PHOTOGRAPHY ON A BUDGET

It is possible to take really good photographs without spending an arm and a leg on equipment. Today's point and shoot cameras make it possible for anyone to experience the fun of digital photography. Their ease of use and wide variety of features have opened the door to lots of people who would like to do more than the same old birthday, recital, holiday etc. pictures.

I would like to state right now that I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who have chosen photography as a profession and for serious amateurs. I have friends that fall into both categories. On the other hand I know that there are alot of people who can be scared off by the price and the technical side of "high end" equipment.

A quality digital camera can easily cost $600, $700, $1000 or more not including lenses, filters etc. For the past few years I have taken hundreds of photos using a Kodak CX7330 that I bought new for $150. If you factor in a memory card, a camera bag and a battery I still spent less than $250.

Here are a few things I've learned (these are only my opinions, you'll have to see what works for you):

1] Choose a camera that you will enjoy using. It should fit your hand and face. I personally don't feel comfortable with those tiny, cell phone sized cameras but they are VERY popular. If you are on the clumsy side like me you may want one that has a little bulk to it to make it easier to hang on to. One advantage of the smaller camera is the ease of carrying it in a pocket, purse etc.

2] I recommend choosing a camera that has a viewfinder. There are several cameras out there that don't, they use only the LCD screen on the back. That is fine for indoors but if you plan on taking pictures outside I think you'll appreciate a viewfinder. Bright, sunny conditions can make using an LCD screen a real challenge.

3] 3 megapixels minimum

4] 1GB(gigabyte) memory card minimum. 2GB or even 4GB would be better. This refers to the amount of information the card will hold. More GB allow you to take more pictures and to switch over to shoot some video as well. Keep in mind that the higher the megapixel number of your camera, the more of your memory card will be used for each picture. I got the 64MB (megabyte) card in the picture below when I bought the camera and it has been sufficient for me. I recently purchased a 2GB card for the same price as the old 64MB card, around $25. Prices vary by brand name and retail establishment so shop around.

5] Some people swear by rechargeable batteries but they have let me down quite a few times so I don't use them. Try both and see what works best for you.

6] Finally, a case to keep it all together. You'll want to pick one that is big enough to hold all your stuff yet small enough that it's not a chore to carry it around.

Now that you're set up with a camera start taking pictures. Lots of them! The only way to get familiar with your camera is to use it.

At first you'll want to keep the instruction manual handy but after awhile you won't need to refer to it as often. You may be surprised how quickly you'll learn how to make use of your camera's features.

If you choose one of the smaller cameras available today you can keep it in your pocket, in the glovebox of your car, in a backpack etc. The important thing is to have it close by because you never know when an opportunity will present itself. Also, conditions can change very quickly. The caterpillar in the picture below was gone in less than five minutes.

Don't be hesitant to take several pictures of the same subject. When you think you've taken enough, shoot one more. I took ten shots of the caterpillar from different angles before he crawled away. Out of ten pictures I got one I really liked and that's what it's all about, getting a shot that YOU like.