Lack of Equipment

[larson]

I have been reading some great articles that are very helpful to a noob like me. One problem I have is in these articles they say to use attachable longer focal length prime lens, telephoto lens, Lens Hood, and macro lens. The problem I have is I do not have this equipment. I recently narrowed done what camera I wanted (Nikon D40) after a year of researching. I did not want to go and spend the money right away and get myself over whelmed. My question is, how can i get the same or close to the same shots with just a kit lense?

[OsmosisStudios]

Which articles are you reading?

The lenses you mentionned are often speciality or specific-use lenses and you may be able to get similar results with other equipment. What is the ultimate goal?

[larson]

well I was reading the zoo photography article, but I have read other ones like urban decay, and landscape that have mentioned use of more equipment. my ultimate goal is to understand my camera, how to use it correctly and to be able to use what i have now to take such photos. I guess I am under the impression that in order to capture the photos properly (if there is such a thing in photography) you would need said equipment. I may be reading to much into the guide/article. If so, i just need to know then that said articles are just RECOMMENDING said equipment. I am new to all this and i think i am not taking everything as recommendations but as this is how it has to be.

[lputman]

Get your camera with the kit lens and start there. Learn your camera and take the type of photos that you want to take. You will learn the limitations and will be better to assess what priority you would need to acquire additional lenses.

[spagboy]

Yep, dfferent styles/subjects call for different equipment.

The D40 is a great little camera and the kit lens is quite capable outdoors and in good light. Sometimes the best thing to do is to get a feel for a cam and your style of shooting before you go plunking down a bunch of money for additional toys. Play with the kit lens and see what you can do with it before you start getting frustrated running up aganst limitations, then use those limitations to force yourself to get creative. By the time you get to that point you'll probably have a better idea of what you need and avoid purchasing something that just sits in your bag unused.

There's a Flickr group dedicated to the D40 and it's kit lens here.

G

[utsc2006]

I have a D40 and I think if it's your first DSLR you need to learn the manual inside and out and really know what your camera can do for you. Work on shooting in manual and understanding light/composition/exposure etc... buying more lenses won't make you a better photographer until you know what you are doing first, & what you like shooting..if you buy a marco lens now and then find you like shooting landscapes, that won't help.

[wulf]

Get a camera and start using it. Otherwise all your research will be swept away by the rate of change and you still won't have developed any actual photography skills. There are plenty of shots that will be impossible with the D40 and the kit lens... but there is still a surprising amount of beauty that can be captured even with that set up.

Wulf