Preserving memories, sharing memories, through the lenses

This picture was taken with my Samsung DJ Beat mobile phone camera. Sometimes, I am really amazed with the quality of pictures taken with mobile phone camera.

Photography technology has progressed so much these days that even the mobile phone camera can yield pretty good picture quality and with the applications downloaded into the phone, interesting effects can be achieved. The iphones, the various smartphones models from brands such as Samsung and Sony Ericsson, are all equipped with decent lenses, and with a good amount of megapixels, one can snap photos almost anytime and anywhere. 

I got my first camera from my parents when I was twelve, only to lose it 2 years later when I attended the Teacher's Day celebration at my primary school. I had to persuade and guarantee my parents that I was able to take pictures, without photographing only half or even a quater of my subject which many people had done. I also had to convince them that I know how to use the pinhole and that I had manage to take pictures with my friends' camera. I showed them a two to three pictures and then, I got my first camera.

I suppose you can say that I like photography the moment I know how to use the camera. Of course, there were alot to learn but when I was much younger, with the limitation of not knowing and understanding all the technical jargons and with parents and adults who scoffed at the idea that a kid could like photography, no one was there to share the knowledge and joy of photography. All I know was, as long as the subject was "smacked" right in the middle, I could press the shutter. That's all I know.

About 6 years later after losing my first camera, I HAD to get another camera. No one was willing to lend me their camera. My mother had a good point and shoot analogue camera, but she was afraid that I would lose the camera again,so, was reluctant to lend it to me. But I needed a camera rather desperately because I had to do an assignment for the polytechnic's departmental quarterly updates. Eventually, I bought my very own second camera with my own money earned from the part time jobs I had then. It was another Kodak 35mm analogue and it cost S$72.00. I thought it was a real steal. I was able to take loads of decent pictures with my camera and it was then that I realised that one does not need to have their focus their subject "in the middle" all the time. (By the time I know and understand the rule of thirds, I know that there are many a times, one should NEVER focus their subject "in the middle".)

Anyway, in 2001, I took my Kodak 35mm with me to Melbourne when I was studying at University of Melbourne. Because film processing was not cheap (it has never been cheap, even now), I was pretty stingy with the pictures I wanted to take. Unlike digital photography where one could snap as many photos as they want and then checking on the screen within seconds, one never knows how the pictures will turn out until the photos have been processed. You can say that many students were pretty stingy with photography. Fortunately, I did not have the bad experience of bad photos. The only lament I had then was that my camera did not have a zoom lens. Otherwise, I could have pictures with better focus.

Some of my friends had digital cameras, but the quality of the pictures then were bad (come on, that was like way back in 2001, when digital photography was just introduced and 3.2 mega pixels was considered the best!!!). Just very bad - grim and gritty and BLUR!!! So, for a while, I was not a fan of digital photography.

I also remembered back in my Uni days, I would re-develop photographs from my friends' negatives, especially the ones which were nicely taken. We would exchange our negatives to re-develop the photos which we wanted.

And then, the arrival of the much improved digital cameras!!! By the time I bought my very first digital camera in 2005, which was an Olympus miu 300 (S$299), I thought I had one of the best camera in the world. I thought that digital photography would allow me to take those super-nice photos I see in magazines. I thought digital photography and digital camera was the answer to PERFECT photography. HOW WRONG I WAS!!! I could take more pictures then ever but not necessarily better pictures. With the digital camera, I could take as many pictures as I want and experiment as much as I want, but, that does not mean, perfect photography (what is perfect photography anyways? Is there such a thing?) or nicer pictures.

And then, when I spotted the Sony T100 with an optical zoom of 5X, I thought I had bought the most updated camera, only to realise that I had paid S$699 for the name. After a few months, my "friend" bought a Panasonic Lumix with an optical zoom of 10X with only S$569 or was it S$599 after "coercing" my other and I to buy the Sony T100. Despite paying so much for a Sony which was not very popular with amateurs and with limited specifications, I was glad to say that I have been, even now, able to take pictures I was happy with.

After digital cameras, it is now the age of DSLR!!! In the past, I always think that DSLR is only owned by hobbyists who are serious about photography, armature photographers, full-time photographers and perhaps, those who are often appointed as official photographers for their company events and stuff.

But hold and behold, look at the number of people, be it men or women, girls or boys, young or old, lumbering and looking professionally with their bulging DSLR!!! Some of my friends claimed that owning a DSLR is now a sign of wealth (what wealth?) and that they are a class above the rest (Huh?). Some of my friends also believed that having a DSLR will make their photos more superior than the rest (another HUH???). And of course, there are people out there who spend more time editing their photos (shot with DSLR), then trying to take a good picture in the first place. And people who loath at those taking pictures with just the usual digital camera rather than DSLR.

I am NOT a professional photographer and my knowledge is extremely limited, so, I am NOT in position to criticize any one's works. But I have learn alot from my friends who are serious about photography and have been teaching me and sharing their fantastic works with many others online, especially on Facebook. In a way, I have learn alot. But, that's what these serious photographers will tell you too - look and learn to appreciate others' works to improve.

Someone bought a DSLR and told me that the photos were good. There were even some who said the pictures were good and some who would only talk to those with DSLR. Honestly, DSLR, or not, good photography comes with practice. This incident just reminded me of the time when I had my first digital camera and thought "I would be the best photographer in the world". (Read a few paragraphs ahead)

I came to know about scrap booking in 2006 and this has strengthen my interest and love for photography. And it was also around this time I know about photoshop - enhancing photos with software. I soon learn how to use some of the easier functions. Now, I know that photoshop and DSLR photographing goes hand in hand together.

I still believe that good photography comes with experience and practice.

Whether is an analogue, compact digital, semi-DSLR, DSLR, Lomography or any kinds of camera, photography comes with practice and leaning from others. One can only improve their photography skills by reading and learning from books and online forums. At times, attending classes will also aid in learning more.

Be critical about your own work and be generous with your comments when you spot a good photo.

For those who are keen in showing off, sorry,  I will just "speed-see" your photos.

Photography, is all about preserving memories and stories to be told behind those pictures. I love pictures which tell stories or evoke certain emotions or which are simply a piece of art itself. I love pictures which share information too. Pictures for showing off, sorry, this is just too much for me. Sorry. If you want to tell me that I do not know how to appreciate your photos, go ahead. Compact digital cameras with superior specifications can also yield results which are almost DSLR quality.

Meantime, if you love photography, do continue to snap, snap, snap and snap.