteDSC_5381 

May 15  Inanimate objects and using location to help tell a storyDSC_6434 DSC_6428 DSC_6344

edit:DSC_6344_edit_Wm

May 25 Working on close-upsDSC_6979

May 29 Capturing motionDSC_7142

June 1 Getting exposure right in cameraDSC_7279

June 5  Another studio photo shootDSC_7538

June 16 Purposeful limb choppingDSC_7879

June 18  Confident using full manual outdoors with high overhead sunDSC_7916 

June 19 More macroDSC_8015

June 22  Working toward reducing editing heavy hand

(Before)DSC_8103

(After)DSC_8103_edit_wm 

I’ll be interested to see what the next 9 months brings!

6 comments:

Ashley Sisk said...

What a wonderful journey - thanks so much for sharing!

Oh how I love..... said...

I loved going through that! Very interesting and it makes me wish I had documented my own journey with photography. I guess it is not too late to start since I still have a long, long way to go!

TOLIVER FAMILY said...

i LOVED OVED LOVED seeing/ reading your journey. you've come a long way and that give me hope that maybe i too can get there at some point when i can dedicate more time! thx for sharing!

Wendy said...

That was wonderful - so great to see how you've grown as a photographer! Thank you for sharing :)

Jaime O. said...

You have come a long way. I too am on that journey, trying to hone my skills day by day. Some of my first pictures still scare me.

I always love the moments you capture with your kids.

Anonymous said...

This post is amazing! I love the way you walked me through your journey. As a newbie it makes me hopeful that I too can improve. You are a great photographer!