GET THE PICTURE? OR HOW MY NIKON MORPHED INTO A CANON 60D

My old Nikon DSLR died. Not that it mattered. I was so frustrated trying to figure it out that I used  my Nikon Coolpix in its place for the last couple of years. But it was at the hula competition (Oh, I’ve forgotten to blog that!) that I once again tried to use the old Nikon.

After a flurry of under exposed, blurry and heartbreaking shots the camera gave up the ghost and sent me a message from beyond. Error!!! That meant I had to take it to the camera shop where I was told it would cost more to fix it then it would to buy a new camera.

After crying the blues and expressing how frustrated I was with the old Nikon anyway I thought I would just stick with the Coolpix.  But a part of me was weeping inside just knowing that no longer would I have that DSL sitting in my closet waiting. After all I thought there might be a time when I would end up in the hospital with a broken leg hoisted high and me with nothing to do but study that damned camera and finely get the hang of it.

After going on and on about the complexities of a DSLR as opposed to an SLR to the salesman he pointed out this Canon 60D. When he said it came with the 18 to 200 lens, he had my undivided attention. Then he said that this Canon Camera was much easier to use and that I would not have to worry about all the bells and whistles that made the Nikon so hard to use. Now he had me thinking, do I have my charge card with me?

OK. What a simpleton I was. He showed me how easy it was to use and that I only need put it on manual and all of the aperture, ISO, and speed settings would come back to me in no time. Hmm I’ve not found my memory getting better as my hair grows grayer but then he really was convincing as he pushed a button here and spun a dial there.

I Un-holsterd my charge card as quick as I could.He rang me up as quick as he could (hands rubbing together) I Skipped down the stairs from the store, (Actually walked carefully holding on to the railing but as quick as I could) hopped into my car and took a spin to my son’s house to show this wonderful, simple to use, can’t wait to take photos,Canon camera to him (he’s the only one that would be just as excited as me.)

As soon as I got there I realized this was the first time I had held the camera! I didn’t even know how to turn it on let alone use the monitor.  I started to hyperventilate as I saw myself stuffing it into the closet .My son calmed me down. He said “this is a toy mom. Take it one step at a time. Play with it until you have mastered that step and then move to the next.”

So today I took the first step. I watched the DVD that came with it. And after watching and re-winding  the first part of the DVD for two hours this is all I could figure out.

Looking out the living room window or where did the living room go?

Trying to experiment with Manual mode the only thing I could manage to figure out was the speed. How in the Sam hill was I supposed to do the aperture and ISO I still have not a clue. So I clicked on the DVD again and went on to the next lesson.

Aperture-Priority and depth of field. The tutorial said click on the AV setting and practice with subject up close.

So here are those results.

This is a photo of my poor garlic Chives. It is amazing that it even bloomed as Cadie, my boxer has made meals out of the whole hedge of them.

Looking up at my plumerias

Looking down at my plumerias

I could not get a very good close up before the whole thing started to blur. Do I need a micro lens? Nope not going to go there. But I did not feel that the background was blurred at all. Back to the old drawing board.

This hibiscus refused to co-operate to the point that it even turned its face from me as I tried to focus.

I got bored as I knew that I needed to test it where I would really need to blot out the background. But by the time I unlock the lens, setting, and camera I am sure I will have missed the shot. But don’t count me out. I’ve mastered my Facebook, Tumblr, twitter and my Mac (well not mastered but at least I can set them up now. )

Though it’s taken me two hours to get through the first 15 minutes of the DVD I shall return. I’m determined to get those shots of the hula as they were meant to be seen. Meanwhile my old faithful model sat and looked up at me smiling as only a boxer could.

Cadie

Under exposed, over exposed she doesn’t mind. She is always there to make me feel better. She knows I’m the little train that could. I think I can, I think I can……