Monday 9 November 2009

Behind the lens

Colours have always fascinated me. The happy, the dreary, the simple, the flashy, the earthy, the bold. Maybe that’s why I took to painting. And maybe that’s why I am drawn to photography.

I look pathetic in photos and I am supremely unphotogenic. The term “Photographer” conjures up images of those grumpy guys behind cameras in studios where I go to get my passport size photos clicked. With all due respect to their quest for perfection, they are the most irritating people I have come across. A million instructions in a fraction of a second – Recude the width of your smile, tuck your face, lower your eyebrow, tilt your head, don’t show all your teeth… OMG – I cannot coordinate so many muscles at once! And the result is that I end up looking in between retarded and constipated in all my photos!

My perception of photography changed when I went to XL. Silly Cat gave portrait photography a completely new meaning! Broken Knee has a way with pictures - a landscape specialist if I might call it that? Totally inspired by these stalwarts, I took my first lessons during the Blore trip!

The amount of technical knowledge that I possess about photography is nothing to be proud of. I partially remember what my high school physics text book had to say about this marvelous gadget. I don’t know what shutter speeds, aperture sizes etc. can do, and I use the word “expose” with very little tact. But I do know that I have an eye for the unusual and make queer observations. I am just hoping I will be able to learn the art of capturing it.

I am so kicked with all the FB responses on the Oktoberfest weekend photos. And of course, one always needs that anchor to bring gloating spirits back to earth. Mine was Broken Knee who thought my photos were “just about average” - Thanks. Silly Cat, thanks for painstakingly answering my questions – I can get unctrollable when I start asking why, and more so when I am high on chocolate :) Thanks - all my photo subjects – Shrek, Supergirl, Rockstar, Jade and Saji who complied with my million requests and successfully endured the weekend with me!

I have been doing a lot of online photography lessons reading and I figured that I need a good camera. All you pundits out there – any suggestions?

8 comments:

  1. All of us have this phase.... Have fun with a camera... and Silly Cat can suggest a good one.. :)

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  2. All the best with the new found passion...just don't be lazy :P

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  3. I don't believe I complied with any requests - any images of me were taken impromptu and without permission!

    Time to fork over royalties pliss :D

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  4. You're welcome! :)

    Silly Cat I guess must be KC, but who's Broken Knee?

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  5. Ok all,Evil Vijayan had as usual broken some bone when I wrote this post... Hence the name.
    @Shrek - Wat royalty man?? Ur woman has said that the photos make u look good - so that is service enough :P
    And as usual u fraxers have completely missed the point - Wat camera do i buy - like beginner types?

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  6. Am yet to decide between these 4 cameras. Bloody Roofy is fraxing. Keeps telling me, "I'll get back to you on that one."!! I generally use that line when I have no idea when I am going to get back! :P

    http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/specification/compare/2100-2244-1971-2242.html

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  7. I would suggest you buy a good compact (point and shoot) camera with a decent zoom and manual settings. It's a good way to learn without having to invest too much money during the learning phase. I would strongly recommend: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20. http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/sony-cyber-shot-dsc/4505-6501_7-33521241.html

    With this camera you can pretty much do everything which you will do on an SLR, except that you can't change the lens or add filters. But, I know you can learn the basics; learn how to play around with aperture and shutter speed in manual setting, get the hang of framing a good picture and so on. Mainly get into the habit of shooting pictures regularly. When you're ready for an expensive SLR camera and lens, you would know. Then buy the best in the market! :D

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