MomShots

So lately I have been thinking (don’t I seem to start all of my posts with this phrase???)…  I have been thinking about the benefits of a SLR versus the benefits of a point and shoot.  All my life I have been afraid of SLR cameras.  This is a true statement.  Is there a name for that kind of fear?  SLRaphobic?

When I was in my late teens/early 20’s I had a film SLR.  I used it while I traveled through Europe.  Once my backpack was “broken into” and they stole my favorite black sweater but they left the SLR.  Secretly, I was a little sad about that.

I came home from my trip and seriously had about 1 picture that looked halfway in focus.  It was a huge photographic bust.  I longed for my black sweater.

At that time in my life, a point and shoot was exactly the kind of camera I needed.  I needed something that I could just “point” and “shoot”.  I didn’t want to have to think about how my camera worked.  I didn’t even really care what the images looked like.  In reality, I don’t think I really ever developed more than two rolls of film because I just didn’t care.  I enjoyed the act of photographing much more than the finished result.

Part of me is sad about this because the first 4 or so years of my married life are pretty much unphotographically (not a word, I know.) documented.  Then I was introduced to the relatively new technology of a digital camera - still a point and shoot.  But awesome.  An HP Photosmart early edition.  It rocked in all its dinosaurish technological glory.  Finally, I was able to see my photos when I uploaded them to my computer.  I still wasn’t doing anything with them but at least I could see what the photos I took looked like!

After the HP Photosmart came a Nikon Coolpix, edition number unknown, however I think it was 3400 or something like that.  After that came my current Nikon Coolpix 5600.  The thing that I loved about these Nikons was that they had all these cool program modes.  My HP didn’t.  It was too early in history for that.

I never fully took advantage of my program modes but I sure had fun taking lots of pictures.  I loved that there were program mode possibilities.  It made me feel like I could be a good photographer if I just worked on it a little.  I guess I didn’t really ever work on it very much…

My step into the digital SLR (DSLR) world didn’t actually happen until early this year.  Like I said, I was SLRaphobic.  I mention in a previous post about my 2007 Halloween frustration because I didn’t have access to my point and shoot and the Nikon D100 was too scary.  I tried to use the D100 but my photos were too dark and I didn’t have any idea how to make them lighter.

My next experience with that DSLR was at Christmas time.  I dressed my three boys up as three little kings and tried to take a photo to use on a Christmas card.  I overcame my fear and produced an image that was OK for my complete lack of knowledge.  I slowly have been learning more and more about how to use that camera.

I still have my point and shoot - Nikon Coolpix 5600, but officially I call it Uly’s Camera.  The last time I tried to use it I realized it really is broken and isn’t worth the frustration.  It’s way more fun to watch my 4 year old take pictures with it.  I love seeing his results.  He’s an artistic little fellow!

So I guess the point that I want to make in this meandering post is that I am really enjoying using a DSLR.  I am officially unafraid!  Do I get a medal or anything?  I enjoy it way more than I ever did, my point and shoots.  I love the control that I have over the exposure and focus.  I guess truly am a control freak!  I just love being able to tell my camera what I want and have it create that.  I’m not beholden to a preset mode, if I don’t want to be.

Now before you died in the wool point and shoot users turn your back on me, I want to say that I have seen some amazing images that came from a point and shoot.  Also, the newer cameras have some pretty cool technology.  I am just really enjoying this DSLR adventure.  I am having so much more fun using this camera than I ever did with any of our previous cameras.  I am also getting many more results that I like.