How you got in the hobby.(photography)

edwing206

edwing206

New member
I know that a lot of you have been shooting for a long time and was curious as to how you guys got in the hobby, what your first camera was, equipment and how old you were when you started. I'll start with myself. I saw a lot of Blazer88's pics and was amazed. That's what got me wanting to get into photography. My first camera was(still is) a Nikon D50 and a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens.
 
While I got my first camera at age 9 and have always enjoyed taking pictures it was really this hobby (reef keeping) that got me serious about it. The goal of taking better tank/coral/fish shots kept me improving my equipment and my skill level. Ironically, now I rarely take pictures of that stuff. I really enjoy outdoor and landscape photography.

The latest testament to my addition is being delivered tomorrow via UPS; my new Epson R2400. :D
 
i got bored one summer so I bought an xt :)

beerguy you'll love the printer!! I have an R800 which is almost the same but much smaller. even with my poor photography skills I was able to get some nice prints :)

I've been considering upgrading my 100 to a 180L because I wanna get macros of some stuff farther back in my tank :rollface:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10175251#post10175251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GuOD
i got bored one summer so I bought an xt :)
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Lol. Really? That's a good enough reason for me.
 
I started taking tank shots when I bred SA cichlids and tetras back in the late 90's using a borrowed Olympus C2000Z. After a break from the hobby, I got back into it with reefs in 2003 and borrowed the same cam. At this time I started taking 'stock pics' for 2 local (UK) marine store websites. Doing this everyweek, I upgraded to a Sony F717 and then got my 350D late 2005. Added equipment gradually as I can afford it. Still doing these shots weekly. Also, I've had 4 articles published on the subject here in the UK and a few cover shots - also on RCs online mag, Advanced Aquarist etc. 2 more articles on the way. Also won a few POTMs across the boards, a Tank of the Year in the UK and a national photography competition. I am now on the verge of converting my garage into a new studio/fishroom and setting up my own freelance VR photography company.
 
Started in the early 90s when I still had freshwater tanks (cichlids and stuff) My first camera was a Zenith 125 TTL full manual with a fixed 50mm 2.0 got some really nice shots after a tough process to improve my technique. Then came a Canon Eos3000n Also a film camera with Autofocus, didin't use it much as I got an Olympus 1.2 Mp at the earliest days of digital. I still have some pics Itook with this camera. Then came a Sony P7 followed by a Nikon 5700 then a D70s with an 18-200 Vr Sb600 followed by a series of lenses 50 mm 1.4, promaster 28-105, 70-300 VR, then few months ago I felt like shoting some film pics again so got me an F100 which I always wanted to have. last I got a Tamron 17-50 2 days ago. Still plan to get a wide angle 10-20 from Sigma then a 105 Vr Nikon and after that a decent longer zoom and a D2x
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10176765#post10176765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clippo
I started taking tank shots when I bred SA cichlids and tetras back in the late 90's using a borrowed Olympus C2000Z. After a break from the hobby, I got back into it with reefs in 2003 and borrowed the same cam. At this time I started taking 'stock pics' for 2 local (UK) marine store websites. Doing this everyweek, I upgraded to a Sony F717 and then got my 350D late 2005. Added equipment gradually as I can afford it. Still doing these shots weekly. Also, I've had 4 articles published on the subject here in the UK and a few cover shots - also on RCs online mag, Advanced Aquarist etc. 2 more articles on the way. Also won a few POTMs across the boards, a Tank of the Year in the UK and a national photography competition. I am now on the verge of converting my garage into a new studio/fishroom and setting up my own freelance VR photography company.
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Wow. You should be proud of yourself! That fish/studio wil be awesome!

mauron.c- 1.2 mp? I gotta see some pics with tha camera. lol
 
hello!
It's nice to hear these bios! I like our different path!
As for myself, I started at 15 (17 years ago), when my parents offered me an Olympus bridge camera. Then I didn't like the bridge so I treated myself with a Nikon F401 and a Mamyia C33. I love the medium format films, it looks so beautiful, having a soul that a digital image never will...
For commercial and useful reasons, I had to turn to digital, though. I got the Nikon D200, a wide angle, a macro lens, a big zoom, and try to make my living out of it. I still do films sometimes, mainly for still life and "moody" images, ans for exhibitions purpose as well. But clients and image banks now almost only accept digital, so I have to live with my time!
Digital is great as well for animal and tank images, as you can make 1000's of shots to get the expression you want!
So I like both.
As for tank pictures, I did public aquarium sometimes, but got really into it when starting my tank, 1 year ago. Always learning, always improving!
 
We started at the same time. I'm 15 too. I totally agre with you on the digital being able to take as many pics as we need. I don't know how many pictures I have deleted to get the few that I like.
 
you're 15 or you were 15 17 years ago, like me? that's a pretty big difference! If you're 15 now, and just beginning doing photos, wow, I'm very impressed by your skills! What will it be in 17 years!
 
I got into photography about a year and a half ago with a Kodak P&S to take some pictures of my tank. I kept that camera for a few months, then got a Canon XT and kept it for about six months, and now my Canon 30D plus tons of goodies. As far as accomplishments in photography, I've sold about 35 pictures now for use in advertising and packaging in the aquarium hobby. I also have started a real estate and architectural photography business on the side that has been keeping me pretty busy. I'm definitely not going to quit my day job, I'm more than happy to have fun and cover the cost of my equipment. Plus it's always an honor to win the RC monthly contest as well and have some pics make it into the Reef keeping magazine :D Plus vacations just seem to be more fun now with my camera in hand.
 
For me it started about a year ago when I set up my first reef tank. And my P&S was not cutting it. So I bought a rebel XT......and now I have one more expensive hobby to add to the list....LOL
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10179039#post10179039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kactusficus
you're 15 or you were 15 17 years ago, like me? that's a pretty big difference! If you're 15 now, and just beginning doing photos, wow, I'm very impressed by your skills! What will it be in 17 years!
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I'm 15 now. No way I'll be 32 and still live at my parents house .lol
And thanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10179602#post10179602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blazer88
I got into photography about a year and a half ago with a Kodak P&S to take some pictures of my tank. I kept that camera for a few months, then got a Canon XT and kept it for about six months, and now my Canon 30D plus tons of goodies. As far as accomplishments in photography, I've sold about 35 pictures now for use in advertising and packaging in the aquarium hobby. I also have started a real estate and architectural photography business on the side that has been keeping me pretty busy. I'm definitely not going to quit my day job, I'm more than happy to have fun and cover the cost of my equipment. Plus it's always an honor to win the RC monthly contest as well and have some pics make it into the Reef keeping magazine :D Plus vacations just seem to be more fun now with my camera in hand.
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Thanks for sharing. It's amazing you have only been shooting for a year and a half!
Hopefully someday I'll get some of my pics on the cover of RK online.

Timmye- I know what you mean, I have reefkeeping, photography and guitars. lol
 
I started about 7 years ago with a Canon EOS 500N and 28-80 f3.5-5.6 lens, which I am still using. I shot transparencies until about 2 years ago.

Photography got me into reef tanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10190672#post10190672 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louist
I started about 7 years ago with a Canon EOS 500N and 28-80 f3.5-5.6 lens, which I am still using. I shot transparencies until about 2 years ago.

Photography got me into reef tanks.
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Really? I would have thought it the other way around. Thanks for sharing.
 
mauron.c- 1.2 mp? I gotta see some pics with tha camera. lol
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There you go. sorry lost a lot of better ones in a hard disk crash.


cleanershrimponsemicirc.jpg


Barnaclesonhermitshell.jpg


coralbeauty201-09-2002.jpg


RFS.jpg


rfs3.jpg
 
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