Saturday at Sonya's

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." 

- Mark Twain

Not your usual "kikay" kit

What is a "kikay" kit?

"The kikay kit - generally regarded as a woman's secret weapon, her little bag of mojo. The variety it contains is much like her closet: full to the brim with what she'll usually wear everyday, but it  also has options to transform her into a woman much more mysterious and rare."

http://reluctantstylista.com/article/assembling-a-starter-kikay-kit

In this post, I will show you my version of "kikay" kit. As a newbie to the digital photography world, I consider this as a beginner's kit, which includes everything I use when I take photos. 

This Minolta Dynax7000i is my first SLR camera. 
It was a gift from a cousin and I first used it during a photography class in college.

 1. THE CAM



Photography is impossible without a camera. One thing you should consider before buying a camera is BUDGET. For beginners, entry-level digital SLRs are highly recommended. As soon as you feel confident going pro, then you may need to upgrade your equipment.

 2. Tripods, lenses, filters, external flash, flash diffusers....

The list goes on and on but I think the number of accessories you need depends on the project you are working on. 



Filters

In my case, I take photos using different kinds of filters. Therefore, I buy more filters than needed. This could be overwhelming so watch out or you might end up with empty pockets. I suggest you invest in a polarizing filter. It is great for outdoor photography and if you know how to use it well then there is no need for photo editing softwares.

Tripods

Here is a guide on what features to look for when buying a tripod. 

Lenses

The lens that comes with some camera kits is good and flexible enough. However, there is a variety of lenses available. You just need to understand what those lenses could do. For example, prime or fast lenses are great for portraiture and indoor shooting. You would surely get sharp images with enhanced depth of field with these lenses. If you are into landscape photography just like me then go for wide-angle lenses. If you want to get a close-up shot of your subject but does not want to be noticed then get a zoom lens. Branded lenses such as Nikon and Canon may be too expensive so as alternatives you could go for third-party lenses like Tokina, Sigma, etc. 

External Flash


This part could be bloody so I will leave it up to you to study an article I found online. 


Flash Diffusers

Flash diffusers simply soften the harsh light coming from the camera flash. I often use a pop-up flash diffuser for my DSLR.



As a rule, always look for options when you go shopping for photographic accessories and be resourceful. The web is rich in information about everything you need to know so make use of it. Enjoy shooting!

Paham and Jamie (09/24/2011)

Sonnet 116


Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 


-William Shakespeare