My Camera, My Eye

120510: So a couple of mornings ago I stepped out to capture the sunrise glowing in the Eastern sky. Pretty, huh? It only took me 7 shots and 2 cameras to get the photo I wanted. *Only* Actually I take a lot of photos so 7 shots isn't a big deal, but the 2 camera part really irritated me!

For 25 years or so I used a Canon AE-1. For those who have become so technologically spoiled, myself included, that would be a FILM CAMERA. I will keep that camera forever. When digital cameras started showing up for consumers, my hubby insisted that I have one and he bought me a Kodak point & shoot camera that was a 4 megapixel (MP). This was only about 10 years ago, but on average cameras cost about $100 per megapixel. That Kodak broke and I got another Kodak. It broke, too and I got another Kodak - apparently I hadn't learned my lesson about Kodak, yet. I actually liked that camera very much and it was the camera that took most of the photos that customers see in my office. Until, it broke, too. I can't blame Kodak for quality, though....Shamu broke it when he splashed water on it. True story!

Side story~! Starting with the first digital camera, I purchased the extra insurance and for every camera that broke, and I returned, I upgraded each time only paying the upgrade difference until I was able to purchase my first SLR camera body, a Nikon D40X. I think Best Buy changed their return policy because of me, because as the price of cameras came down, the quality rose and I was able to purchase more expensive cameras each time.

Now SLRs have all the bells & whistles, but sometimes they can't beat a good ol' point and shoot pocket camera. My pocket camera is a Panasonic Lumix. I've had this camera for 4 years and put it through the wringer and it performs beautifully, i.e., it takes great photos! Especially on mornings that the lighting on my SLR won't cooperate!

The Lumix camera shot (above) - 1 photo....

The SLR. The expensive camera. The camera that I almost drop kicked off my balcony because it wasn't cooperating, but I didn't because I knew Best Buy wasn't going to take my camera back! I took 6 photos and gave up.

Sometimes more expensive doesn't mean better. You, too, can take, beautiful photos with practice on a point and shoot camera. I believe that the beauty of photograph is not in the colors or subject but how they are set up within the frame of the photo. A good eye is what makes a good photograph. Train your eye, learn your camera, and you can take good photos, too.