Already want more gear

[faeriegodess612]

I just got my DSLR 5 days ago, and I already want more gear. My hubby obliged me in driving down to Austin today. It was a nice cloudy day today. We walked around the capital building and around downtown a bit. I realized today that I really want/need a lens that can do wide or zoom closer. I had to crop some of my photos to get the look I was going for.

Then I felt so stupid, as I forgot my tripod like a dummy. So I had to straighten most of them. I shot every shot in Auto, cuz I was afraid to venture outside of it just yet. Then realized on the way back home, that I couldve at least shot in Program Mode, as I know how to change the settings that it will allow you to change, and it auto selects the aperture and shutter speed for you. Not to mention that I seriously became a dummy, because I hardly used anything that I know about photography at all. Rule of thirds, metering, using the auto focus dots in the viewfinder for symmetry, went out the window today for some reason. I still got some okay shots, but not many that I'm happy with. I think I was more in tourist mode, than I was in photographer mode.


Has anyone else ever done something similar? Do you ever get more into the tourist mode when you visit someplace, and forget to stop and take your time with your shots? I'll have plenty of time to go back and get better shots of the same place,...but I was somewhat disappointed with myself today. I'll post some photos later if anyone wants to see some. I have to convert them from Raw and save.

[ravncat]

I certainly get excited, especially in new places I've never visited before, and the number of photographic opportunities become overwhelming - and I end up snapping this and that and making mistakes.

Slowing down is useful. As is having an idea of what image you want to make before you lift the camera to your eye. I often plan to come back a second time, so that I can let myself make mistakes and photograph wildly - it gives me an idea of some possibilities, and lets me strengthen the ideas for what I will do on a second time. Granted that doesn't work with once in a lifetime trips or moments - but I find it helps.

[Digidave]

I used to, & still do sometimes, forget everything I ever learned about photography. As time goes on you'll get better. There are still times though that when I get home I say to myself, "What the heck was I thinking! Why didn't I remember to.....!".

As far as more gear goes? Well...ha ha welcome to our world! That feeling of wanting more never goes away!

[curelightwounds]

I do. It's hard not to.

The first time I go to a place the camera comes out and I've burned through half of a memory card in the first few hours. It's hard to know what to take and what to leave especially when you don't know what's coming next. In all likelihood it'll just keep happening. Especially given the number of memory cards I have I don't really care if I spend a gig or two on pics I'll never use.

[BexJarratt]

Maybe you could use this visit as a reckie? I know a lot of wildlife photographers take record shots, a quick snap in case they don't have time to set up for a proper shot, at least they have something to show for it and it reminds them to try back at that place in future if they are looking to shoot that species. You could kind of do the same; you have your snaps so you can plan some really interesting pictures for when you do back.

[faeriegodess612]

Thanks guys. Its nice to know I'm not the only one. It was a learning experience for sure, but thats ok. Because I'm going to be stuck in this state for a while, so theres always the opportunity to go back. And be able to explore more of Austin than just the capital building and the streets around it.