Before DSLR cameras . . . Digicams once RULED!

Surprisingly, DSLR cameras have been one of the must-have gadgets for adults, as well as for teens nowadays. Series of photography workshops are now offered, aspiring young people who like to model are even growing in number, and generally, everybody are becoming meticulous and particular on how they look on pictures.

To date, DSLR cameras are being updated and upgraded, and at the same time, new models are being produced from time to time to meet the rising demands and needs in the photography industry. And just recently, The Nikon D7000 was released with added enhancements and the much anticipated AUTO-FOCUS feature in video recording (That means, I'm no Canonian. Not really updated on Canon products. Maybe soon, I'll try to have one Canon DSLR camera. =p). 

Anyway, my focus on this new post, based on the title itself, is the key role of digital cameras, in short, digicams. As my memory could recall, it started 5-7 years ago, back when I was in college. For the first time, I was able to touch and use a digicam from a friend of mine. It was a Canon brand. 

Then, after a few months, my parents bought a Sony digital camera. It was amazing how you can just see the shots, then delete the unnecessary pictures. It was a total package of fun and convenience.

And during those times, digicams were crazy expensive. I can't even borrow my parent's digicam if I would like to use it for my trips and going outdoors for a day. And camera phones resolutions before were mediocre that time.

So, I got a Christmas gift last 2008 - a Sony DSC-S800 digital camera. It was a so-so camera. The flash is too harsh when used.  Taking pictures during the day were just okay. The one thing that was rolling in my mind during those times was - my camera is not at par with my parent's. I was frustrated. So, I didn't use it that much. 

Then few months after, it was August of 2009. I'm not sure what happened, maybe out of boredom I guess, I took my digicam and started taking pictures of anything I see in our house. Call it weird, but it was fun, bending and doing series of angles with sweats all over my face just to take pictures. When I saw the shots, I said, "My camera was not that bad after all." LOL. It was just a matter of tweaking and some adjustments.

So, here are the shots I took, on the month of August, in the year 2009.

Click here for more pictures.

My Childhood Stages of Photography

Photography: a hobby I never thought that I could get into.


Before, I had no idea what it was about, its mechanisms and background. And it made me really scratch my head when I first held my DSLR camera (Actually, its my parent's. But, I could say its mine because I'm the one who uses it always and does all of the tweaking. hahaha!! ) All I understand totally is just taking pictures - nothing more, nothing less. . .


Well perhaps, it was pressure and curiosity at the same time that led me to get aligned with this "gadget" that's been sweeping different people of different walks of life nowadays. So I read the manual (I had the Nikon D90 with 18-105mm kit and 50mm f/1.8) and searched for free sites of basic photography lessons. Then, open sesame!!! 


Here are the first few shots I had months ago:

To see more pictures, click the links below:
Random Photography (Part 1)
Random Photography (Part 2)


It was surprising and full of fun. I, for one, was even amazed of the shots I took (Twas my first time to see pictures taken on a DSLR, so please do bear with me. LOL!)


I still have lots of things to learn. I am thinking of going for a photo workshop, but got no idea where. hahaha!!!


I'm going to post more albums and pictures on this blog not too soon. Photography indeed has driven me nuts!!!

Note:

Please don't forget to click any reaction (funny, interesting, cool) below or write comments. I would totally appreciate that. Thanks . . .

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF

I was looking for a nice lens that totally focuses the subject and has a great blur effect on the background. As I have researched, the blur effect is called bokeh ("Japanese word for blur"). And I've learned that the aperture or f-stop is a great contributing factor to it. The higher the f-stop (the smaller the decimal number) the more light is absorbed. The lower the f-stop (the greater the decimal number) the less light is absorbed.

A friend  of mine suggested me to have a lens which has f/1.4.

I searched for online stores such as eBay and on GMarket. After series of searching, I discovered that there's a local photography store here in Cebu. The prices were not bad. And they offer different services and products on different brands.

So, I looked at their website ( I'll post the link at the end of this post ) and saw Nikon lenses. There's a 35mm f/1.4 which costs P12,000 and 50mm f/1.4 that costs P17,200. But there was one lens that caught my eye. It was SUPER CHEAP!!! (I guess. haha).

It's a 50mm f/1.8 AF that costs P6,400. It looks cool and sounds cool - price-wise. I was ecstatic to see such a cheap lens assuming all lenses are usually P10k above.

shot using Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

There was no stopping me to get that. And ALAS, heaven was on my side. I had a a GREAT FAVOR when I told my parents about it, and they said OKAY!! nyahahaha!!!

Went to the store, purchased it. Attached it to my DSLR camera (I use the Nikon D90). And, OPEN SESAME!! The pictures I took were stunning as if taken by a professional photographer (nyahahahaha!! just AS IF.. hehe)

Here are the sample pictures I took from then and now:

Big Fat Red Pepper

Kazi - my niece

Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6

The pictures were amazing!!! But if budget is not an issue for you, go ahead for 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4. Sometimes, I find the 50mm too zoomed and constantly I go back and forth to find the perfect view. But overall, it's worth it. Nice shots are achieved, and nice price too. 

If you are interested to buy this lens and other stuffs for your DSLR camera, visit The PhotoShop.

Note:

Please don't forget to click any reaction (funny, interesting, cool) below or write comments. I would totally appreciate that. Thanks . . .

A Taste of Sunset

Yesterday, I was helping my mom doing some cleaning stuff on their living room(they stay on the 3rd floor of our house). When I looked at the windows, the sunset was amazing. especially the clouds.

I hurried downstairs to get the camera and here are the shots I took!!!

Camera used: Nikon D90

Lens: 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6

Check out the other pictures here: The Sunset I never knew . . .

Note:

Please don't forget to click any reaction (funny, interesting, cool) below or write comments. I would totally appreciate that. Thanks . . .

A Take on Photography

Cellphones have become a fad for people of all ages - the old and young. But nowadays, another must-haves have become a great trend - DSLR Cameras. 

Well, I got mine unintentionally and unexpectedly.

I was away from home for almost 3 weeks outside the stressful metropolitan life. When I headed back to Cebu (because I ran out of money to sustain my survival. . . LOL), my sister gave me a weird news, my parents are buying a DSLR camera.

I said "Wat da #%&@!!" (It starts with 'H' not 'F') hehe.

They asked a close friend of theirs who went to Thailand for a business to buy the camera. Then, the moment of awe came. The camera was finally in our hands. 

I was wondering what's with the camera-thing. I can't see any VALID  reasons to purchase such an expensive gadget. Call it fate or whatever, but it turned out I was hooked on it. TOTALLY!!!

As I experiment and try to fully lavish the use of DSLR cameras, the more I appreciate its awesomeness and grandeur. Thanks to a dear friend of mine who gave me an idea on posting my pictures and share it through blogging. I had a blog previously (still working though. I checked it few minutes ago. haha) but I'm hoping that this would be productive and at the same time informative.

So, with no further adieu, I officially start - DCruz8 Photography Blog!!!

Note:

Please don't forget to click any reaction (funny, interesting, cool) below or write comments. I would totally appreciate that. Thanks . . .