Henri Cartier-Bresson
It's been a tiring week. First there was the excitement of Mr Obama's inauguration. Then there was the loss of my camera. I realise that losing my camera has little impact on world peace or the global economy, but to me it was a big deal. Goodness knows what happened to it. A squirrel broke into the house and ate it, most likely.
I'd always promised myself that when my camera broke, or was lost, or stopped working, I would buy myself a digital SLR and a tripod so I could take 'proper' pictures. Needless to say, I chickened out of that, thanks to a complete inability to read manuals or cope with bits of camera kit.
My friend Graham Rice recommended what sounded like an excellent book about photographing plants on his blog, the Transatlantic Plantsman just before Christmas. If you're interested, it's called Macro Photography For Gardeners and Nature Lovers, by Alan Detrick, and it's available both in the States and in the UK. I came across a copy in the Wisley bookshop, and it did indeed look fascinating. Trouble is, I couldn't understand a word.
So I bought a pocket-sized point-and-shoot, a Nikon Coolpix, which, the nice John Lewis salesman assured me, was absolutely foolproof. It had an anti-camera-shake device, he said, and face detection. I said I didn't want face detection, I wanted flower detection. Well, he said, with 5 x optical zoom and 10 megapixels, I should be able to take pictures of flowers without them looking like fuzzy white blobs, or indeed, tiny fuzzy white blobs. As for operating it, piece of cake. Just plug it into the computer, and that would be that.
What a load of absolute tosh! When I unwrapped it, I found two rather fearsome-looking cables, not one but TWO cds, the usual guff about guarantees and no lithium battery. No, wait: what is that taped to the underside of the packaging where no one would spot it in a million years? Could it be ... yes, it is a lithium battery.
There was a dinky little charger for the lithium battery, so I attached it to the power cable and prepared to charge the battery. The power cable wouldn't stay put. I tried again. It fell out again. Eventually I managed to wedge it into place with a copy of Tennyson's Poetical Works.
Finally, I attempted to plug in the cable that connects the camera to the computer. It wouldn't go in! Nooooooooooo! That does it, I thought, I'm taking this back to the shop. Hang on, maybe that was the wrong end? I tried it the other way round, and it seemed to fit. Oh, the relief!
After two days, I am still on page one of the manual. I'm going to go and lie down now.
20 comments:
I'll tell you a secret, Victoria: I bought a digital SLR two years ago. I use it all the time, and I still don't understand all the nuances of depth of field and ISO, etc etc. I bought two extra lenses (macro and 70-300 zoom) and do just fine with it even though I DON'T understand all those nuances. I fix things a little bit in Photoshop or in iPhoto, and everyone thinks I'm a brilliant photographer...well, they will till they read my comment.
And I have all kinds of books, and have taken a couple of workshops, but the best way to get comfortable with a camera--any camera--is to just go out and take lots and lots of photos. Pushkin will expect to become a fine subject!
Oh Victoria, this made me smile, I am sure you will get the hang of it. Although I haven't used this camera - I have heard they are very good.
Keep reading the manual (lol)
I look forward to seeing you photo opportunities in the "fullness of time"
K
You poor thing! I wish you all the luck in the world figuring it out- nothing is simple when it comes to technology! I am considering getting into the world of SLR- but thankfully my husband is a tweak! And it has rubbed off on me after 15 years :) Nothing is simple, and I'm still a little nervous jumping in!
Thank god I'm not the only one who feels this way about photography!! I try to understand it, but at the end of the day I don't have patience to learn it. So, I guess we are stuck with the ol' point-and-shoot.
I sympathise fully. My son rolls his eyes when I insist on reading the manual.
things like cameras, computers, & dvd-player hookups is why i have a 23-yr. old dtr. if you don't, borrow one from a friend & have him/her explain the camera to you. much easier than trying to figure out a manual that was written for people who don't need to read a manual.
Up until around November time, last year, ALL the pictures on both my Blogs were taken with a Nikon Coolpix(P1), which I had been using for almost 3 years. I still use it a lot, despite being bought a digital SLR for my 50th. They are great little cameras and particularly good at close work. If you need a hand shout, I am no expert, but I suspect I can point you in the right direction with it having one myself.
As for digital SLRs, I picked mine on the basis that I could actually hold it and not drop it! I have small hands and found many too bulky/heavy/unwieldy to hold. Tom has had a Nikon D70 since they came out (think Emma has one too) , and its a brilliant camera, but it was too large for my hands. I got a D40 instead because the body is small enough for me to hold securely. I have Nikkor 18 -55 and a 55-200 VR DX lenses for it at the mo, an SB600 flash unit, and a Manfrotto Modo lightweight and compact tripod and head. This all packs into a small camera rucksack and is easy to take out on walks. I'll bring in with me when we go snowdrop adventuring, and you can have a play and see if you like it.
I am still learning to use it and hope to take myself on a 'get to know your DSLR' type evening class at some point in the not too distant future.
Just have lots of fun, that's the great thing with digital cameras - you can experiment all you like, and just delete it if it does work out, but every time you do play with it, you learn something new, without needing to understand all the really technical stuff.
Zoë
xXx
Jodi: I suspect (well, I know, from reading your blog) that your brain is far more advanced than mine. But you're right: I'm going to get out there and use it asap. As soon as I've loaded the software...
Karen: I'm glad I made you laugh. I felt like screaming!
DirtDigger and Wicked Gardener: There ought to be a society - or maybe a charity - for people like us.
Easygardener and Petoskystone: I was going to ask my 18-year-old son to set the whole thing up for me. But then I thought it would be good for my soul to do it myself. And spookily, his camera went missing around the same time as mine. I can't help thinking the two events are connected...
Zoe: I'm so glad you think it's a good buy. It wasn't the cheapest, but it seemed to have all the features I wanted - mainly efficiency, accuracy and the small size. I was getting a bit fed up with my old camera (a Pentax Pentio) because I seemed increasingly to get camera shake. Old age, I guess. And I never seemed to be able to photograph anything close-up very well.
Hi Victoria, HA, good old Tennyson. I have a secret way when buying a new camera to save brain cells and keep the blood pressure low. I don't load the software into the computer for the new camera. I exchange the photo memory card with my old camera to use the same program old program. Of course losing one's camera prevents that sometimes, but for future use, just take the card out when you want to load your photos. No need to fool with that new cord, it can stay neatly in the box. And have fun taking zillions of garden photos. Now all we need is spring.
Frances
Oh you poor thing! You sound like me... I am sorry to say. However, you seem to have determination and that is good. Machines and I have never gotten along and I consider cameras to be machines.
LOL! It will be all right, I promise. Those little point and shoots can do a lot these days.
I actually have a digital SLR with some fancy lenses, and I still use my digital point and shoot for most of my garden photography. The SLR I use mainly for canoe trips...
But if you do decide to take the plunge, the SLR will be the more versatile of the two, and as Jodi says, they don't have to be all that complicated. You can make them "point and shoot" as well, with the added advantage of better lenses.
Victoria, what kind of camera did you lose? I ask because I made the switch to digital within the last two years and I've been slowly giving away my analog equipment. If you could use a Canon AE-1 (in excellent working condition), email me at acmeplant@gmail.com and we can arrange for me to send it. I may also have a power winder somewhere.
I'm sure we'll be seeing some fantastic photos soon :-)
I've been thinking about treating myself to a Digital SLR, for years I trudged around with a compact Nikon SLR - it's been to all corners of the world with me. But I suspect I'd miss the convenience of our tiny Fuji digital which can pop into a pocket and go everywhere with me!
Have fun!
Celia
I've still got all my old analogue SLR equipment and look at it fondly from time to time. I haven't quite made the plunge to go digital SLR - yet.
NAH bought me a digital point and shoot last year because I was constantly using his for my blog pictures. I have to say I've taken loads more photos than I probably would have with an SLR simply because it's just so easy to carry around with me the whole time. It also means there's been more blog posts because I've been able to react immediately to something I've seen.
Yes, I do miss all the manipulation you can do with an SLR, but the point and shoot has made me work around its shortcomings and think about different photos to the ones that I usually try to capture with an SLR but can't.
So actually it's improved my photography and made me a lot more thoughtful about it without the need of added complexity.
Hi Victoria,
I was supposed to read the manual?
I think I know where it is. I was so intimidated I just started playing around with my camera, but I should do things properly and try to read , if not necessarily understand it!
Ok, you have prompted me to read it now.
Warm regards,
Philip
I love my little canon powershot with image stabilization, but for Christmas this years my parents got me an SLR and I am truly enjoying the manual focus on it. I have to read more on the SLR so I know what I'm doing, unlike the point and shoot, but I, like you, am hopeful I can get more "professional" shots. If cameras ever truly become plug and play pigs will fly.
Oh, this is priceless and too close to home. It has taken me 3 months to decide which camera to buy. So I tried the Nikon D60 because there was a really excellent deal...I can't make heads or tails out of the instructions...and it won't quit raining for me to try shooting outside photos. I am now the proud owner of a field guide to this camera! It is an excellent guide and a much better then the manual. Maybe there is something similar for your camera! I think we can do this Victoria! Good luck. Gail
I've just come over to your blog from Bliss. I read your comment on Alison Uttley's wonderful books, and they were what had come into my mind when I read Yolanda's post on first gardening books! Enjoyed your blog very much, I'll drop by again soon,Thanks for amusing me!
I'm in love with my Canon digital SLR. Am I a nerd? Yes, very probably. But Jodi's right, just snap away until you get something halfway decent and delete the rest.
In the interim - while you work it out - I'd suggest a mobile phone.
It won't be as versatile - but it ain't half easy. I'm hooked.
Lucy
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