blueberryicedcoffee
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2014
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 2
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Hey guys. This is my first post on the forum, and I have some questions about... everything. I'm still a beginner, so bear with me through this maze of idiotic questions.
A little info first. I live in Southern Illinois, and there is nothing to photograph. Okay, maybe corn. And wheat. And beans. And the occasional tobacco farm.
You get the idea. It's really flat and relatively un-scenic. It there a photography term for un-scenic? I don't know. There are some interesting places; some parks, Garden of the Gods, but that's it. It's hard to photograph this area, especially someone like me. I've realized the past two months taking photos with my Iphone 5s that I really enjoy two types of photography: Symmetrical stuff and some landscape. Mostly symmetrical architecture. I really enjoy the work some professionals like Ravi Vora and Pei Ketron put into their work to find the beauty in man-made objects.
I went to Atlanta recently and it was a lovely place to photograph. Not only the architecture, but I got some decent photos of people and got a feel for landscape as well (the mountains around there are beautiful).
So, my first question: what should I do? I'm not exaggerating when I say there's simply not much stuff around here to take photos of. No gorgeous landscapes, no fancy buildings, no beautiful people. There is a lot of dirt, if you're a fan of dirt.
So, on to my next long story.
I have an instagram account, that none of you shall ever find (maybe if I become a pro one day you guys can see it ) I am friends with a very, very successful pro photographer family on there. So, I was in Atlanta for a week, snapping some pictures and putting some on instagram occasionally. The pros were very impressed with some of the pictures I took. It made me happy. One of them said they'd like to "groom me" and make me a part of their "family" (they are a family of four, and they are very well known, great, great, great great great Wedding photographers in the area).
I guess I know what they mean. I need some "grooming". For you NFL fans, I'm like a rookie 4th rounder with a lot of upside that needs a lot of coaching and seasoning. I need a lot more experience. That brings me to my next question...
Cameras. Cameras everywhere. I won't become the photographer I want to be with my iphone. I need a DSLR. I need something that I can crop a bit without sacrificing image quality. I need Aperture Priority.
I also need one that doesn't cost $5000.
I was talking to my brother yesterday, who had a short-stint as a Portrait photographer (it didn't work out...), and he said to go with Canon. He said that any of the Canon EOS models should be fine.
I asked another professional photographer while I was in Atlanta, and he said Nikons are good. "Go with the D3300 or the D5100".
I asked my photographer family friends, and I already knew what they would say. "Canon", they said authoritatively. I know they use Canons. I've been to Weddings they've photographed, and I know they take at least $100,000 worth of Canon equipment with them. At least. This is also a family that only uses Apple products and has owned every model of the Iphone/Ipad/Macbook that has ever existed (no joke). So while I appreciated the advice, I already know what they would say.
Ta-da! That's why I'm asking you guys! I need more opinions and more advice.
I'm not drawn to any specific make/model.
I want 18 megapixels or more.
I want to be able to take good low-light photos.
I want to be able to take good portraits.
I also want to know about buying used. With buying new, you know what you're getting - a new, functional camera for full price. If you buy used, you can either 1) get a great deal or 2) get absolutely screwed. So I'd like some info on that.
And the toughest one...
I want to spend $800 or less.
TL;DR version: recommend the best camera possible for a budding photographer for $800 bucks or less.
Thanks for reading my long, boring post, and thanks for the help (unless you didn't read it, jerk) JK.
A little info first. I live in Southern Illinois, and there is nothing to photograph. Okay, maybe corn. And wheat. And beans. And the occasional tobacco farm.
You get the idea. It's really flat and relatively un-scenic. It there a photography term for un-scenic? I don't know. There are some interesting places; some parks, Garden of the Gods, but that's it. It's hard to photograph this area, especially someone like me. I've realized the past two months taking photos with my Iphone 5s that I really enjoy two types of photography: Symmetrical stuff and some landscape. Mostly symmetrical architecture. I really enjoy the work some professionals like Ravi Vora and Pei Ketron put into their work to find the beauty in man-made objects.
I went to Atlanta recently and it was a lovely place to photograph. Not only the architecture, but I got some decent photos of people and got a feel for landscape as well (the mountains around there are beautiful).
So, my first question: what should I do? I'm not exaggerating when I say there's simply not much stuff around here to take photos of. No gorgeous landscapes, no fancy buildings, no beautiful people. There is a lot of dirt, if you're a fan of dirt.
So, on to my next long story.
I have an instagram account, that none of you shall ever find (maybe if I become a pro one day you guys can see it ) I am friends with a very, very successful pro photographer family on there. So, I was in Atlanta for a week, snapping some pictures and putting some on instagram occasionally. The pros were very impressed with some of the pictures I took. It made me happy. One of them said they'd like to "groom me" and make me a part of their "family" (they are a family of four, and they are very well known, great, great, great great great Wedding photographers in the area).
I guess I know what they mean. I need some "grooming". For you NFL fans, I'm like a rookie 4th rounder with a lot of upside that needs a lot of coaching and seasoning. I need a lot more experience. That brings me to my next question...
Cameras. Cameras everywhere. I won't become the photographer I want to be with my iphone. I need a DSLR. I need something that I can crop a bit without sacrificing image quality. I need Aperture Priority.
I also need one that doesn't cost $5000.
I was talking to my brother yesterday, who had a short-stint as a Portrait photographer (it didn't work out...), and he said to go with Canon. He said that any of the Canon EOS models should be fine.
I asked another professional photographer while I was in Atlanta, and he said Nikons are good. "Go with the D3300 or the D5100".
I asked my photographer family friends, and I already knew what they would say. "Canon", they said authoritatively. I know they use Canons. I've been to Weddings they've photographed, and I know they take at least $100,000 worth of Canon equipment with them. At least. This is also a family that only uses Apple products and has owned every model of the Iphone/Ipad/Macbook that has ever existed (no joke). So while I appreciated the advice, I already know what they would say.
Ta-da! That's why I'm asking you guys! I need more opinions and more advice.
I'm not drawn to any specific make/model.
I want 18 megapixels or more.
I want to be able to take good low-light photos.
I want to be able to take good portraits.
I also want to know about buying used. With buying new, you know what you're getting - a new, functional camera for full price. If you buy used, you can either 1) get a great deal or 2) get absolutely screwed. So I'd like some info on that.
And the toughest one...
I want to spend $800 or less.
TL;DR version: recommend the best camera possible for a budding photographer for $800 bucks or less.
Thanks for reading my long, boring post, and thanks for the help (unless you didn't read it, jerk) JK.