Boy, do I have a lot to learn! by mcsiegle

Boy, do I have a lot to learn!

Here’s the get pushed challenge Kali gave me:
“How about doing some 'Where i stand' photos with your feet in or a top-down photo including hands , the context being the story, kind of like a macro environmental portrait.”

Here’s my more serious attempt at the second option. I was a little disappointed that my son didn’t ask what I was doing as I was taping a little cardboard shelf to the underside of the doorframe to hold the iPhone. I wanted to tell him something outrageous, like it’s a bat house. (One time a bat got in and, after flying around for a bit, snuggled itself into a space behind the woodwork up there. Dan was so freaked out by that bat.) Oh, well...

It worked! The shelf, the phone, and the Photo Timer app worked! That was a good challenge. I never would have thought of doing a shot like that, or figured out how to do it.

I do have a lot to learn. I finally broke down and bought an entry level DSLR camera. I had been thinking about the Nikon D3500 I’d seen at Best Buy and had figured I’d want to stick with Nikon since I’d been using the Coolpix p9900 until it got so dirty inside. But I had decided to wait. Last weekend I was tempted to buy it when I stopped into the store and saw that the 2 lens kit was the same price as the one lens kit. I asked the young man if that could possibly be right.

I went home and thought about it, did some research, found this Canon EOS Rebel T6 two lens deal for the same price — resisted the temptation, tried to forget about it and save my money. Then on Thursday I was thinking about the pictures I want to take and send to my siblings of jewelry my mom had that we’ll be figuring out who would like to have what. The iPhone would probably do an OK job for most of that. But some pieces have fine detail and some come with family history. And I could feel my resolve slipping. When I checked Best Buy online, I found the Nikon special deal was gone — but they still had this Canon two lens deal. There were pluses and minuses to both the Nikon and Canon cameras and the two lenses they come with. But after checking with Frank and having him encourage me to go ahead — and noting that, unlike the Nikon, this comes with a case for the same price, I ordered it online and picked it up in the store a couple of hours later. So far, all I’ve done is charge up the battery and insert it and the memory card, attach a lens and read a bit of the users manual. This is gonna take some getting used to! You should expect to continue to see iPhone photos here. But eventually I’ll get the hang of this camera and take something worth posting.
Cool PoV and I think that you answered your challenge very very well.
January 6th, 2020  
@kali66 What do you think? Please say it’s a better example than the first draft experiment!
January 6th, 2020  
Well done
January 6th, 2020  
it sure is, and yes you do! fabulous, always start by reading the manual! but stick it on P mode and get shooting!, a plethora of new get-pushed challenges await :)
January 6th, 2020  
Congrats on making the jump! You will get the hang of it quickly I am sure!
January 6th, 2020  
Nice POV and congrats on the camera. It seems overwhelming at first but you'll get the hang of it quickly, I'm sure
January 6th, 2020  
Great shot and purchase...I have a NIKON D3500 but I don't use often because I don't like switching lenses. Bridge cameras are kind of my thing.
January 6th, 2020  
Great capture telling a story. Congrats on the camera. Such a wonderful world ahead of you. Have fun!
January 6th, 2020  
Wow that's clever, ow did you set this up!? have fun with new toy
January 6th, 2020  
Good response to your challenge - have fun with your new toy!
January 6th, 2020  
Throw the instructions away and go for it ;)
January 7th, 2020  
Nice shot for your challenge.
I got a Canon Rebel 2ti back in 2010 for Christmas. When I retired in 2012, I decided to learn how to use it as more than a point and shoot. I since bought a Sony A6300. I used it only for a number of years, but decided last year to pull out the Canon again. I have different lenses for the two and so I keep different ones on each camera and use them both. Creative Live had a fast start class that was reasonable for the Sony camera. Perhaps there is one for your camera too.
January 7th, 2020  
Maybe they will kindly give you get-pushed challenges that help you learn to user your new camera.
January 7th, 2020  
Your pictures always seem worth posting btw. My favorite detail in the writing is your disappointment that your son didn't ask questions.
January 9th, 2020  
Great result, both get pushed challenge and camera!
January 9th, 2020  
I have the same camera. Here is your get-pushed challenge for next week to help you learn how to use your camera. Set your camera to aperture priority. Set up a scene with some near and far objects. Shoot the same scene with your largest and smallest aperture, and something in the middle. For extra credit, try it with both lenses.
January 12th, 2020  
@tdaug80 Thanks, Tim. A good challenge as it will force me to start using the camera. I’ll get a challenge to you tomorrow.
January 13th, 2020  
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