My Beginnings

Around winter break of my freshman year of college, I decided I wanted a camera. Now, this really was an out of the blue interest of mine. I had no experience with photography at that time, and knew absolutely nothing about cameras. I was put back by the prices of a few cameras and was confused and surprised that you could purchase lenses separately. I was even more amazed that some lens didn’t have the capability to zoom in and out. When I say I had no clue about anything with photography, I mean it.

Flash forward to Christmas day. It should be noted that I always spend Christmas with my mom’s side of the family in Philadelphia. Opening presents with all my cousins, my uncle left the room, came back with a backpack, and laid it down in front of me. Inside contained a Canon Rebel XT, an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, a 50mm f/1.8 lens, two off-brand zoom lenses, and an assortment of other photography goodies. He told me that it was all mine. Score! Apparently, my mom let it be known that I was searching for a camera and my uncle had recently upgraded his photography gear. He decided that passing down his old gear to me would be more valuable than all the money he could sell it for. And with that, my photography journey had begun. If my uncle hadn’t gifted me with all that gear I wouldn’t be where I am now. I owe him a big thank you.

For the next year, I blindly took photographs and brought it along to events taking place at my school. Editing photographs never crossed my mind. I would shoot photographs in RAW format, yet never post-process them. Looking back at my old photographs, it’s hard to not look at them and cringe. Noticing the lack of quality in my pictures, the summer going into my sophomore year I decided to study my camera’s settings and capabilities, learn to edit on software, as well as research the technicalities of photography. I learned about the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture triangle and how light is the key to photography. With this newfound knowledge I figured out how to shoot in other modes rather than just automatic. Eventually, I grasped the concept of shooting in manual mode, which I currently use about 95% of the time now. After practicing for a few months, I realized that I could benefit from an upgrade in equipment.

After researching what seemed liked hundreds of cameras, I found out that in the world of DSLR cameras, there are two kinds that photographers can choose from, full-frame and APS-C. In the simplest of terms, APS-C cameras apply a crop factor since their sensors are smaller than those found in full-frame cameras. There are other differences in terms of body size and capabilities, but I decided that full-frame was the right choice for me. The only thing was that most full frame cameras were $1000 - $5000. No way could I afford that. However, one day while browsing Craigslist I came across a used Canon 5d Mark I full-frame camera for $400. I jumped at that deal and was even able to negotiate the deal down to $350. Not too shabby for a universally acclaimed camera dubbed the “5d classic” for its reputation as a quality full-frame body that still holds up with some of the best cameras today.

Happy with my newest purchase, I could immediately distinguish the differences in quality of my photographs. Learning more and more each day, my pictures began receiving attention from fellow students. Another manner in which I knew my photographs were improving was that people started asking me how much I charge to take photograph events. This gave me a much-needed confident boost, as I was frightened to take my first gig. I braved through my first ever event taking photos for the Philippine Student Association Officer Board the fall semester of my junior year. Following what I deemed a successful affair, I knew I could benefit from an improvement in lens glass. I mostly shot with my 50mm f/1.8 lens, but I thought I could use a bit more versatility. Researching lenses, I set my target on a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The issue was that its retail price was $1200. Saving money from my two part-time jobs for a couple months and waiting for a used copy of the lens to be put up for sale at a decent price, I noticed on eBay a user selling the lens for $700. What a steal! And if I didn’t like the lens I realized I could re-sell it for the same price or possibly more. I received the lens and used it for about four months shooting a few more student clubs, until I realized that I could receive the same quality in photographs with cheaper prime lenses. Funny enough, I realized I preferred shooting with fixed lenses (lenses that don’t zoom). So, I sold my 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for a profit and bought a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens and a 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens. These are the lenses I currently utilize today. I use my 85mm as my main portrait lens and the 40mm as my walk-around lens.

I do have gear envy and I’m always on the lookout for steals on the latest photography equipment. However, I’m happy with where I’m at now and if I could start over again, I probably wouldn’t change anything. Despite buying and selling multiple lenses and cameras, I’ve been smart with my money. I don’t make any rash decisions and always make sure I research any potential large purchases. Photography is an expensive hobby to get into, but it’s also flexible. No matter your budget, there is most likely some gear you could attain value from. You may also have heard the saying, “It’s not about the camera, it’s the person behind it that counts.” As long as you develop a creative mind, there are no limits with photography.