Guess what! I’ve actually used a different function on my Nikon D3200 and taken it off the ‘automatic’ for the first time…
I went to meet my best friend Eve who is also very ‘into’ taking photographs. She actually has the camera one down from my D3200 and although she only bought her camera in October, she’s done way more with it that I have and had some handy tips for me! One of them was ‘just try every button and see what happens’. I didn’t say they were all terribly techy! But, she does know what lots of the camera does and being shown in person rather than reading a manual is SO much easier!
She showed me how to set the timer and we tried each of the buttons to see what they did. I like the ‘running man’ button, it made me feel like a pap as it took a string of photos one after the other!
I’ve got to catch the children running or jumping or something to really make the most of this one – Projects in the offing!
The function I really like though is the portrait one. It seems to take great pictures of everything (IF you get the lens right, I do struggle), especially my favourite subjects, people! I just love the way it blurs what’s behind and picks out the person.
This is one I took of Eve, I love it, even though I did manage to chop Jimmy out of it… I need more training!
This one of Florence is much better because I have the whole of the subject in the picture. I adore the colours in the background which have been fuzzed together and yet every curl on her head is defined sharply! This is a great photo, even if I do say so myself!
So, I’m getting better it would seem. But until I really know how to use the camera I can’t let my artistic side go for it! At the moment I am still tentative, wondering all the time if I’m using the right function and still not really knowing what each one is capable of. I could use trial and error but then I still may not get the best from it. I could read the manual but I find that incredibly hard too. It was so much easier with Eve showing me but she doesn’t know all there is to know either.
We both agreed that we need to be shown by a professional. Eve was going to take a course with her camera, she bought it just before the shop went bust and with it came a deal for a course which is no longer running. I told her that I know of a course run by Nikon itself which is affordable and it sounds perfect for what the both of us want and need.
The training courses run by Nikon are in Central London and provide a whole day of tuition for your camera with a professional! So! No point in mucking about – I’m booked on one! My course costs just £119 and is especially designed for a first time user of a Nikon DSLR like me! We’re hoping Eve can book for the same day I’m doing – she’s just trying to juggle a few things but it’d be excellent to do it together!
The aims of the course are:
This course is designed to help you become more confident in the use of your camera helping you realise more of its full potential. Nikon’s trainers will demonstrate how to set-up your camera for a wide range of shooting situations customising the camera for whatever subjects you shoot. Using a mixture of theory backed by practical exercises the course will show you how to capture high quality images with fine detail and accurate colour. This is an ideal introduction to modern digital SLR photography.
The content will be:
Covering the basics of photography including, metering, exposure modes, apertures and shutter speeds. You will learn about the right file format for the job and how to produce quality images straight from the camera. The principles of White balance and understanding the in camera Optimise image modes will be practised. You will learn how to use the major controls and settings of the camera to better understand and control their function. Using both Nikon and third party software you will be given the opportunity to capture and then prepare images for a variety of uses. This course presumes little or no detailed knowledge of your camera and helps you make the most of your photographic potential.
Can’t wait! I will keep ‘trying’ until the end of next month when my course is but I’m sure I’ll be MUCH better afterwards! It’s such a good price too, totally affordable! I’ll keep you posted!
I have not been paid to write this post.
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