Meet The Newest Member Of Our Family…

my new camera nikon d3100

Isn’t she beautiful?!

Okay, okay, perhaps I’m being a bit dramatic.  I’m sorry if you thought that maybe I had jumped on the new puppy bandwagon, and rushed over here in hopes of seeing an adorable ball of fur.  Nope, I already have three furballs (well, four if I count Matt), and that’s more than enough for our compact 834-square-foot condo.

I am, in fact, talking about my new Nikon D3100.  My first big girl camera.  And while I think she’s beautiful, she intimidates the heck out of me.  So far, if I really want to take a picture of something, I keep it on auto…generally with the flash off.  But I have taken it off auto a few times just to play around.  What I still haven’t done is crack open the owner’s manual.  Now that intimidates me.

But while I was poking around on Pinterest the other day, I noticed that people had pinned all kinds of pages on photography tips and DSLR tutorials.  That might be just what I need to dip my toe into the pool.  I haven’t read all of these, but here are a few links that I plan to keep close at hand:

  • Better Bright Blog Photos on Centsational Girl.  Kate always has the most gorgeous photos on her blog, so if she’s handing out tips, I’ll take ‘em!
  • Snap!  Even More Photography Tips on Centsational Girl.  Kate rounded up even more great bloggers to spill their photography secrets.
  • Digital Photography Tips For Beginners on Digital Photography School.  This has a ton of links to different and very specific tutorials.
  • 31 Days To A Better Photo on Life With My 3 Boybarians.  This looks like a great series, divided into easy-to-swallow chunks of info.
  • This fun little SLR Camera Simulator lets you adjust the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and more to see how they affect the photo.
  • And as if that’s not enough, there are about a hundred more tips and tutorials on Pinterest that I found by searching “Photography Tips”.

So with all of that, plus my trusty owner’s manual, there’s absolutely no excuse for me to stay in “auto” mode, right?  I can do this.  I can do this!!!

Are you in the same boat I’m in, trying to learn how to use your DSLR camera?  Or have you mastered it?  Do you have any great websites that helped you?  If so, let me in on your secrets!!

 

 

 

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9 Comments

  1. I'm totally in the same boat.  I bought a D5000 late last year and I just get so frustrated.

  2. Dear Lord Kristi, I need so much help with photography… my **** the big one! I had my sisters house staged and the stager took photographs and they were okay , then she brought in a pro and it looked like a completely different house! It sold in 3 months and had been on the market for 7 prior to the staging. Any who thanks, I will start my schooling now. 

  3. I think we're gonna need a bigger boat….  there are a lot of us out there with awesome cameras and not enough know how!  

  4. Thanks for that list!  I have a D90 and have no idea how to read the manual and apply it!  I will definitely be checking out those links…I learn better that way, anyawy!

  5. Thanks for the links!  For me, it was definitely just experimenting with the settings which helped me learn (somewhat :))!

  6. I'm definitely not a master. Far from it. BUT, when I got my D90 almost 2 years ago, the best purchase I made to go with it was the D90 for Dummies book. No joke. Don't even touch your manual — you will be so confused! Just get a Dummies book to get you started (tons of illustrations and easy to understand) and you'll be snapping beauties in no time!

    (You'll also want to research some good wide-angle lenses for your room shots and don't be afraid to start clicking away in manual — it took me over a year to flip to manual, and trust me — that's the ONLY way you'll really learn.)

  7. Wow, she's puuuuurty!  Congrats on the new camera, and thanks so much for the linky love!  In no time, you'll be taking the most stunning images I'm quite sure with that baby! 
    xoKate

  8. She's beautiful!
    I have a D90 and I love it!
    Even though I don't know a lot about photography, my D90 helps me take blog worthy images on the auto setting.

    xo
    Brooke