I learned photography some 40 years ago using a Pentax KX 35mm film SLR camera. By today’s standards, that camera was so VERY simplistic. No auto focus. Manual exposure system. No fancy TTL flash capability. Being a film camera, you couldn’t just change the ISO from shot to shot. It was pretty “limited” in features.
I was able to create some great images with that camera and many rolls of Kodachrome 64 slide film, but it FORCED me to learn photography in the process. If I messed up, it was pretty unforgiving. I had to learn techniques that would ensure I created great images otherwise I was just wasting film. (And as a college student at the time, I sure couldn’t AFFORD to waste film!)
Reflecting back on my early years in photography, I am realizing just how grateful I am to have learned “back in the years of film.” It really forced me to pay attention to what I was doing, and understand what was really happening inside the camera if I wanted to improve as a photographer. From all those lessons learned, it made me a better photographer.
You don’t really need a “fancy” camera to create great images. You need to know how to use the camera you have now. I encourage you to take the time to really dive into this fun and amazing world of photography, beyond just shooting in one of the many “automatic” modes available today that allow you to create a photograph without even knowing what you are doing. While that WILL yield good results from time to time, sometimes totally accidentally, if you want to consistently create great images, take the time to learn all the features of your camera as well as the important fundamentals of photography. That is a much better investment than just going out and buying a new camera.
Happy Picture Taking,
Kevin Gourley
P.S. I offer private instruction in most any photography topic.
