Friday, March 28, 2008

Q & A: Cameras


Q: My camera isn't good enough to take photos for my blog. What kind of camera do you use?
A: I have always used the most basic Kodak digital camera ($100 or less) and its free editing software. My only complaint? The shutter speed is slow for toddler-action-shots.

I like the challenge of making do with what I have. Truly, it is your level of skill that determines a good photo--not just the camera. So take heart, have fun with different angles, and turn off that flash!

NEWSFLASH: Photoshop Express (beta) is now free online!

13 comments:

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

I am so glad to see this- that you can take pictures without a huge expense! I get by quite well with my Nikon Coolpix (often on sale for under $100!) and if you play around with it and go for interesting lighting and angles- you can get fantastic shots!

Steph

TJ said...

I was thrilled to find Photoshop free online! Only problem how in the world do I get uploaded pics downloaded? If anyone knows this, please come and tell me! It links to face book and photo bucket... maybe I need to get photo bucket?

Meredith I love your make-do attitute!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Meredith, your Easter table was beautiful! And on a budget, I love it. Hope your vacation was wonderful.

I just bought a new Canon A570IS and am really loving it. Had to replace one that broke, so at $150, I think I made a good choice. I am just learning about turning off the flash & it has made a huge difference in my pics, so everyone should try that! Also playing with the manual AV setting has helped too. I love playing around with it for better pics.

Rhoda

Dianna said...

I actually own Photoshop, but I use Google's free Picasa for most of my editing: it's easy, and it's a great way to organize photos and other graphics. I love it!

Meredith said...

I haven't tried downloading from Photoshop yet.

As with any website, you should be able to right click on your edited photo and save it to the desktop that way, though.

And also, I didn't want to sound like I'm some super photographer or something. I recognize the blogs which use digital SLR cameras (Soulemama, etc) and I can definitely tell the difference.

I just want to encourage anyone who is working with basic equipment that you can take successful photos with practice!

TJ said...

Hmm... the new photoshop works with picasa too... Now I'm really in a quandary. Right clicking in the PhotoshopExpress gives me the option to copy only. I'm sure I'm just missing something.

I have used Olympus Camedia and Kodak Gallery for editing, but both have their limitations. Guess I'm spoiled by having had access to my dad's editing programs for so long. Unfortunately my 30 day free trials on those are all gone.

Anonymous said...

It's as much about the photographer as the equipment! You can take great photos with w/ a basic P&S. Oh, and just make sure you read the fine print in regards to Photoshop online. It is free, yes, but I don't like this part: "Adobe does not claim ownership of Your Content. However, with respect to Your Content that you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Services, you grant Adobe a worldwide, royalty-free, nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable license to use, distribute, derive revenue or other remuneration from, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other Materials or works in any format or medium now known or later developed." So, they don't own your photos, but sounds like they can use them. Just be aware! :-)

Sarah said...

Turning off the flash and using natural light makes a HUGE difference. There are also manual features with some P&S cameras that you can learn to use and adjust. I now have an SLR, and I realized a lot of the features it has, my Cannon had.
And for proof the photographer and practice make good photos, visit my blog and compare. The photos on this blog are much better even with my SLR! :) I'm still practicing...

Sandy said...

Hi Meredith, I used Kodak too, Easyshare. Now my husband uses Nikon and that's a whole other story! LOL
Always love your photos.

Amy said...

You are such a great photographer! I love what you have done with your camera. I did invest this year in a more expensive one, but it mainly was because I was only getting blurred images of my children and rarely getting anything that I could fill a photo album with :)

We love using Picasa. I tried Photoshop (the package version) and it was too complex for a simple girl like myself. I love the simplicity of Picasa and how easily I can share our pictures now!

Kathy said...

I just bought a Nikon D40. For years I have struggled to get a perfect action shot. This camera gives it to me in spades. I too love Picassa, it allows you to upload directly to blogger. The real reason I bought the Nikon was I have a Senior, when you are pricing Senior pix it doesn't take long to figure out you need to find a cheaper way to do one. my blogs has some pix with it.

Kelly @ The Barefoot Mama said...

This is a fantastic post, Meredith! Ultra timely for me, too, who is lamenting over her camera lately. Okay, so our toddler did kinda break it so that it needs to "warm up" for a few shots before blurriness goes away, but it's only two years old and is still really great.

Thanks for sharing your peaceful state of mind...and beautiful pics. :o)

Julie said...

I use a cheap $100 Canon but use Photoshop Elements on every photo I put online. I make them a little bit sharper and brighter, crop and sometimes do even more.

My suggestion is to keep practicing with the camera, try out different settings (mine has a kid and pet feature for that fast movement) and turn off the flash and put that movement to use.

Digital is so great because you can look at what you are taking to learn which setting is best and it costs nothing to take 100 photos to get one good one. Professional photographers do that -- take multiple shots of the same thing and pick the best one.