Photographers Starter Kit I get a lot of questions from photographers new to the profession asking how to best begin their work or how to hit the ground running. Usually my answer is pretty vague and reads something like, “It really is to each his own. Get a good camera, take great pictures, and find a niche that fits you.” As these questions have become more and more common I’ve decided to put together a little guide to really help those of you who are just into photography or are thinking about joining the fray. Below I hope will be a list of things that will best set you off in the right direction. I’ll call it the “Photographer’s Starter Kit.” Im sure you can add others but this is a good start. 1. A Good DSLR or Digital Camera – Your new best friend First and foremost, you are going to want get yourself a nice DSLR, point-an-shhot or bridge camera. You can buy DSLR camera bodies if you already have a lens or lenses that will fit it or be sure to get one that comes with a lens, most commonly it’ll be an 18-55mm, as the camera body and lens will be the bread and butter to your photography. Buying a Point-an-Shoot or Bridge camera you will want to see the type of build-in lens system they offer. Like does it give you a good zoom from a good wide angle for landscape shots to a good telephoto for those hard to get distance shots. Now don’t kid yourself; this isn’t a cheap hobby. With that being said there are some great entry-level DSLRs, Point-an-Shoot or bridge cameras at reasonable prices. Then you will want to spend time learning everything there is to learn about your new camera and the basics of taking good photos. Don’t be afraid to pull out the manual and get acquainted with your new camera. Knowing your camera means knowing your craft. Also, find a location that gives good understandable courses in basic photography. 2. A Tripod – Your three-legged acquaintance The next thing you should considering getting is a tripod. While it may not seem as important as some of the other items on the list I assure you that you’ll find yourself using it more often than not. Tripods are essential for sharp photographs in low-light or similar situations. They’re also needed for HDRs (high dynamic range photos), panoramas, and pictures using a slow shutter speed. 3. A Telephoto (or zoom) Lens – Your backup (for DSLR owners) While it’s not exactly necessary, more serious photographers will eventually find themselves wanting or needing another lens. The first deviation from the kit lens should be a telephoto lens. This will open you up to a whole new world of photography that you may have not known existed. Nikon, Canon, and third party lens-makers like Sigma offer great telephoto lenses. Be careful that the lens you’re looking at is compatible with your current DSLR. If you own a Nikon, I recommend the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 or the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 (Sigma also offers this same lens for Canon). Pointan-Shoot and Bridge cameras come with built-in zoom lenses so do your research and find one that has a good zoom which will go from a good wide angle to a good telephoto. The FujiFilm Finepix S1 bridge camera also called a power zoom camera has a zoom lens from 24mm (wide angle) to 1200mm (telephoto 50x) on 35mm film format. The Nikon P600 Bridge Camera has a zoom which goes from 24mm (wide angle) to 1440mm (telephoto 60x) on 35mm format. These are two of the more powerful bridge cameras when it comes to power zooms. Important Note: If you’re at the point where you’re acquiring new lenses and accessories then you’re also going to need something to put all this stuff in. There are tons of bags and backpacks out there, just find the one that suits your needs and price range. 4. Adobe Lightroom / Photoshop CC / Elements – or other digital darkroom software If you want to get the most out of your work then you’re going to need some good software to process your images. Adobe products are the industry standard for photo processing and enhancements. Lightroom, Elements and Photoshop CC work hand in hand to help photographers get the very best from their photographs. It’s not necessary to have all three; Lightroom and Elements serves as an advanced processing tool, allowing you to do all things from cropping, exposure adjustment, color enhancements, sharpening, and contrast adjustments, and even a bit more. Photoshop does all of the above and even more, but it is a touch more complicated to use. If you’re serious about your work, you’ll want to pick one. 5. The Internet – Your Freebie You’re using the Internet right now. In fact you’re reading an article about improving your photography, which means you’re already heading in the right direction! This is your freebie. The Internet is filled with thousands of great photography outlets, so use them to your advantage. Take time to read some articles on improving your skills. Maybe you could improve your composition, or maybe your technical skills need some brushing up—I assure you there’s help out there. So that’s it—your basic starter kit for photography. Hopefully this helps you in some way, and maybe even opens the door for you to the wonderful world of photography. Good luck. Happy shooting. by picturecorrect
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:43:56 +0000
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