I don’t think I ever told this story on the blog before. You might find it interesting. It’s the story of how I got into photography.
I had taken a photography class when I was in middle school. Learned how to push the shutter release button and, mostly, develop black and white film in a darkroom. I don’t recall that I took a lot of great pictures. Maybe a couple. More importantly, I liked it. I still have one of the pictures.
A couple of decades later found me doing desktop support at Marquette University’s college of communication. I liked that job. The college always had something cool going on computer-wise. No spreadsheet jockeys, these students; they were on multimedia missions. So I wasn’t surprised when they presented me with bunch of boxes and said “figure these out.”
They were cameras. Digital cameras. They were turning the college’s photography operations digital. And I had to learn to use them so I could support other people when they had problems.
So I took one home and started shooting with it. I kept on taking it home for weeks. And I shot a lot of pictures.
The thing about shooting a lot of pictures is that sooner or later you get lucky. You take something really good. After a while I started asking myself what made the good ones good.
Even though I loved it, eventually I had to give up that camera. As I recall, it was (of all things) an Epson PhotoPC 3100 Zoom. Had a swell little neoprene crushable wrap for it. With velcro. To keep rain out. I loved that thing, too.
It wasn’t long before I splurged on a camera of my own. I read a lot of reviews. I did a lot of research. And I bought a Canon Powershot G2. Ran me about $500.
I learned a lot of things with that camera. Like how to suppress the flash, how to force the flash, and how to spot-meter. I took some pretty decent photos with it.
When the G2 started to get a little long in the tooth, I took the plunge and got a SLR-type camera. This time a Nikon: The D50.
A guy I knew loaned me a really nice lens: A Nikkor 18-35, I think. F/2.8 all the way through the zoom. With the D50 and that lens, I really began to get some results. But I didn’t take a big leap in understanding until I had to give it back. By then I had gotten used to good glass and had to buy my own. More research. But the prices! Financing this hobby was becoming a problem.
It was around this time when a friend who knew of my interest in photography asked me to shoot her wedding. I said no. She said she wouldn’t take no for an answer. So I said I’d do it–if she paid me enough to buy a lens fast enough to do the job. She agreed, and I bought myself a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8. Still use it regularly.
I shot the hell out of that wedding, let me tell you. With workmanlike results, maybe–but what it lacked in artistry I made up for with enthusiasm and thoroughness. Nobody told me that you couldn’t just pick up a camera and be a photographer, so I just did it. Fortunately, I was able to draw on some other skills I had: how to talk to people, how to get them to do what I needed them to do, and how to be unobtrusive during special moments.
I shot a couple more weddings. With the proceeds I bought new and better equipment. A Nikon D300. An array of fast zooms and some sharp primes. External flashes and diffusers. I started to think a lot about light, how I could use it, how I could manipulate it.
Soon I doubled my price, made a web site, got business cards and wrote up a simple wedding photography contract. I was in business. And business was good. Advertising in Craig’s List, I was shooting a wedding every month. And that’s about as busy as I wanted to be, having a family and full-time day job.
And, yes, I claimed every penny of income on my taxes–and wrote off every expense, too. I found that if I advertised a lot I could easily pocket an extra $10,000 a year working less than 30 hours a month.
I’m teacher at heart, so it wasn’t long before I attempted to share my newfound knowledge with others. I published three photography articles at Lifehacker.com. They were well-received.
Through it all, from the first days of that old Epson digital right through to today, I had help. Mostly in the form of Dan Johnson, chief photographer at Marquette. He encouraged me. He gave me good advice. And he asked me piercing questions about the fundamentals of photography that I still think about every time I pick up a camera.
So that’s how it happened. Bit by the shutter bug one minute, part-time pro the next. I still have a lot to learn. Even if I did this for the rest of my life I don’t think I could know everything. That’s one of the things that’s so appealing about photography, I think: the rules are simple, like chess. But like chess, it can take a lifetime to master–and the variability is almost endless.
Bonus: The three most important things people can do to improve their photos.
1. Get closer
2. Get even closer than that.
3. No, really–closer
Don’t shoot things the way your eye sees them. Fill the frame with your subject. Just doing that one thing will probably improve most amateur snapshots by 50%. Now you know.
Very cool. Thanks for posting that.
Great article Scott – it is good knowing that I am on the right track – just the love of photography can take you a long way. Although I prefer to work weddings from the video side, I really enjoy taking pictures of nature and events. I plan on going pretty much down the same path – working my D40 to the bone until I feel I am ready to move ahead. Right now I need to get better and remembering to grab my camera when I leave the house. I am thinking that a new case and longer strap will help with that.
Early on I thought I needed a really long neck strap so I could wear my camera bandolier-style across my chest. This turned out to be a really silly idea on my part. Eventually I learned how to wear the strap on my right shoulder such that the lens pointed at my back instead of sticking out dangerously. I find the stock strap of a DSLR is long enough for this if you take out all the slack.
Be careful about straps, though. Just a week ago I had one come off unexpectedly. Luckily I didn’t have $2,000 worth of gear go clattering to the floor. I’d put on a new strap a couple of weeks earlier and I either didn’t put it on quite right or it just sucks.
Also, I have three camera bags right now. By far my favorite one is the Domke Supercompact. I found one for like $85, though. It’s a terrific bag for one camera and an extra lens and some batteries and flash. A good bag to shoot out of. I also have two Lowepro Slinshots.
Funny how things work. I’ve gone back & forth with you a few times on other blogs (and most often disagree, but consider and appreciate your take on things). At some point, I clicked on the link that brought me here. Now to the amusing part – I also happen to be a Lifehacker reader & am looking to purchase my first DSLR. While doing a little reading there, I came across your articles there, which…brought me back here.
It’s a small internet! So what are you thinking about buying?
Well my head’s spinning a bit from info overload actually. Initially I was just thinking of getting started with a D3000 – but then read some opinions that it’s foolish to not bump up to the D5000 to get a much better sensor, plus video (which is only a minor factor for me). The other thing is that it sounds like the ADR in the 3000 can really add significant lag and with a 5 frame buffer, it’s not difficult to get stuck waiting. One of the reasons for moving up from point & click is that we want to get past the lag times. The 5000 has more options with ADR which I’d hope would help. I’ve also spent a lot of time at Ken Rockwell’s site and he’s so glowing about the D40 but they’re not really available new anymore & I’m not comfortable going used (unless it was someone I trusted) since I wouldn’t be able to really tell if everything is working correctly right away. Oh and not to mention, I’m seeing both the D3000 & 5000 out of stock at some places – which makes me wonder if it’s just a supply hiccup or of there’s something more going on, like maybe a product refresh.
Anyway, ramble over. Any suggestions or recommendations?
The things I care about in a camera body are 1) low noise in poorly lighted shots and 2) dedicated buttons for functions instead of having to dig around in menus. After that, I rely on my lenses and my know-how.
And don’t be limited to one brand. Go Nikon or Canon, for sure. But choose between them by a) whatever you can get a deal on and b) if you have a friend who has that brand of gear you can borrow.
Lenses are key. The “kit lens” that comes with the camera is often not very good at anything in particular. I’m partial to lenses that have a fast aperture. Even my zoom lenses have a constant f/2.8. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about I can explain it!)
Getting an inexpensive Nikon body and a 50mm f/1.8 will take you a long way. I shot my entire trip to Chicago just the other day with a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 and the other photogs were jealous of the results, especially in indoor lighting situations. Plus it’s great for portraits.
A lot can depend on what kind of pictures you want to take. What are you interested in?
I’ve been partial to Nikon in part because that’s what I used years ago when I had a 35mm film camera & the time to play with it. Being more tech geek, I was amazed at how much thought & foresight they put in to maintaining compatibility between lenses & bodies so that pulled me that direction as well. But I suppose I should give Canon a look as well.
Having read the second part of your Lifehacker piece, I do have an idea what you’re talking about as far as aperture – though I hadn’t considered how it varied between lenses. Actually as far as lenses, all I know is that lens choice is very important and that comparing some simple tests with VR/stabilization on and off, I pretty well convinced I want it.
As far as what pictures I want to take – for the most part, the world revolves around my kids. Though I do find myself enjoying birdwatching at the backyard feeder more than I ever thought & would like to get shots of them as well. Generally all of the point & click digital cameras I’ve used have taken fine pictures outside in decent light (though looking forward to being able to do depth of field). The indoor shots – even with decent light – have been _really_ disappointing with our current Cybershot.
Go with Nikon then. I did mostly serendipitously. But now that I’m here, I have no regrets at all.
Also, I like stabilization. I just can’t afford it on the fast-aperture lenses I want! And when forced to choose between the two I have so far gone fast aperture.
The lens I use the most is probably my 18-50mm f/2.8 Sigma. It’s good in low light and able to take group shots and even landscape and architecture. It’s the one I use to shoot groups of 2-20 people when I work a wedding reception. The one I enjoy the most is my 85mm f/1.8, though. It’s like magic for a portrait and is fantastic in indoor light. I also have a 50-150mm f/2.8 Sigma for wedding ceremonies where I can’t get too close. The best bargain in Nikon lenses has to be their 5omm f/1.8. For $125 you get a super bright, super sharp lens that’s good for portraits or 2-3 people. Just an all around handy lens that gives a high quality image. You have to zoom with your feet but most people choose to live with that handicap when they see the results.
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