A beginner’s tale
Aaron Hiscock picked up a D-SLR for the first time a couple of months ago, but has shown a superb eye for portraiture
My first experience with a D-SLR was only two months ago, using my girlfriend’s D600. The second I heard that shutter click, I knew this was what I was meant to do! Since then I have lived and breathed photography, trying to learn as much as I could until could I purchase my own D-SLR. I decided to call myself Spectral Photography after much debate.
I’d had my eye on a D3200, and as soon as my wages came through, it was mine. The next few days were spent capturing myself, family portraits, pets, landscapes, inanimate objects; this camera was going to change me. Forget gaming, now my computer was an editing tool and the world was a new place full of photo opportunities.
I was a natural, and within a month I felt the D3200 had done its job. I felt restricted. I had gone straight into using aperture-priority mode, but
So far my set-up has been very ‘old school’… old desk lamps, cloth and a door have been my equipment when shooting portraits
felt I needed more control, and soon changed to manual mode. Further research led me to the Nikon D7000, which I felt was the DX equivalent of my girlfriend’s D600. One click and it was mine!
With a new battery grip, the D7000 felt complete. Unfortunately it didn’t take long for me to realise my secondhand camera had the infamous D7000 back-focusing issue and that the supposed warranty was not transferable. So, with much regret, off to the repair centre it went. With a seven-to-ten day turnaround, thank god I had decided to keep my trusty D3200 as a backup.
I was still shooting with my girlfriend’s 35mm lens – strange, I know, but I had not wanted to invest in glass until I had a reliable solid body to put it on. First I bought a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens, which is old, but perfect if your camera has a focusing motor (another reason I wanted a D7000). The 50mm is built for portraits, which I’m drawn to just now.
I still feel that I’m finding ‘my style’… it’s all happened so fast, but, that said, black-and-white portraiture is very appealing to me. So far my photographic set up has been very ‘old school’, with no proper lighting, backdrops or studio; old desk lamps, cloth and a door have been my substitute equipment when shooting portraits.
I already have a couple of photo shoots under my belt: babies, bands, and even a tattoo parlour [3]. I have been approached to do a wedding and have some interesting models lined up to shoot as well! My social media pages and website are set up and at long last I am starting to feel proud of myself. Who knows where photography will take me? But you can be sure I’m ready, willing and able to ‘snap’ up any chances that come my way.