'Early one morning
Just as the sun was rising
I heard a maiden singing
In the valley below'
With the decision firmly made that I, Suzie, was going to try become a professional photographer, I needed to buy a new camera. My first little SLR, a Sony a200 bought second hand in Edinburgh for peanuts, was sadly, not going to cut the mustard. After all, you can't design a website with a typewriter.
Long months of research ensued, as it is possible to spend the same amount of cash on a camera body as a small car; I did not have to want to sell my small car in order to get a new camera! I needed a reliable camera with a great reputation, as well as something with longevity. I finally decided upon a Nikon D7000, with a solid magnesium body and a great sensor it will hopefully see me well for a while. (you can read a review of it here compared to the D90 and D300s if you are interested in the facts of cameras). http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000
I feel as though I have just stepped out of the pond and into the sea, for the is a huge amount of learning I have to do in order for this to become reality. I also feel invigorated that I don't have a direction yet. My only direction is to achieve the skills required to take fantastic photographs, and that in itself is quite liberating.
The quality of the images are remarkably better than with my other camera, I feel as though I have graduated from a bike equipped with stabalisers to a racing bike! I took my first steps with my new camera under the shadow of one of my very favourite things in the world, the Forth Bridge. It has been a constant presence in my life, a symbol of endurance and strength. From a trip on the sleeper train in 1986 from Fife down to Kings Cross for the occasion of my Grandparents' Ruby wedding, to the painfully long journeys throughout the 90s made from Norfolk to Leuchars when the school term finished and I was desperate to hurry back to my beloved Scotland. The Bridge has always been a sign of comfort for me, with it's strong steely arms providing my support, I am always in awe of its sheer architectural and engineering brilliance. For me it is a symbol of beauty, and one that evokes a feeling of home for most people who live north of the Border.
It felt wonderfully freeing to be walking around with a camera on my first day 'at work', with no targets to be made, predictions to prove or in fact, money to be made, but I didn't care. I trundled through to South Queensferry to catch the bridge lit up in all it's glory, like a giant red Christmas tree before the sunrise, and set absolutely everything to manual on the camera. I did spend a thought as to why I was turning everything OFF on a camera I had bought for it's complexity and sophistication, however, I wish to become a true artist, using the camera as my paintbrush. Auto settings and adjustments would not be entirely my work.
Remarkably, I potentially have secured my first exhibition space! As I was waiting for the sun to rise in the hope of getting some nice beach shots, I huddled into a cafe that was just opening as the sleepy village was waking up. The owner sells local pieces of art which she displays on the wall, she said I should go back once I have a bit of a portfolio as she would love some more modern pictures up! Watch this space....
Beautiful pics.! Wishing you every success in your new career. A.
ReplyDelete