Well, more of a tool than a toy, perhaps. This is a digital Canon EOS Rebel T1i (for those who like technical data.) It replaces some very old Minolta film cameras. It is also an upgrade from my Beloved's Canon EOS Rebel G (newer, but still old) film camera.
The price of the new unit was a bit stiff: over $800 Canadian (€600). But J and I have been saving money for a while to help with the transition into "retirement." (Most of you realize that Bear is not a "retiring" creature; the word "retirement" is a bit of an anomaly in this circumstance, except for the fact that I have turned 65.) Who knows; photography may become my fourth career (after pastor, journalist, and ethicist.) Well, perhaps not.
I'm not exactly a stranger to photography. I've had pictures published in some Canadian magazines. But I haven't done any "serious" photography for a long time, so there'll be some re-learning involved — especially with a new camera. (True, we have a pocket-sized Canon camera for "quick pics," — like these of the cameras — but I'm increasingly unhappy with the quality of those pictures.)
Why a Canon? First, I think Canon makes good cameras. (So does my brother-in law, a professional photographer.) Second, the lenses on J's camera are completely interchangeable with mine. So why buy a different kind of camera, and then buy a whole new series of lenses? Doesn't make sense.
So, to help me get back into more serious photography, I've set up this new series on my blog: "Photo of the Day/Photo du Jour." Not that I'll publish a picture every day — even though that's the goal. (I know myself well enough to understand that a daily photo just isn't going to happen, unless I get "ultra-serious" — and that would ruin all the fun.)
So please, adventure along with me; add your thoughts, too. I'd love to hear from you.
Footnote:
About the name of the series. Canada is officially a bilingual country; we use both English and French. That's because we were a French colony before we because an English colony in 1763. Still, today, about 20 per cent of our population has/have French as a first language. So to use both official languages is a bit patriotic on my part, and a bit romantique. Mais, c'est moi — et c'est ça. (But that's me — and that's it.)
12 comments:
Great! C'est bon!
Plus de Canadiens, dans et hors Québec, devraient reconnaître cette réalité du bilinguisme. Way to go noble Bear.
Happy birthday!....and what a wonnnnnnderful birthday present.
I look forward to your photos.
I received a Nikon for my birthday present....and love it, love it, love it!!! I'm soooo proud for you!!!
Smiles,
Jackie
® lakeviewer: Merci, Rosaria. First step: figure out how to turn on the camera.
® potsoc: La français est ma langue secondaire. Mais, parce que nous deurmerons dans a pays bilangue, je pense que c'est important parler tous les deux langue official. C'est un idée patriotic et romantique, mais c'est moi: patriotic et romantique.
(Translation: French is my second language. But, because we live in a bilingual country, I think it is important to speak both official languages. It's a patriotic and romantic idea, but that's me: patriotic and romantic.)
Sadly, I don't think the English word "romantic" does full justice to the French romantique. It's a true case of something getting lost in translation.
® TP: Nikon's are great cameras, too, Jackie. So happy to hear you got one for your birthday. Happy picture-taking!
But I suspect the camera is digital, which means they've taken your kodachrome away. (You do remember Paul Simon's song, right?)
If a picture is worth a 1000 words, what's a camera worth?
® Lee: Depends, I guess. How much is a word worth?
Ooh,la,la Bear - et!
Looks great, mate (reverts to Australian)♥
® Natalie: Arvo, lass. (I won't call you Sheila.) I think my Aussie is better than my French. Righty-o, then. Fair dinkum Bear from another colony I am; and a Bear armed with a camera! Beware, mate!
That is a good camera. Especially if you can share lenses. Looking forward to some awesome pictures on you blog. Happy 65th.
Looking forward to seeing what you produce with you camera Bear . . .
® BF: "Awesome" pictures will be a while in coming. But I'm looking forward to some average pictures to start.
® W/H: I'm sure you'll be a much better judge of the quality than I am. Here's hoping for some decent pix.
What a fabulous new toy Bear... and I think you're wise not to push yourself into a set pattern because, like you said, that takes all the fun out of it!
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