Coincidentally, in the last couple of weeks three people have asked me about buying an SLR camera. Taking up photography as a serious hobby can cost quite a bit. It is good to put the various costs into perspective so that one can see the whole journey ahead before taking a shot at it (pun intended)
Buying the SLR is just the first in a series of purchases you are going to make. But hang on; don't go buying everything until you grow into it. You'll appreciate it more when you acquire the pieces carefully and with great discernment over time.
First, the lens. You probably will start off with the kit lens, which is good. I have a zoom kit lens (18-105mm) which I use almost all the time and I still find it adequate for almost all my needs. Over time, when you find yourself venturing into different genre you will find it useful to buy just what you need. There are lenses to suit closeups, portraits, landscape, sports, and wildlife - to name the common ones.
You will need the basic accessories: a proper camera bag, an extra battery, a large memory card. These things will last you years, so get good ones. A good camera bag cushions your camera and lenses. An original battery is more dependable than third party ones. A good quality memory card ensures you don't lose your images. Conservatively, these could set you back about AUD$250 in total.
Every serious photographer needs a tripod. A good basic one costs about $300 (Manfrotto 190XPROB, with head and adapter).
You will learn to appreciate the use of a polarizer and perhaps other filters. These can be added to your gear over time. A flash gun will be useful too, when you need to take photographs at a function. A good flash gun is worth investing in, as it can last you over the lifespan of many cameras. A top of the line one costs about AUD$650-$850.
At this time, I would assume you already have a suitable computer with adequate hard-disk space and processing power for image editing.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Brain speed
The brain works in a mysterious way. It is as if the more you work on a certain set of problems, the more the neurons get connected, thereby speeding up your ability to think fast. Thinking fast leads you to move fast.
Don from our local dance academy used to talk about brain speed. He tells his students that they have to develop brain speed when learning to dance. It is not about dancing quickly. Rather, it is about thinking quickly what the next step is going to be and doing it right. You cannot learn to dance by just memorizing all the steps. You won't have enough brain speed to keep up with the music.
We can apply this to many instances. When a person learns martial arts, he is actually building up brain speed at the same time. His hands and feet have to move fast to a prescribed set of movements. In combat, a good fighter moves at a speed that is much faster than an average person. The speed does not come from his physical condition alone, but more so from a trained brain speed. That is what gives him the fighting edge.
If you are a guitarist, you will realise how difficult it was to change the chords when you first started learning. After a lot of practice, you can do so effortlessly. I am sure this applies to a drummer, a pianist, or any other musician. It is all about developing brain speed.
I used to tell my children that when they are learning maths, they have to practise in order to develop brain speed. It is not enough just to know how to solve a set of problems. They also have to be able to think fast. The only way to achieve this is through practice.
As I teach my daughter to drive, I tell her that what she is practising is brain speed. When she makes judgment on when to cross the road, she has to process all the information about the traffic condition quickly. A new driver cannot think and respond as fast as a seasoned driver. A seasoned driver can brake, switch gears, turn on the lights, honk, etc., almost simultaneously when needed to. A new driver will be exposing himself to danger if he or she so much as holds a coke in his hand.
Don from our local dance academy used to talk about brain speed. He tells his students that they have to develop brain speed when learning to dance. It is not about dancing quickly. Rather, it is about thinking quickly what the next step is going to be and doing it right. You cannot learn to dance by just memorizing all the steps. You won't have enough brain speed to keep up with the music.
We can apply this to many instances. When a person learns martial arts, he is actually building up brain speed at the same time. His hands and feet have to move fast to a prescribed set of movements. In combat, a good fighter moves at a speed that is much faster than an average person. The speed does not come from his physical condition alone, but more so from a trained brain speed. That is what gives him the fighting edge.
If you are a guitarist, you will realise how difficult it was to change the chords when you first started learning. After a lot of practice, you can do so effortlessly. I am sure this applies to a drummer, a pianist, or any other musician. It is all about developing brain speed.
I used to tell my children that when they are learning maths, they have to practise in order to develop brain speed. It is not enough just to know how to solve a set of problems. They also have to be able to think fast. The only way to achieve this is through practice.
As I teach my daughter to drive, I tell her that what she is practising is brain speed. When she makes judgment on when to cross the road, she has to process all the information about the traffic condition quickly. A new driver cannot think and respond as fast as a seasoned driver. A seasoned driver can brake, switch gears, turn on the lights, honk, etc., almost simultaneously when needed to. A new driver will be exposing himself to danger if he or she so much as holds a coke in his hand.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The car
It is only when you send your car for service that you will realize how indispensable the car is. It is like going on a fast; suddenly life takes on a strange perspective without the use of a car. This is intolerable, your inner self probably tells you. You want to get out of the situation as soon as possible. Once you are back on the road again, literally speaking, you'll quickly forget the inconvenience you have just endured. You'll happily go back to your life, reassured that your car will be at your disposal at all times once more.
Everyone's life revolves around the car as soon as he is qualified to drive. Without the car, one cannot go to work, socialize with friends, or simply shop for necessities. We have all become accustomed to a car-dependent lifestyle.
How has humanity managed to become so dependent on the car? I think it is a matter of conscious choice. Until recent years, China has been largely a nation of bicycles. This proves that bicycles are a viable alternative to cars as the primary means of transport. One day I am going to make the switch away from the car. The car is still a necessity at times, but when I can help it (target: 90% of the time), you will see me on a motorized bicycle or a motorcycle. That's a promise. And if I can spur another person to do the same, that's much more than what Julia Gillard has done for the environment.
Everyone's life revolves around the car as soon as he is qualified to drive. Without the car, one cannot go to work, socialize with friends, or simply shop for necessities. We have all become accustomed to a car-dependent lifestyle.
How has humanity managed to become so dependent on the car? I think it is a matter of conscious choice. Until recent years, China has been largely a nation of bicycles. This proves that bicycles are a viable alternative to cars as the primary means of transport. One day I am going to make the switch away from the car. The car is still a necessity at times, but when I can help it (target: 90% of the time), you will see me on a motorized bicycle or a motorcycle. That's a promise. And if I can spur another person to do the same, that's much more than what Julia Gillard has done for the environment.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Carbon Tax and Emissions Trading Scheme
Someone asked me what the Carbon Tax is all about. Also, closely related to that is the ETS, or Emissions Trading Scheme. Here is a link which will give you a very clear idea of what these are about: http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080707/what-is-an-emissions-trading-scheme-ets/
Briefly, Carbon Tax is just a tax on the amount of carbon dioxide that an industry produces, while ETS is like the COE (certificate of entitlement) practised in Singapore. Like the COE, the government issues permits for X amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted. If the permit is used up, the company has to buy more permits, perhaps in the open market, where permits can be freely trade.
My say: the intent is good, which is to force industries to be more conscious of the amount of CO2 it produces, and to take steps to reduce it. That is where all the good stops: just good intent. The implementation of it is pure nonsense; it is just another tax revenue for a government that has lost its ability to manage the country within a given budget. Don't listen to all the spin Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard are busy churning out. When any country has to make a choice between polluting the air or keeping factories running, which country will sacrifice for the environment? Julia Gillard will tax Australian companies into oblivion while every other developing country will happily keep their factories running at lower operating costs (no carbon tax). No other country has agreed to do this in their own country, so why does Julia Gillard think she is so "clever"?
Before Labor Government implements this harebrained scheme, I would like to see what comprehensive plans it has for saving the environment. Is it going to build an efficient public transport system, so that people are less reliant on cars to go to work? Is it willing to penalize owners of gas guzzlers by increasing the road tax for big capacity engines while subsidizing "green" cars? Is it going to make all government vehicles small and "green", to show that it is serious? Will it build bicycle tracks and encourage the use of motorized bicycles to replace cars for commuting? Enough of carbon tax spin. This is worse than a direct form of tax because not only will the general public eventually have to pay its cost, but manufacturing industries themselves may perish in the process. In a twisted way, perhaps this is the fastest way to reduce emissions.
Briefly, Carbon Tax is just a tax on the amount of carbon dioxide that an industry produces, while ETS is like the COE (certificate of entitlement) practised in Singapore. Like the COE, the government issues permits for X amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted. If the permit is used up, the company has to buy more permits, perhaps in the open market, where permits can be freely trade.
My say: the intent is good, which is to force industries to be more conscious of the amount of CO2 it produces, and to take steps to reduce it. That is where all the good stops: just good intent. The implementation of it is pure nonsense; it is just another tax revenue for a government that has lost its ability to manage the country within a given budget. Don't listen to all the spin Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard are busy churning out. When any country has to make a choice between polluting the air or keeping factories running, which country will sacrifice for the environment? Julia Gillard will tax Australian companies into oblivion while every other developing country will happily keep their factories running at lower operating costs (no carbon tax). No other country has agreed to do this in their own country, so why does Julia Gillard think she is so "clever"?
Before Labor Government implements this harebrained scheme, I would like to see what comprehensive plans it has for saving the environment. Is it going to build an efficient public transport system, so that people are less reliant on cars to go to work? Is it willing to penalize owners of gas guzzlers by increasing the road tax for big capacity engines while subsidizing "green" cars? Is it going to make all government vehicles small and "green", to show that it is serious? Will it build bicycle tracks and encourage the use of motorized bicycles to replace cars for commuting? Enough of carbon tax spin. This is worse than a direct form of tax because not only will the general public eventually have to pay its cost, but manufacturing industries themselves may perish in the process. In a twisted way, perhaps this is the fastest way to reduce emissions.
I wish for.... a videophone
I wonder how many people would be keen to replace their home phone with a videophone if one is available for the price of a modem (~AUD$100?). Perhaps the reason why it is so uncommon is that there is no demand for it. Yet I would be the first to look seriously into it if it were available. All the technology that is required to produce a simple videophone for the mass market it is already here, so why isn't anyone making it?
This is how I think it could work. Of course, it needs to be connected to the internet. As with Skype, one can choose to either make a voice call or a video call. Suppose this is simplified so that one begins by making a voice call. Then upon request, he can press a button and his video image will appear at the other end, and vice versa.
Yes, I am really hoping that the next evolution of the home telephone will be a simple videophone. I emphasize on "simple" because that is the only way to make it appealing to even the most technophobic individual; the proverbial grandma or grandpa. As with voice recorders, perhaps one might even be able to record a video clip of the conversation, for playback if grandma misses seeing her grandchildren.
This is how I think it could work. Of course, it needs to be connected to the internet. As with Skype, one can choose to either make a voice call or a video call. Suppose this is simplified so that one begins by making a voice call. Then upon request, he can press a button and his video image will appear at the other end, and vice versa.
Yes, I am really hoping that the next evolution of the home telephone will be a simple videophone. I emphasize on "simple" because that is the only way to make it appealing to even the most technophobic individual; the proverbial grandma or grandpa. As with voice recorders, perhaps one might even be able to record a video clip of the conversation, for playback if grandma misses seeing her grandchildren.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Mini Wireless Keyboard N5901 (AUD$99)
I have recently commisioned one of my old computers to use as a media center. One of my old computers has been upgraded with a new VGA card (~AUD$50), so that I can use my big screen TV as the display. I can now watch Youtube, play DVD's, or make Skype video calls. It is quite a different experience than doing all these things at the desk top.
The only other thing I really needed to complete my media center was to be able to use the keyboard and mouse wirelessly from the couch. Today I found exactly what I have been looking for. It is a mini keyboard that incorporates a trackball mouse. It handles just like a remote. In fact, after a bit of handling you would think of it as a remote rather than a keyboard. It connects to the PC wirelessly via a USB nano dongle. And it works right out of the box.
The beauty of this gadget is that it is small enough to operate on one hand. It has all the keys that are found on a regular keyboard, plus multimedia keys for sound volume, play, pause, etc. The USB nano dongle can be kept in a holding slot in the battery compartment if storage is required. It uses just 2 AAA batteries, and there is a switch to turn the keyboard off to prolong battery life. I am convinced this gadget is just the thing everyone needs to truly enjoy multimedia PC from the couch.
The only other thing I really needed to complete my media center was to be able to use the keyboard and mouse wirelessly from the couch. Today I found exactly what I have been looking for. It is a mini keyboard that incorporates a trackball mouse. It handles just like a remote. In fact, after a bit of handling you would think of it as a remote rather than a keyboard. It connects to the PC wirelessly via a USB nano dongle. And it works right out of the box.
The beauty of this gadget is that it is small enough to operate on one hand. It has all the keys that are found on a regular keyboard, plus multimedia keys for sound volume, play, pause, etc. The USB nano dongle can be kept in a holding slot in the battery compartment if storage is required. It uses just 2 AAA batteries, and there is a switch to turn the keyboard off to prolong battery life. I am convinced this gadget is just the thing everyone needs to truly enjoy multimedia PC from the couch.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wishful thinking vs positive thinking
We all have wishful thoughts. Instead of looking at what we have been blessed with, we often look at what we lack. Soon after I first bought my D90 SLR two years ago, I often had wishful thoughts about other cameras. I wasn't 100% happy or contented, until I learned to appreciate my camera for what it can do, and not what it cannot do.
I must admit there are moments when I wished I had a different camera. I've always had this feeling that Canon's rendering of colour would suit my taste better. At other times I wished I had gone straight into buying a full frame SLR, such as the D700. Of course, that would have cost 3-4 times more than the D90. The feeling of making the wrong choice of camera has been exacerbated by several important points in my photography life.
The first was White Balance control. Buying the D90, I misled myself into thinking that I would achieve perfect WB. When that didn't happen, I blamed the camera. Now I realize that no camera can give you perfect WB. Not even the top end ones. I have made my peace with WB control.
Next was exposure control. Some cameras actually gives a more pleasing exposure when shot in semi-auto mode. I was not very happy with the D90 in this respect. Until now. I have learned that many seasoned photographers use the exposure compensation button all the time. I have learned to do the same myself, so this D90 nuance doesn't bother me anymore.
Of course, the APS-C sensor will still have the 1.5 crop factor, no matter what. That cannot be helped. I still cannot make full use of wide angle lens, nor get the shallow depth of field, nor use very high ISO, such as can be achieved with a full frame SLR. However, the D90 has stood up well and I am beginning to appreciate it for what it can do. That, I think, is the most important lesson in my photography journey. I have stopped imagining I could shoot better pictures by getting a better camera (and I know that's a false proposition). Instead, I now focus on what I can do with my D90 (and I know there's still lots more room to grow!).
I must admit there are moments when I wished I had a different camera. I've always had this feeling that Canon's rendering of colour would suit my taste better. At other times I wished I had gone straight into buying a full frame SLR, such as the D700. Of course, that would have cost 3-4 times more than the D90. The feeling of making the wrong choice of camera has been exacerbated by several important points in my photography life.
The first was White Balance control. Buying the D90, I misled myself into thinking that I would achieve perfect WB. When that didn't happen, I blamed the camera. Now I realize that no camera can give you perfect WB. Not even the top end ones. I have made my peace with WB control.
Next was exposure control. Some cameras actually gives a more pleasing exposure when shot in semi-auto mode. I was not very happy with the D90 in this respect. Until now. I have learned that many seasoned photographers use the exposure compensation button all the time. I have learned to do the same myself, so this D90 nuance doesn't bother me anymore.
Of course, the APS-C sensor will still have the 1.5 crop factor, no matter what. That cannot be helped. I still cannot make full use of wide angle lens, nor get the shallow depth of field, nor use very high ISO, such as can be achieved with a full frame SLR. However, the D90 has stood up well and I am beginning to appreciate it for what it can do. That, I think, is the most important lesson in my photography journey. I have stopped imagining I could shoot better pictures by getting a better camera (and I know that's a false proposition). Instead, I now focus on what I can do with my D90 (and I know there's still lots more room to grow!).
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