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Shoot I Do 101

By now you’ve heard the news: I bought a fancy-pants camera and I need to learn how to use it, outside of auto mode.  FREAK OUT!  No really.  That’s what happens in my head on a regular basis these days.  I can’t count how many deep breathes I’ve taken in the last few weeks. Each time, I hear The German’s voice: Oh, to have your troubles. (apparently, she was waaay ahead of her time and possibly the original “white people problems” meme)

Boy (another photographer in the fam) asked me how it was going and I told him I still hold my camera like a dying kitten.  So so gentle.

I need to get over that.  Like yesterday.

In the back of my mind I keep thinking about the cost of the equipment and that makes me mindful and cautious, but at some point my camera needs to become a part of me, an extension of me, and that can’t happen if I think I’m gonna hurt it.  I’m not gonna hurt it!  (Right?!)

The only way to do this is to shoot every day (the camera, not my shotgun. although that is fun too).  So, shoot I do.  And now you get the title of this series and our new insider’s joke!

Shoot I Do 101 will be a series of easy lessons for those of us learning our DSLRs.   If you have a tip you want to share, zip it to me in an email or post in the comments.

Most of the pics I shoot will be posted in my Tumblr account.  Subscribe here if you don’t want to miss a shot.

Today, I’ll leave a Canon Forum link, only because I have a Canon (and you may too) and am familiar with the forum.  If you are shooting with a Nikon (or Olympus, etc) and know of a great forum, please leave us a link.  I don’t want anyone left out who wants to join the fun.

The biggest thing I’m struggling with in these first new weeks is getting through the instruction manual.  IS THIS IN ENGLISH?!  There are days that I read for 10-15 minutes, unroll my eyes from the back of my head and try to make sense of it all.  I know that I’ll learn some through sheer will, some through osmosis and some through experience.

The forum will allow me to learn from the experience of others, as will the advice I receive from those already shooting with DSLRs.  Learning to shoot on my old SLR seemed a breeze compared to the technology I need to learn in the digital age.

Lots of folks get these amazing DSLRs and never take it out of auto-mode (and that’s OK), but baby, I’m not an auto-mode kinda gal.  Just ask Husband.  Is there a hard rocky road?  I’ll take that path every stinkin’ time. Got lots to prove, much?  Yes, that would be me.

Now you know.  When you see a post titled Shoot I Do 101 and you want to learn how to learn that fancy-pants camera of yours, click in.  Gonna be some fun here.

Well, maybe not so fun for Husband and Dexter.  They’re already tired of seeing my camera up to my eye.

Learn you DSLR

I swear I can hear his weary sigh…

 

 

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Melanie

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

When my husband bought our camera about a year and a half ago, it scared me to death! Now I am an all-manual mode gal! Lots of practice, and lots of mistakes made, but learning as I go. Looking forward to reading more of your tips. :)

Mrs. Tucker

Wednesday 26th of March 2014

WHEEE! Um, I will be looking forward to your input!

Laura Le

Tuesday 25th of March 2014

Oh Dexter is adorable! I am trying to figure out my camera also, after a year I still leave the settings to auto.

Mrs. Tucker

Tuesday 25th of March 2014

Thank you! We think so. You should join us here. Resolve to take a few pics here and there in manual. You can do it!

Bev @ The Make Your Own Zone

Monday 24th of March 2014

I just bought a new Cannon camera a couple weeks ago so I know exactly what you're going through! I didn't think much of the instruction manual either :) I'm both excited and nervous to get started on the learning process.

Mrs. Tucker

Tuesday 25th of March 2014

When I bought my SLR, I went to a college bookstore and out an amazing textbook and taught myself using that book. Today, there are so many more resources available. If one doesn't do it for us...on to the next! Happy Learning!

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