Those little things that freeze a moment…

At the end of September, I got myself my very first DSLR (a Canon EOS 500D), and I’ve been having a lot of fun with it, it’s become one of my best friends! However, I’ve read a lot about DSLRs, and I have a lot of books to do with them; and I can definitely mirror a lot of others’ opinions in the sense of if you’re only getting a DSLR to take pictures in the auto mode, and don’t really want to fiddle around with all the settings…don’t get one. It’s honestly not worth the money if you’re only going to use it in that way, and only use it occasionally. If, however, you’re going to really get your fingers dirty and get down to all the technicalities of the camera, go for it! It is definitely one of the best (and most expensive) things I’ve ever bought.

If you just want a camera to point at the subject and press the shutter, then go for any of the point and shoot cameras that are out there – there are loads to choose from these days, and a lot of them are just as good as DSLRs for quality pictures these days, especially with all those mega-pixels! Sure, there are advantages that DSLRs have over point and shoots, but I believe it’s more about HOW you use the camera, not so much the camera itself. I was using point and shoot cameras for years until I finally forked out for the DSLR, and it’s possibly why it took me so long to get one (well, that and the money). It’s all about really getting to know your camera well, well enough so that you can just whip it out of your bag and fiddle around for a few seconds, then point it…and shoot it. If you know the camera well enough, you should be able to understand how to get the shot you want, because you will have practised with it enough to know which settings will work best for the scenario. I haven’t discarded my Sony Cybershot either, it still comes out with me – I end up going out with two cameras now, the Sony and the Canon.

However, on Saturday, I went and got yet another camera! It was very much an impulse buy, I wasn’t planning on it, but we stumbled across a man selling old cameras on Portobello Road Market…and after a bit of haggling…I got it! It’s a 1979 Pentax auto 110, and it’s a pretty little thing. And little, it is! The best part was that it’s in the original box, and it’s got the flash, an extra lens, winder and the original instruction manual – not bad! Pictures below (from the web):

So, I don’t know whether these look pretty to you…but I certainly find them pretty! And, as one of my friends said: “Cameras are a beautiful piece of machinery” Enough said! Next up on my camera wish list is a polaroid camera – I’ve been wanting one for ages, I actually got one from a charity shop but it didn’t work. However, the boy has said “let’s see what Santa brings”…so we will see. Are you addicted to cameras? Do share in the comments, and share your favourite cameras, I’d love to hear about them. Happy Monday, hope you’ve all been managing to make it a good one!

This point; right here.

Do you ever pause and think about where you are right now, where you were at this point in the past, and where you want to go? It’s something I think about from time to time, sometimes I feel good, sometimes I miss things and people, but if I hadn’t experienced any of it, I wouldn’t be where I am, and who I am. Currently, I’m planning lots of things, and whilst there’s a big part of me that is just itching to stop the planning and just do things, I know that the planning is essential. So I persist, and soon enough, I’ll be able to start the “do” part!

This time 4 years ago, I was in my last year on my college course, and I felt a bit strange. I was happy, very happy, because I was 7 months into my relationship with the boy, but I wasn’t completely happy education-wise. I do love the theatre, and the beloved-theatre-company, but I was at a point where I felt a bit odd; many of the friends I had grown up with there had moved on, gone to University etc, and I guess it was a bit strange to be in a place that held so many childhood memories, and yet I was studying there. I don’t regret it at all, because in doing the course, I had left my Secondary School behind, which was a good thing. But there was just something missing, I guess, because I was in a place where childhood was still so present, but I needed to grow up a bit, and to do that, I needed to go away.

This time 3 years ago, I was just starting out at Reading University. It started well. I thought it was a good course, and I had made some nice friends on the course, and a few from outside of the course. But I was away from home, away from the boy, away from those I loved. At the time, it didn’t really suit me very much. As the year went on, I got more and more homesick, and I realised just how much I was missing London too – even though it wasn’t far away by train, when you’re in a whole different place, well, it’s just not the same. I didn’t feel completely comfortable in the presence of those at University either, but I’m only starting to realise this now. There was a fair bit of back-stabbing, bitchiness and two-facedness, and all of that really isn’t who I am. From that year, I’ve gained one really good friend, and the other friendships have now more or less fallen away. However, I also don’t regret this year. I learnt a lot about myself – I’m a home-girl at heart, I like to be around those I love more than being by myself, I’m creative, I have an ever-present love of bright colours, and I always, always try to face things with a smile!

2 years ago, I had just started on the long journey with the Open University. It’s been tough, you need loads of self-motivation, and at times I do get a bit fed up with it all, but I just have to remember what I’m working towards…eventually, I will have a degree…it’s just taking a little longer. The big sis and I had also started to get a bit more serious about the jewellery business at this point, and in the December, we held a jewellery party and did quite well with it. Little steps; it was a bit stop and start after that, but we’re now on the way to relaunching the whole thing…it’s exciting!

This time last year, I had started my second course with the Open University, and I was also doing my Level 2 BSL course, at last. Through doing the BSL course, my confidence was slowly starting to grow again, and I was realising just how much BSL I already knew! With sign-language, if you don’t use it, you might lose it, but there was a lot of knowledge in me, it was just tucked away, not being used, so I’m glad I did the course, because it helped me to feel more confident when I’m signing. It also helped that our teacher was Deaf herself, so it was great to see a strong, confident Deaf woman every week.

Where am I now? What is happening right now, at this point in time? Well, currently, I’m not studying, as there wasn’t an Open Uni course that started in October that I took a liking to…but there’s one starting in January that I like the look of…so that’s the next step – with the O.U. you can do it bit by bit, working your way to a degree module by module, course by course. However, I’m currently making lots of plans; the biggest thing is the jewellery business, which has stepped up a level – I’ve been working away on a business plan, budgeting, market researching…it’s hard work! It’ll pay off though, and I’ll reveal more here when it’s all up and running. At the end of September, I finally took the plunge and got my first DSLR, and I’m so happy that I did. I think it marked a real change, because I’ve love photography for so long, yet I’ve been using the trusty point and shoot cameras, and feeling green with envy whenever I saw someone whip out a DSLR when I was out and about. But now? Now I have MY OWN. Happy days. I’ve been having lots of fun with it. Lots of fun. A lot of ideas have been bubbling up too, so I’ve been pinning things on Pinterest, and soaking up all the inspiration on the internet. Watch this space, because there will most definitely be more photographic adventures to come, which I will document on here.

After all that has happened this year, I’m feeling grateful at this point in time. Grateful for friends, family, life. I appreciate that I have this time to create what I want, which currently means setting up the jewellery business and playing with my camera. I don’t know what the future will hold, but I’m feeling happy, and I’m feeling excited. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this excited about things; and, excited, I’m glad you’re back. I’ve missed you. The next few weeks will be busy, busy and fun, as I put the finishing touches onto the business plan, and start the first steps on the “do”…and that’s the most exciting part. Sometimes it really is good to reflect on things, to look backwards at where you have been, to look forward at where you want to go, and to look at where you are now and re-evaluate things. If you don’t like where you are, then you have the power to change it. And if you can’t change it, change your attitude. It’s your life.

“This is your world. Shape it or someone else will.” – Gary Lew.

Day 26: Things

I know it’s quite materialistic, but I think things (objects etc) can make us happy. Think about the things you use every day – do some of them put a smile on your face? I know some put a smile on my face. So here are a few things, accompanied with photographs, I use on a daily basis that make me happy.

My camera 

Candles 

Cool mugs 

Are there any things that you use every day that make you smile? Happy Wednesday, and enjoy your happy moments.

Winding down, winding up.

There seems to be times when I’m thinking about things, and I start to realise…hey, that’d be a good thing to blog about…but I’m one of those people who often have many things pass through their heads, and the next thing I know, I can’t remember what it was that I thought I should blog about! Or, in other cases, when it comes to blog it, my mind doesn’t want to form the thoughts in the same way it had earlier – often I could start composing blog posts in my mind, and the actual act of writing a blog post doesn’t bring about the same effect that I was hoping for. Anyway, so I had one of those ideas for a blog post earlier today…and I was going to blog about it too…but now that I’m typing, I don’t know what to write!

What I had thought about was how we interact on the internet, either through social networking sites or forums etc. And I was just thinking that it’s changed the way we communicate with one another, at times. I also thought about the way that some people seem to be so confident and full of bravado when they say things online, and I wonder whether they would be like that in real life? Whether they would be able to say everything they say online in real life? Sometimes on the internet, people just come out and say things without thinking; and then they may regret those things later – sometimes there’s a way of deleting them, sometimes there isn’t. Also, do you mean everything you say online? In some cases, I just feel that the internet gives people a permit to say anything they like and not always with the best considerations. Hmm, maybe that’s just me? People seem to have less inhibitions online, maybe that’s it?

The boy is currently watching a football game on TV, so my hearing aids are out and I’m bathing in silence (well, minus tinnitus!). Not being able to hear much at all anymore is kind of like having your own built-in set of earplugs! At least I can see some positives to it now… When the game is finished, we’re going to go on a quick trip to the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford. There’s a Jessops there that doesn’t close until 9pm, so I’m going to go and have a look at the DSLRs…exciting times.

Good news is that the boy is feeling a lot better today; the bug seems to go through the system quite quickly, although it does depend on the person – my mum and I were feeling quite rough for a few days, whereas my dad and the boy seemed to be done and dusted with it within 24hours, give or take. I think my sister is still feeling quite ill though. Was nasty while it lasted!

Hmm, something bad seems to have happened on the football pitch! The boy is muttering that it’s ‘disgraceful’…think a player has been injured and had to leave the game… And at that, think I’m going to round it off for tonight. Hope you’re all having a good Thursday

Tease me, tease me…

Looks like the day when I actually get my first DSLR is getting closer…and this camera just keeps teasing me! I’ve been researching cameras for a few weeks now; certain that I’m going to get a Canon, and the Canon EOS 500D is the strongest contender at the moment:

Is it just me, or does it look beautiful?! A DSLR has been on my wishlist for years, but there has always been something holding me back from actually getting one (money being one of the issues), and now that the possibility is finally here…oh boy, I’m so excited!

Any advice or tips…? If all goes well, tomorrow may be the day when I buy it…

Polaroid 300 Review – Telegraph

A review of the Polaroid 300 Instant Camera, by Hunter Skipworth for the Telegraph:

The Polaroid 300 camera signals a return for the once iconic instant camera company. It brings with it the spontaneity and excitement that died with the company when it fell in the wake of the digital camera revolution.

The Polaroid had long been synonymous with trendy party snaps, awkward family photos and faded fashion shoots. But as digital imaging made taking and reviewing pictures cheaper and faster than Polaroid, the instant film company failed to survive the competition. Now, however, Polaroid is back and has returned with at least some of the style and fun the company once had.

The Polaroid 300 is not much to look at when compared to the retro design of the old Polaroid range. It essentially resembles a big plastic blob, which is precisely what it is. Don’t be fooled by this however, it feels good in the hand and is extremely robust, precisely what you want a Polaroid to be.

It is important to remember that despite this camera signalling Polaroid’s return, it is in fact a rebranded Fujifilm. Instant photography has been available for some time in the form of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s, which takes the same film and looks identical to its Polaroid cousin.

The camera is extremely simple to use with just four picture modes going from indoors to bright sunlight. I found the exposure to be extremely unpredictable, ending up shooting either at the brightest or darkest settings. But then this unpredictability is what makes Polaroid fun. At £12.99 for a pack of ten shots the excitement as the picture rolls out the camera is heightened by a combination of expense and the fact it could be totally wrong.

The lens you find on the camera is perfectly suited to taking Polaroids; it is big and wide and soft, providing those washed- out dreamy images you expect from an instant camera. The viewfinder however is slightly more problematic, it is far wider than the lens and can make composition a bit of a problem.

Loading film into the Polaroid is a joy; it is perhaps the simplest and easiest film camera I have ever used. The film comes in plastic packs of ten which simply slot into a door on the back of the camera. The packs appear to be light sealed which means opening the camera won’t have any adverse effects on the film.

One thing to mention about the film is its size. The 300 takes the same smaller film that you find in its Fujifilm brother. This film is slightly smaller than that of the original Polaroid film and dosen’t quite produce the colours of the original. The shift and desaturation is still there but for those of you who are Polaroid fanatics, you will be disappointed.

Due to the expense of each shot, taking a picture with the Polaroid feels like a treat. After carrying it round with me for a week I have found myself using my digital compact or phone for all but the best of fun and family snaps. But there have been a few moments when things really needed that ‘Polaroid feel’. For those shots, being able to shoot Polaroid again is a joy. The feeling you get when handing someone the results straight away from a shot you have just taken is rather special. But until Polaroid start releasing cheaper film, it will remain a feeling that we will have to save for decadent moments.

Original article can be found at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/7814302/Polaroid-300-Review.html