Monday Q&A-Memorial Day Edition
It's a three-day weekend here, but since I love you all so much, I'm still going to post today. 🙂 I've got three questions to answer, and I have a question for you at the end about a possible series of posts, so I'd love it if you'd leave some feedback!
1. Several of you asked about the loaves featured in this post, which are whole wheat. I've posted the recipe before, and you can find it here.
2. Amanda noticed that a lot of my food waste is made up of fruits or vegetables, and was wondering if I throw these things away or if I compost. I do indeed, and since I've posted about it before, you can check out my uber-cheap composting method.
3. Finally, Kari was wondering about the make and model of my camera.
I am a bit of a photography nut (you can see more of my photos over on my photo blog, if you're interested and there's a permalink to it over on my sidebar). I love, love, love to take pictures. People are my favorite subjects, but writing this blog has helped me to branch out a bit into other things like food photography, because I often need photos to illustrate my posts here.
I had a middle-of-the-road point and shoot for quite a few years, but I'm now blessed to have a digital SLR, which I got in December of 2007, from my husband and lots of other relatives. It's a Canon EOS Rebel XT, and until about 6 months ago, I was just shooting with the not-so-good lens that comes with the camera. Last Christmas, much to my delight, I got another group gift and I now own a 50mm/f 1.4 lens, which is far, far nicer than my kit lens (the lens that came with my camera). I love my camera and my lens so much.
However, I think that the biggest change in my photography is not due so much to my switch from a point and shoot to an SLR, but rather to me learning more about how to take good pictures.
To illustrate this, here's a picture of Lisey that I took in 2003, shortly after I got my camera.
And here's a picture I took of Zoe in December of 2006 with the very same camera.
Nothing at all changed with my equipment...the change was with me. If I had gotten a nice camera back in 2003, it wouldn't really have done me any good because I didn't know very much about photography. I'd have had a great tool with almost no idea how to use it.
Now, here's my question for you. Would you be interested in an intermittent series of posts on improving your photos without spending any money on equipment and editing software? I know this isn't a photography blog (I have a separate one for that!), but this would be more about cheap/frugal/make-do-with-what-you-have photography, which is fairly on topic for The Frugal Girl.
Let me know, and if there is sufficient interest, I'll get right to work because I'd love to share what I've learned!
I'd be interested in your tips. I sometimes edit my photos in Picasa, but sometimes I am just too lazy 😉 Often my photos are too dark when I shoot in the house. Outside, my camera does very well considering it is a point and shoot. I find food the most difficult to shoot, as well as shiny objects.
I'd love some free/cheap photography tips. I'm getting better with framing my subjects and such, but would really like to learn some more. And I think it fits in with the theme of this blog because it would keep us from having to spend money on professional photos.
I would love to read a series of posts on photography tips!
Thanks for answering my question. Not only was I excited to see my name but the back link was great too.
I don't dwell on my picture taking but any simple tips would be great.
i would definitely be interested! my camera travels around in my purse with me and gets used every day...anything to make the photos better would be awesome.
I would love some tips! I have been checking into classes, but can not really afford to take them right now. Thank you for the offer.
I would love some tips too! I have a digital camera that I just can't figure out what settings to use when. The other problem I have is framing the photo so that undesirable objects aren't in the picture (like other people's arms and legs). I'm always telling people to "move" and it feels rude.
I would love some photo tips. It's especially fun to get pictures of my girls, but one thing that stinks about my digital camera is that it has just a slight delay, so I don't always get exactly what I saw. Let me know what you've learned. Thanks!
Sure! Always keen to learn something new.
I would also be interested!
I had a question for the next week's Q&A - how are you doing your retirement planning??
I collect cameras but it is so nice to see another photographer saying that your gear doesn't matter.
The best photos I ever took were with a rangefinder made in the 1970s using film I got for free and developed myself. I know the camera inside and out so once you know it then you just deal with all the technique, something that even I have issues with.
I would also be very interested in photo tips. I love taking pictures and could use any tips you can offer.
I'm in, I'd love some photo tips!!
I would love photography tips. We have a beautiful digital camera and I have no idea how to use it.
You've brought me out of lurking (I do read every day!) We just purchased a DSLR and I would love to learn tips from you-your pictures are fabulous. Thanks!
Battra, I wouldn't say equipment doesn't matter at all, but that equipment alone does not a good photographer make. My SLR and my new lens have definitely made a big difference in the quality of my pictures and the ease with which I can take quality pictures, but they're certainly not the only reason my pictures have improved.
I just wanted to let you know how sweet that picture of Zoe is. She's absolutely beautiful 🙂
Since I am a person who is timid of technology, I sure would appreciate
some good tips on digital photography. I keep my camers on the AUTO setting, and even then my pitures don't look so hot. It's not the equipment, it's the user for sure!
I think it's more knowing your equipment and using the right tool for the job. Unfortunately with digital there's the whole resolution and noise factors to deal with. I shoot film 90% of the time so as long as I have a decent enough camera and meter I'm fine. I could, at least in theory, go the rest of my life just using just my DSLR but honestly I rarely, if ever, decide to use it for anything that I don't want instantly.
yes i would love some tips
YES I would love some tips on digital photography- I took photography for 2 years in high school (lets not talk about how long ago that was) but somehow all the knowledge is lost, and my pics look blaaaaah.
kristen
I too have the Cannon Rebel xt. a great piece of hardware. I would also be looking forward to some photo tips have you ever checked out http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/a great source for digital photography
hahahahahhahalint lciekr.ed, u be dumb. yer supposed to run from the ebay mafia, not fight em. dont u kno they always win?