A 180 degree turn

So I am suddenly doing a new project because I did not think about needing ethics approval or approval in general on the last one…I will blame it on my extremely sleep deprived brain from having a newborn baby. So no more baby project.

I was waffling between two things that I had started learning years ago, but never finished when life and kids etc. happened. The two things were learning Spanish and learning photography. I had taken several Spanish classes- maybe about 3 or 4, but realized that I was not fluent when I travelled to Mexico a few years ago and could not have a conversation.

The second thing that I have always wanted to learn more about is photography. Years ago I actually won a camera from a photo that I submitted to L’Eau Vive. It was the era of film still.  In fact, though I have a paper copy of the photo somewhere in a box packed away, I can’t even find a digital copy of my winning photo! It was of a canoe in Prince Albert National Park when I was about to go on a canoe trip. I also took a film photography class in 2002 and developed film as a chemistry project in grade 11.

In the end photography won because it something I just never get to and always want to. However, I have been taking all of my photos off of my iPhone lately since all of the point and shoot cameras that I have bought seem to either stop working or something goes wrong with charging/ battery etc. My desire to learn for this project would really be to learn how to use a DSLR. I actually find that the camera on my iPhone 6 is relatively good and I have a few apps. that can edit, but the fact that it is not true to colour when I try to take pictures of the Saskatchewan sky drives me crazy. I also hate it when my pictures are grainy or unclear.

I am about three or four weeks behind on this project. So today I had a really busy day and I have :

1. Gone to Don’s photo and looked at DSLR cameras

2. Realized I could not afford a new one

3. Looked at ads on used Regina

4. Found and bought one on line

5. Picked up and paid for the camera

6. Played around with the camera

I ended up buying a Canon Rebel XS. I went with that camera because the SLR I won 15 or so years ago was also a Canon Rebel. I felt like I should get going on the actual learning how to use the camera so I bought one without doing as much research as I would have liked so hopefully I bought a good camera for a beginner. I spent $400 which was a big purchase for me since I have less than $200 in the bank and need to pay bills and feed my family of 5. I looked up the same camera on Amazon to see how much it would be and feel better knowing that I was in the right range here. Learning Spanish would have been cheaper, but I would not have been so passionate. Plus I keep putting off buying a DSLR because I think they are too expensive, but have gone through 4 or 5 point and shoot cameras lately which adds up to more.

Here are some pictures of my new toy:

This camera only came with one lens, but if I ever get really good I can buy another one.

There was no manual so I will definitely have to teach myself by going on line.

Goals for the project:

1. To be able to take picture of the sunrise or sunset with true colours

2. To be able to take a good close up shot

3. To be able to take a good action shot

4. To be able to take a good landscape shot

5. To understand and be able to use (& explain) all of the functions on the dials of the camera

The word good is subjective so to define what it means:

-clear and in focus

– true colours

– not grainy

Here are some of the photos that I have taken recently:

Considering they are all just off my iPhone, I think they are fairly good shots.
My goals for this week will be to figure out what all the symbols and functions on the dial and camera do.

I also took a few pictures without knowing what I was doing really. (and apparently can’t find some because they aren’t on the memory card!) Here is one of the tree outside my living room window today. I have lots of room for improvement! Clearly another goal will be to make sure that they actually stay on the memory card…

I am uber excited about this project, way more excited than I ever was about my baby project and cannot wait to keep going!

I look forward to your comments.