Beginning Photography

(for the average person)

1. You are interested in taking pictures beyond “Point and Shoot”

2. Tired of Blurry action shots

3. Can’t distinguish faces as people are too small

4. Ready to buy a DSLR

5. Need the right accessories to make it happen

Everyone starts at the beginning. The problem for most of us is that we buy what we know and that information is limited. I am writing this article to help those who are looking to get into photography and don’t know what to buy or why. Yes, I sell accessories but this article is aimed at helping you understand the current technology. Let’s start with your camera bag.

In my opinion, you need a bag that is large enough to haul what you need, and not everything you own – sounds simple, but that usually means several bags and that is not a bad thing as you will be lugging less gear and saving the extra wear on your arms, shoulders and back. I have been shooting for 30 years and I can tell you that I have had bags too small to haul what I wanted to have with me and therefore didn’t get the shot, and have had bags that can haul everything I own and felt exhausted after shooting from dragging the bag. I have come by this knowledge the hard way- trial and error. I know budgets are tight and multiples of anything are frowned on, but a couple of different size bags can make the difference in your having fun with this as a hobby.

The bag should be well padded, be easy to access, use long lasting materials in construction, be versatile in configuration and provide protection for inclement weather. There are as many bags out there are there are uses, so ignore my bias on this issue. I think that for the average person who is probably interested in shooting their children at sporting events or school functions the best bag out there is the backpack style. Now not just any backpack style, but the new sling bag style. What’s the difference? A sling bag generally has one wide strap that can be used across your body or just over your shoulder and features a hand strap to carry at your side. It doesn’t have all the extra straps of a traditional backpack that tend to get in the way. I have had plenty of backpacks and cannot remember using both shoulder straps. Maybe, if you are at Disney for the day- but even then it is hard to get to the camera when you need it. The sling bag lets you slide the entire bag from your back to your belly in two seconds. There is a panel that gives you immediate access to your camera and you can be shooting in seconds.

My recommendation for a bag is the UP-Rise series by Vanguard(first two pictures above). It has a Lifetime-30year warranty and features 600 denier polyester + 420 denier nylon outer shell. This will stand up to any rugged environment or simply the years of abuse you get from normal environments. It has quick access by nature of the sling strap and access panel. It has a soft interior that is well padded and orange to find parts easier. It even has an air system so your back doesn’t get sweaty from carrying it. While the series features 4 different sizes of bags, I like the Up-Rise 43. It is large enough to comfortably hold my Canon D-40 camera with 70-200 lens attached, 550 speedlite flash and two more lenses. Typically I carry a 28-135mm and an 85mm lens. That about covers me for all occasions. The Up-Rise 43 retails for $159 and you can get a special offer at the end of this article. Go shop for this kind of a bag with all the features and quality and you will see this is a good value.  Here is a link to a fact sheet about this bag- CLICK HERE

Learning moment:  I think you will find that in most gyms the 70-200 f2.8 is THE lens for all occasions. I stand in a corner of the gym and get great shots. If the action is on my end of the court I go to 70mm and get full body shots(1). If they are on the opposite side of the court(3), the 200mm lets me crop the picture I want and get as close as I want. If they are on the opposite end of the court (5) I can still get compelling shots with full zoom. Examples below

I also carry the 85mm which is much faster at f1.8 and lets me focus on getting great shots under the basket. Everyone wants themselves making a basket so that seems to be the shot to get! Here is an example of what I do on photoshop after I find a shot I like. Our team makes these into banners for the Seniors as gifts for their participation. Also, what happens when the team wins big and decides they want an impromptu team photo? The 28-135mm lens lets me quickly switch to a wide angle and get the shot.  Carrying the extra two lenses has saved me more than once. This bag lets me carry everything I need to shoot sporting events inside or out and yet is under 10lbs fully loaded. Carrying more is possible as this bag unzips its bottom and allows for expansion, but chances are you won’t need the extra room. You can always carry less, but most of the time you still need camera, flash and lens. This bag is the ONE bag I would own first and then buy others as the need arises. Here is a link to a fact sheet about this bag- CLICK HERE

The next most used accessory is the Tripod.

You can get tripods that are very small for tabletops and ones that are very large and stand over 6ft tall. Again, specific uses for these and my favorite is one that will most of what you want and still be lightweight and compact. In recent years, carbon fiber technology has really gained ground because it can take heavier loads and is lighter weight. However, that technology carries a hefty price tag and carbon fiber is more than twice the price of its aluminum cousin. I am a guy who likes new and cool, but this article is focused on the basics and for my money aluminum is still the best value.

I got a free tripod with a camcorder purchase and you can buy that same tripod for $29.99. To most, that might seem like a good deal until you actually use it. The plastic housing made the head squeek as it turns so you can hear that on the video tapes. It also stuck in certain points so the film is jumpy when it moves. I sold it at a garage sale for $5. Most tripods are going to run you $100 or more but lack any features worthy of the price tag.

My favorite? The Alta Pro 264-AT.

It has aluminum alloy in 26mm legs with four sections. I like more sections as they are more versatile in more situations. Quick flip locks make setting this up a snap. The legs feature rubber feet for solid surfaces and spikes that appear when you screw in the rubber feet for outdoor situations. Moving up the legs to the base, there is a retractable hook that allows you to hang your bag or use other ballast to keep the tripod steady. While most don’t use this feature it can come in handy when you are outdoors shooting. The big deal with this tripod is the fact that the center post is adjustable to 180 degrees using the MACC system (Multi-Angle Central Column). Combine this with total horizontal movement and you have any angle possible in a sphere. The tripod also uses and instant swivel stop and lock system that moves on thumb pressure. This is the easiest fastest system I have seen. The tripod legs even spread out to get low angle photography.  All of this folds up to 21” and will attach on the side of your bag. It weighs less than 4.5lbs and will hold just over 15lbs or 11lb on an angle. What does all of this mean to a sports photographer? Not much, but is that all you want to do? If you want to shoot flowers or any macro photography this tripod is at the top of the list. MSRP on this is $189. If you are going to buy one tripod that will do it “ALL” this is well worth the money. There is a package deal at the end of this article that gets the price even lower.

In buying a top quality tripod, you don’t get a head for it automatically. That is usually left to the user to get the kind that they need. In general there are two kinds 1) a pan head and 2) a ball head. Pan heads swivel from side to side and are most commonly used for video taping a game where the movement goes from left to right and back again. Not much adjustment needed here except the ability to move the camera up and down and center the action. There are also 2-handle heads that allow you to tip the camera up to 90 degrees on its axis. While it might be convenient for you to have this type of head if you want to change between horizontal and vertical several times, I say to just stick with the less expensive 1 handle model and I am recommending the PH-21 which holds up to 6.6lbs and more than most video cameras. Retail is $49.99.

The ball head is ideal for still photography and allows the user to position the camera at any angle. I am recommending the SBH-100. It holds up to 22 lbs and 2 levels are included as well as 2 quick release buttons for maximum security. Interestingly, the ball head comes with 2 mounting plates so that you can keep them on your favorite lens and quickly interchange when shooting. There is also a 360 degree marked plate that allows you to shoot panoramic shots more easily. Retail is $69.99. Here is a link to a fact sheet about this bag- CLICK HERE

Learning moment: The mounting plate seems to be the most misplaced item in all photography. Buying extras are smart and convenient. Additional mounting plates are available for $15.

Cleaning kit:

Keeping your glass clean not only gets you better pictures, it also takes care of your equipment and minimizes scratching caused by surface dirt. The first picture features the ULC cleaner at $16 and has a powerful blower, brush and soft cloth polishing tip built right into the same device. Hand sized, but better for keeping at home. Enter the travel size in picture 2 the CK2N1 which is $11 and the size of your finger. Keep this one in the bag at all times. Let’s face it accidents happen out there, not at home where it is convenient.

Photography is one of those hobbies where you can spend a lot of money if you want it all. I know that you will spend more than this over time if you follow the path I did. I can save you money if you buy quality, but also good values.

So now you are wondering about the package price I promised.

The Up-Rise 43 @      $159.00

Alta Pro AT264 @       $159.00

Pan Head PH-21 @     $50.00

Ball Head SBH-100 @ $70.00

Cleaning kits @          $27.00

Total =                       $465.00

To order this special package email me at Katysklicks@hotmail.com

With your name, address, phone and email and Special Package offer in the subject line

Allow two weeks for delivery