Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Instant Gratification

I have finally invested in a system of instant gratification, and I love it!

I recently purchased a Nikon D70s digital SLR camera, a 1GB CompactFlash memory card, and eight AA batteries for my Nikon SB-600 speedlight. Before getting this camera, I used a Nikon N65 SLR and my favorite film, Fuji Velvia, but amazing as that film stock is, the practicality of learning to be a photographer and the cost and accessibility of slide film development resulted in about 10 rolls of film sitting on my desk collecting dust. How depressing!!!

As each roll of film landed in its sanctioned corner of the desk, I would simultaneously be reading Ken Rockwell's website on photography, dreaming (perhaps even lusting) of the time when I would be able to have a digital SLR. I had used digital cameras before, but only the small pocket-sized cameras that had a significant shutter lag, so you had to anticipate your subject's movement and pray to God that they didn't move faster than expected.

I recently went out with my new Nikon and hiked around Round Lake in Camas, WA. I was amazed at the frugal mentality that I had achieved from not having the resources for film development. Here is an almost unlimited source of instant gratification, and yet I was sheepish and shy to take a picture that I might regret. However, over the course of the hike, I was standing in the bushes taking pictures of backlit trees, pieces of grass, dandelions and just about anything that looked cool.

Uploading the pictures was a blast! Instantly being able to see what worked, what didn't worked, what I should do differently, and how the blasted thing works.

It is a total blast and I am all for this new way of instant gratification.

No comments: