Camera Phone Snapshots

I have three cameras to document this trip.  I have my camera on my phone, my Canon s90 point and shoot and my Canon 5D Mark ii.  Where ever I go, I like to take photographs with all of them. There is an app that you can get for your iphone that takes photographs that look like the old square ones you find when you dig through old family treasures. To get this look, you can download the hipstamatic application for your iphone phone.  I like to gather a collection of these since they are easy to take and it's fun to switch out the film, lenses and flash right on your phone.

I've been taking them from the start of this journey and I look forward to taking more to share with you.  Here are a few that I've taken that I especially like.  I didn't do anything with the photograph, I just pointed in the direction of something that looked interesting to me and clicked the button.

It's just a reminder that it isn't necessary the tools you have that will give you a photograph you enjoy.  Sometimes we forget to take the time to document what we do, but once you have it on "film" you will be able to cherish it forever.  This summer (and beyond), I encourage you to dust off that camera you have and take some snapshots of your life, where you go and what you do.  Sometimes, I think those are the most interesting shots.  Simple things like eating breakfast, cooking with your family, watching your kids play, items you see on your commute.  I know I can be critical on myself with the photographs I take.  When I take the time to look back on them, I tend to enjoy the simple ones the most.  The ones that take me back to the time when the photograph was taken.  Don't wait for the newest camera, the one you have that's sitting in a drawer will work just fine.  Last year on my journey, I took all of my photographs with a point and click you can buy at any big electronics store for about $100 bucks.  There are even cheaper versions out there as well.  Have fun!  I have to admit that taking photographs has made this journey a little bit more fun, even though Max is a bit sick of it.

Trading Passions

For years my passion was wine.  I loved learning about how it's made, the many complexities, the taste and the experience of it.  I traveled to different wine regions to take tours, witness the process of bottling, and enjoying a glass of wine on the property while I soaked in the sunshine.

Over time, I built up quite the collection.  My friends knew that they would be in for a treat when I had get togethers, with the wine that I served.  I took trips with friends to the wine country and after a while most of my travel plans would revolve around wineries.  To this day, I know what a wine would taste like if someone told me the winery and varietal.

After all the experiences, tasting, learning and drinking wine, it wasn't fulfilling to me anymore.  At first it was intimidating when I didn't know the wine "lingo" when someone would describe the attributes but after many years of "learning," it became second nature.  I felt I reached the point where I wasn't learning about the wine anymore, it was just the act of drinking it that I enjoyed.

I decided that wine was no longer a passion of mine.  Besides the social aspect of drinking wine, the negative outcome outweighed the positive in my experience.

I moved on to another hobby, photography.  Since I spent so much time in my previous passion, I needed something challenging and creative.  I have found both in photography.  My dog, Max and I traveled across the USA last year and at first, I took pictures with my little point and click to document our trip.  After a while, the typical snapshot wasn't what I was looking for.  I wanted something more.  I take a lot of pictures in the hopes that I will end up with something that came close to what I envisioned in my mind. I have shot all of my pictures with my point and shoot thus far and have had fun in the process.

As we are preparing for our next trip across the country, I thought it was about time to give my wine collection to a new home.  Someone that has the same passion I once did.  Why not use trade my old passion with a new tool to help me in my new love?  That's right...I traded 10 years of collecting wine (along with the 188 bottle refrigerator) for a new camera.  I am now the proud owner of a canon 5D Mark ii.  It's the big brother of my current point and click, the canon powershot s90.  Big, big, brother.  There is a lot to learn with it, but after a while I will figure it out.  I am pretty excited about this new learning adventure.

You might have something that you once loved sitting in your garage that you no longer use or need.  Maybe it's time to trade it in for something you currently enjoy!  I have a stationary bike I will trade for a new lens!

I am glad I did and I am looking forward to sharing more with you.

Does Size Matter? (Canon PowerShot 1200 IS vs. Canon PowerShot s90)

I spent all day yesterday printing a few pictures from my travels. I am not the best at organizing my photos so it took a while to go through and sort out a few that I liked. I still have more to go through, but I chose a few to put up for sale on my Etsy site. You can see the pictures I put up on the right of the blog.

As you might know, I dropped and killed 2 Canon Powershot cameras during my travels. Recently, I purchased a new camera after I received a gift certificate from Amazon.

Buying a new camera is not an easy task since there are so many makes and models to choose from. Then you have to read the reviews and think about what is best for you. I decided to buy a Canon Powershot s90 camera. It's still a point and click and since I prefer the Canon brand, I chose this one. I am pleased so far with the results.

Most of my pictures I've taken on the road are with my Canon Powershot SD 1200 IS. After printing some of the images, it really is a good camera. I didn't have any complaints with it, besides it slipping from my hands a few times(of course that's the Camera's fault). I still have it and will continue to use it. However, I do love shooting with my s90 now.

Last week I went to a free photography group meeting to listen to a professional speak about their business. I thought, "why not? It's free and I will be able to meet like minded people who also share the same passion for photography." The group organizer asked everyone to introduce themselves and say what their first camera was and what their "dream" camera is. I listened as everyone rattled off numbers and names with the crowd smiling and nodding their heads knowing full well the cost, model, and performance of the camera that they were describing. To me, it was just a number. I mean...I know they are beautiful quality cameras but since I don't have a SLR, I couldn't relate.

It came to my turn to talk. I introduced myself...said that I quit my job to travel across the country with my dog in a tent. A lot of people in the group smiled at me with some applause in the room. Then I said I used a point and click and that I didn't really have a "dream" camera since I was pretty happy with what I had. The smiles I had at the beginning turned to confusion and for second, I could hear crickets chirping in the room. It's as if I lost all credibility at that moment. I then stopped talking and looked at the person next to me to continue the introductions (as I sunk lower in my chair). Once again, the camera model numbers came flowing with a collective sigh of relief amongst the group that there were more of "them" in the room.

Don't get me wrong, I would love the opportunity to push a button with a very large and expensive camera, but I don't have one and I think that anyone can take an amazing photo with what they have. After all, it's just a tool to capture what you are looking at in that point in time. However, I am not opposed to owning one in the future if the opportunity presents itself.

I feel that I almost have to apologize for the size of the camera I have. When people see large cameras, I think the automatic assumption is, "wow, they must be an excellent photographer!" When I see those cameras I automatically think that the photos must have amazing clarity but then my mind thinks: "wow, they have to lug that around with them the entire day...I wonder if their shoulder hurts. I wonder if they bang it on walls walking into a room or what would happen if they dropped it." Most likely, that would be my experience.

I was going to do a side by side comparison of my two cameras but I thought I would show you some of the pictures I have taken with each. If you are thinking of purchasing a Canon s90, I found this review helpful...including pictures. CLICK HERE for review.

Here are some pictures I took with both "point and clicks." Which one do you think I took with my less expensive 1200 and which one with my new s90?

Can you tell a difference? The first 5 images (excluding the camera photos) are from my lesser expensive Canon Powershot 1200IS and the last 4 pictures are from the new Canon s90. In my opinion, it's the picture you take that's the best photo. Don't let the equipment intimidate you or discourage you from taking a picture you love. The one you take that you cherish forever is the most important shot, no matter what camera you have.



UPDATE: As of May, I traded my wine collection for a Canon 5D Mark ii.  I am still getting used to it and learning (I consider myself a work in progress), but I have to say that this is a good camera too. :)