Wednesday, April 22, 2009

My Camera Thanks You...

I used to have a Canon Powershot--the point and shoot type of camera that most anyone can use and takes "decent" pictures. I was getting tired of "decent pictures" and I wanted a camera that took AMAZING, FANTASTIC pictures!!

So I trotted off to Best Buy to check out cameras...and of course I started playing with DSLR's...BAD idea. Kind of like if I were to drive a BMW...my Toyota Corolla would not be NEARLY as great...

So I decided I HAD to have this camera...and this camera would give me the AMAZING & FANTASTIC pictures I had always dreamed of....Well....

I recieved my precious Canon EOS 50D and proceeded to take her out, put it on auto and start taking pictures. If my camera could wear clothing...this is what she would have been wearing:



APPARENTLY (rolling my eyes) you have to actually KNOW what you are doing to get those amazing shots everyone sees! GEESH! It didn't say that on the camera box!?!?

So I set out on my own...to figure things out, but unlike most people, I just tried messing with settings...and I got lots of pictures that were black, blurred, so bright that heaven must have come down and taken over whatever I was photographing or they were blue, yellow, you name the color...yeah...THIS was working.

I had pictures of dogs faces that were in focus, up to the ears..and they were blurry...what the heck?!?!?

Iso?? High MUST mean it will take great pictures right?? Standing in the full sun trying to capture amazing shots of my doggies...meanwhile my camera is screaming in agony as it tries desperately to help me understand I was BLINDING IT.

Shutter speed?? What is that?? Aperature?? HUH?? These things were alien to me and I figured if I messed around with it enough it would eventually work right?? WRONG.

My poor laptop is filled with images that should be deleted, but since I spent so much money on this darn camera I felt inclined to keep.

So I gave up...put my camera back on auto and thought "This is as good as it gets"...

I am sure seeing some of these photos on Facebook, Amy Johnson of Great Dane Photos (http://www.greatdanephotos.com/) took pitty on me. My camera's cry for help was answered :) Amy spent the day with me today, very patiently explaining the basics on how to take pictures, and how to use the manual setting on my camera...I could see the tears of joy coming from my camera---I think she was very happy to see Amy :)

Amy also got to run her first agility dog! After Gator gave her several looks of total confusion and me telling her to R-U-N---everyone was happy :-)) She handled him VERY well and I appreciate her doing that! Gator made a new friend and I am sure he will remember her! LOL

I took a ton of pictures, trying to take in everything Amy said and I hope I can retain all of it! I took pictures of Gator doing agility in full sun (which normally looked as if he was an angel from heaven with a LOVELY BRIGHT aura around him) and they turned out GREAT! My timing is not the best yet of course, but come on, give me a break--just figured out my camera HAD a manual setting (seriously...sooo sad right?)

So here are a few pics from the day of actually TAKING PICTURES...not just pointing and shooting things and hoping 1 out of 200 shots turns out somewhat OK.

Klink was the herding dog and Gator was the agility dog...Zip stayed in the house and screamed her fool head off----brat!

Klink DrivingGator weaving! More weaving.... And even MORE weaving!

Lambs are so silly...they are not born knowing what a dog is...so at this age they will go right up to a dog...many dogs are unsettled by this, but Klink knows that she needs to just ignore the lamb and focus on the ewe--THAT will make everything move :) Good girlie Klink!

Klink fetching :)

Gator Teeter!!!

So I think things have vastly improved...I hope to have better pictures taken and maybe figure this thing out now that I have the basics :-))

8 comments:

THE Princess Diaries said...

i am totally hiring you since those are awesome pics:)))) Does the camera have a name since we have herd SO much about it:))

Loretta Mueller said...

Yeppers, it is in the post--Canon EOS 50D...

manymuddypaws said...

should it not have a more female name...you do refer to it as a her...more than once in fact! :o)

congrats on learning how to use the darn thing! It took my a while of practicing and just now do I "kind of" get it....

Sue said...

I know what you mean by not being able to point and shoot on manual settings. I'm still using my automatic setting since I don't have an Amy to teach me the basics. Very good pictures!

Robin French said...

Oh man i'm jealous! I STILL don't know what the heck i'm doing with my 40D. I even bought a book to teach myself but it's collecting dust on the table.

D said...

That is so great she was able to help you out. Trying to read the manual even on a simple camera...requires the use of a translator! Can't wait to see more of your pictures.

Jodi said...

Awesome shots! I'm still awaiting your notes since you sucked me into getting this oh-so-expensive camera!

Emma Rose said...

Excellent pictures! We just got a DSLR too and have to do a lot of studying before it will do it's job!