Why I think everyone should own a good camera. No Matter What.
On a short trip to Hong Kong a while back… something weird happened to me. I suddenly felt the strong urge buy something I had never considered buying before… a DSLR camera.
(I can almost hear all you girls thinking – that’s not strange, I get the sudden urge to buy something random every weekend)…
Maybe it was all the cameras on display in the shop windows, or perhaps it had something to do with the professional photo I had taken in front of the harbour…
Whatever external factors influenced me that day, it doesn’t really matter to you… what does matter though – is that my decision to buy a camera that day ending up being one of the best things I’ve ever bought. Ever.
Did I say Ever?
How my Canon DSLR photographs the Eiffel tower
On the Auto settings even a dumbie like me can get mind blowing travel photos with a reasonably good camera.
After a while of messing around with my new camera on the auto settings… I put a shoutout to a photographer friend, who was happy to “show me the ropes” over a beer on a sunday afternoon.
It was like a whole new world had just been opened up to me…
My photographer friend explained the basics of photography, and then demonstrated how small changes in the camera settings could completely change the resulting image.
Things like Exposure… Aperture… and Shutter Speed, were all compelely foreign to me…
Barcelona Spain – captured on my Canon 600D
I aint guna lie – it was a little overwhelming at first. But after a little practice… messing around taking photos at different times of day, & in random places… like my local park during the day, the beach at dusk, & in my lounge room at night.
… it really didn’t take that long to pick up which settings to use where, and when. And the best bit, I just deleted my crappy practice shots when my card got full & started the process all over again.
I own a low end Canon 600D (also know as a T3). It’s cheap, but it’s a great camera for learning the ropes without investing a small fortune.
Eventually I’l upgrade to a 60D or something similar, but for now I’m happy learning on what I’ve got.
I didn’t know what I was doing when I bought mine, so I ended up buying it as a kit (camera body & lens)… turns out I could have done my homework & bought “the body” (the actual camera) and a different lens seperately and that would have suited what I wanted to use the camera for better.
Either way…
If you’re planning to take a holiday, or a backpacking trip overseas, or have any kind of big event coming up… I can’t encourage you strongly enough to…
… go out & invest in a DSLR camera to capture your memories
Photographing the longneck hilltribe woman on the Thai – Burma border
Cameras are so cheap now they’re easily within reach of most people. your freakin crazy if you don’t.
The way I see it, you owe it to yourself to have the ability to capture amazing photos that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Seriously, how often do you upgrade your “point-n-shoot” camera anyways? every 2 -3 years at least…
Why not spend a little extra & get something truly amazing that will probably have double if not triple the life?
If you’re looking to pickup a new skill… here’s why I think photography is a great skill to develop…
Take amazing event photos
Birthdays, BBQs, weekend getaways & family portraits… take awesome photos that people will actually be interested in looking at. Come on guys, it’s time to stop forcing your ugly photos on your family & friends.
You can take your hobby anywhere
Your own city, down at the beach during sunset, your local park, a weekend getaway, or a totally new country… photography is 100% portable
Get a fresh perspective
If you want to capture jaw dropping photos, you have to think about a few things first.
Like… what’s the best time to get that shot & which is the best angle to take it from. When looking at a building, or a flower, or a beautiful panoramic view, you will begin to ponder where, when, & how to snatch an awesome photo.
Memories
I’m excited by the thought of getting home & blowing up my favourite photos to hang around my house.
I’m never going to forget my favourite travel memories. Are you?
Compare Canon DSLR prices online Here
BTW – if you liked the photos in this article, why not check out my Travel Photo Gallery
