It's Fried Egg, Fried Egg, Fried Egg!
Guess what?! It's Friiiiiiiday! (Did you get the Rebecca Black reference in the title? hehe.)
I'm guest posting for Blair over at Wild and Precious about how I'm unplugging for the weekend. I'm super excited because I just found a 40% off coupon for Borders and I am SO buying a new book and headed to the beach! Woo!
Hop on over and let me know how you are unplugging! (And leave some love for Blair -- her house was broken into this week. Awful, huh?)
So, if you follow me on twitter, you may have heard that I am gearing up to buy my very own DSLR camera next week! Just in time for Creative Estates! I'd like to poll my super creative friends (um, you guys!). So here are my questions:
I'm guest posting for Blair over at Wild and Precious about how I'm unplugging for the weekend. I'm super excited because I just found a 40% off coupon for Borders and I am SO buying a new book and headed to the beach! Woo!
Hop on over and let me know how you are unplugging! (And leave some love for Blair -- her house was broken into this week. Awful, huh?)
So, if you follow me on twitter, you may have heard that I am gearing up to buy my very own DSLR camera next week! Just in time for Creative Estates! I'd like to poll my super creative friends (um, you guys!). So here are my questions:
I've decided to get the Canon Rebel XS. I've heard fabulous things about it and since I'm a beginner photography, I've heard it's a great starter camera.
So, do you have this camera?
Do you love it?
Do you have the 50mm lens? I've heard this is the one to get. Do you use it all the time?
What are other great lenses?
Do you use your camera on auto mostly or are you a whiz with manual? Or somewhere in between?
Do you have any inspirational beginner photography blogs you can share??
If you can't answer any of these questions, just tell me the best thing about your week. :)
Oh, and get PUMPED, because tomorrow is my two year blogiversary and I have lots of really amazing giveaways for you guys next week! It's pretty much gonna be the best week evah.
yay! how exciting! I don't have a canon rebel, but I too have heard good things about it for beginners. I use auto a lot but I've been fiddling with manual more. That's how I got my moon shot. Usually I'm in too much of a hurry to do manual but I manual focus A LOT! You'll have such fun with it!
ReplyDeleteYou already know I do a lot of photography over on my blog and a good way to get out and use your camera and play with settings is to join a photo challenge. My 2 faves are Project 64 and Scavenger
Hunt Sunday, but there are lots of other inspirational ones out there too.
Can't wait to see your photos with your new camera! Have a fun weekend unplugged!! :)
totally started with a canon rebel and was not disappointed!!! i think its a great starter camera!!
ReplyDeleteenjoy your :unplugged: weekend!
I'm a nikon girl, but i don't "hate" on canon... you need to figure out what will work best for you, and nikon did for me. I shoot in only manual now... no auto mode at all! I've thought about sharing some photography tips on the blog, but haven't.... hmmm... that's maybe something I can start up though.
ReplyDeletemy 50mm 1.4 is my favorite lens, as is my 28-80mm 2.8!
I have a Pentax K20 and I have a 50mm/ 1.4 lens that I love, but if you can afford it, get a 24-70mm lens with a 2.8 aperture. I have a 28-70mm lens and it gives me a little more flexibility with my photos. Have fun with a new camera and read the manual!
ReplyDeleteYay! Good choice! 50mm lens is great lens to buy you won't be sorry. Start w/auto settings and I recommend reading the manual front to back and just keep exploring the manual settings. It's a great investment you won't be sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have the Nikon and ive been giving tips on my blog from the beginners course i'm doing...i love it x
ReplyDeleteHi! I am on my way over to read your guest blog but first wanted to share a few things.
ReplyDeleteBefore I start my list, though, do be sure to come back early next week & let us know what book you picked up at Borders. :)
1. I just got my first DSLR a week ago.
A) I went with a Nikon d3100 but have heard great things about Canon DSLRs too. I only went with the d3100 because I had "in real life" friends vouch for it and didn't have any "IRL" friends vouch for Canon.
2. Right now I'm mostly shooting in auto though sometimes in the 'guide' mode. I have switched it out of those two settings some but really need to read up on which each different click on the dial means before I go snap-happy.
3. I need to learn more camera lingo -- I have no idea what the number / letter combos mean in regards to lens.
Enjoy your weekend!
oh. no. you. did. not. mention rebecca black. the goal of my wkend was NOT to think of that song. ;) hahahaa.
ReplyDeleteand yay excited about your new camera - you'll love it!
enjoy your new book and your weekend off!!
I can't believe you just quoted Rebecca Black. Sigh. What are we going to do with you?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your blogiversary!
ReplyDeleteI don't have this camera, but I have a Nikon DSLR and I love it! I'm definitely an amateur, but I've got some really great pictures lately using auto settings. See some here:
http://www.theogdenblog.com/2011/03/breckenridge-co.html
My sister-in-law got the Canon Rebel just to use for photography as a pastime. She's turned it into a business now! She has some photos that would definitely inspire you as a beginner with a DSLR. Her business website is http://katieparrishphotography.com/
but she has a lot of photography of her son (who is precious!) on her blog
http://jacksondallas.blogspot.com/
I have the Canon Rebel XSi (slightly different from yours) and I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely try NOT to shoot on automatic anymore (after all, that's why you got a DSLR!), but try to learn the features. For beginners, I would recommend trying the manual "P" mode.
Here's a great website that you need to check out: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/
don't have a Rebel, but I've been dreaming of one for 7 years! So glad you guest posted today...love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI decided on a FUJIFILM FinePix
ReplyDeleteS1800... since I'm a beginner and will eventually upgrade to a Nikon or Canon. I mostly shoot food and use natural light with a white board or a foil wrapped board to bounce the light back on my subject. I also use Photoshop and Picnik to edit my photos. Check out thepioneerwoman.com for photography tips. I think you'll enjoy her site.
Hi Lindsay, I have the Rebel XS and love it. I think it's a great first SLR and offers a lot for being a more affordable camera. Honestly one of the best books for some help is the Canon Rebel for Dummies...it's has great pictures/step by step info. Camera shops also usually offer classes, which I think is totally worth it!
ReplyDeleteI bought the Canon Rebel XS in January & I LOVE IT! When I first got it I was kind of intimidated by all the features, so I kept it on auto for the first few days. After I got more familiar with it, I started to branch out and take photos in low-light w/ out the flash and night photos on the manual settings. I think for a beginner this camera is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI choose this one because of the price, I couldn't afford the next one up & for my needs, it's great.
All the advice that I have gotten on upgrading to a 50mm lens, is to get comfortable with the camera first, then buy the nicer lens later. Because in the end, YOU are going to take the great photos, not the lens (if you know what I mean).
Feel free to take a look around my blog if you want, most of the photos that are on there are with my Rebel (unless noted otherwise).
If you have any specific questions on this camera, feel free to ask! I Love talking cameras!
Yay that is exciting about the camera! I don't know much about cameras so I can't help with your questions, but I just wanted to stop over and tell you I finally got to see my write on cutie and I love it and so does everyone else! The pink is perfect!!! Thank you soooo much!
ReplyDeleteYes I have that camera, and love it!
ReplyDeleteI have two lenses, but mostly use the 50mm for food and craft shots because it has a really low aperture (depth of field -- aka stuff gets really blurry and pretty). I also have a lens that zooms somewhat but doesn't go as low in aperture. My brother has this camera and has a telephoto lens (super zoom) which is really great for outdoor events like graduations and such.
One con about the 50mm is that it doesn't zoom but instead is in a constant state of more zoomed than you would expect. It's not just 100% -- it's a fixed zoom that's fairly zoomed in. Aka I can't take a picture of my cat sitting next to me and get his whole body in.
I pretty much always shoot in aperture mode, which leaves the shutter speed on auto but I can mess with how "blurry" I want it (depth of field). I also play with the white balance (indoor light, outdoor light, tungsten light) to make sure the colors are right.
You'll figure it all out, but super congrats on getting one! You'll love it!
Yay!! Congrats on the new camera! I have been looking at cameras as well and will be interested to hear how you like the Canon. I took a beginners photography class in undergrad and ever since have wanted a more 'professional' camera.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on the blogiversary!
P.S. I think I am the *only* person in the world that has no idea who Rebecca Black is. :)
Congrats on the upgrade! You will love playing with it!
ReplyDeleteYes definitely get a 50mm lens.
I have a Nikon D40 but didn't have a choice. It was a present from my mom a few years ago. But I do like it as a beginner camera. I am hoping to upgrade to a Nikon D90 soon!
Here are a few blogs I read daily for photography tutorials, advice and photo challenges:
http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com/
http://iheartfaces.com
http://thepapermama.com
http://paperheartcamera.com
http://ashleysisk.com
Also you should look into taking Fatih's photography class. I took it in February and it really helped me get the handle on using my camera in manual. Here is a link http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com/p/photography-e-course.html
My bad. the one link is http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWe have the Cannon Rebel too and I LOVE it! Scott loves to play with all the settings when we do our national park trips or take nature shots or moon pics or portraits of the kiddos... I love that I can also leave it in auto to snap pics of everyday life with the kiddos and get pictures I love.
ReplyDeleteNext thing you gotta invest in is an external bounce flash. You will NOT believe the difference it makes!
OH and this blog here has been leaving lots of great guest post tips like this one... http://www.theidearoom.net/2011/03/anatomy-of-a-shot-photography-tips-with-kristen-duke.html
ReplyDeleteI saw your post on Wild & Precious and just had to stop by! :-) Love your blog so far. (and your outfits are adorable!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 2-year blogiversary tomorrow!
And oh gosh, now you have that "Friday" song stuck in my head!!! Horrible! haha
I have the Canon Rebel XSi and I love it (I bought the kit which came with two lenses: an 18-55 and a 50-200 zoom lens)! I've had it almost a year now and was totally new to photography when I got it. I immediately started reading and taking local workshop classes, and learned how to use manual quickly. There are also semi-manual modes that I love too :-) Don't know if this is standard, but mine came with a tutorial DVD which I really liked too. I got a 50mm lens for Christmas - it's GREAT for portraits (love its aperture capabilities), but not my fave for "everyday" photos - I primarily use the 18-55 for that stuff.
ReplyDeleteDon't know of any blogs, but I loved the book "Understanding Exposure" - there's pictures to go w/each lesson & I think I read it in two days :-) Hope this all helps! I'm sure you will love having an SLR!!!
Congrats on your blogiversary. Have a great weekend!
okay, so this is going to be the longest comment EVAH, but i have a lot to say... :)
ReplyDeletei'm unplugging for the weekend since i have the 6th annual local historical ball tonight!! ::squeal:: so i have a post scheduled for this afternoon, and since i don't blog on Sunday {a personal descision} i'll be MIA this weekend on the ol' blog. can't wait!!
and as for the camera, i bought my canon rebel XS for my birthday {it took me a year to save for half of it. ha.} and i LOVE IT!! seriously, it's so worth it. i'm somewhere in between with shooting in manual mostly when there's low light and i don't want to use a flash since i'm a flash snob. ;)
let us know what you decide, and happy weekend!!