How did you become interested in photography?
 

I purchased a small digicam prior to a business trip to Thailand with the aim of recording some fabulous sights. The purchase was made about two months before the trip and as I live within walking distance to an airport I decided to photograph some of the planes. I knew nothing about photography or planes at that point. Having really liked my new found photography results on return from Thailand I decided to invest in DSLR technology and thoughout the summer of 2003 became a mad thing of aviation photography. From 1998 to 2002 I did an Honours degree with the OU so all weekends and evenings were spend studying and when finished photography provided new freedom. Also in 2003 I hired a light aircraft to do some aerial photography but the pilot was more interested in teaching me to fly the thing (theres another passion).

In summary, I became interested in photography because I had lots of time after completing my degree and a business trip to Thailand almost forced me to purchase a camera. I never looked back....:)

I first got interested as a teenager, I picked up an old secondhand slr with a couple of lenses and just started playing with it. I liked the idea of trying to capture a moment in time from a different perspective to it was normally/orginally observed. I also like the idea of photographing birds, but did not have a long enough lens. However the cost of film and processing soon slowed me down.

I got my first compact digital camera about five years ago and was thrilled to be able to just keep on shooting without worrying about the cost. In 2001 I first tried digiscoping, with a cheap Opticron scope and a 1.3mp Fuji with no optical zoom... not the best results, but I realised what could be done. I went through a couple of other compacts before getting a Coolpix 4500 and really getting into digiscoping. I also got a Minolta slr (my first AF slr) and used this for a lot of non-bird photography.

A friend got an EOS300D about two years ago (with a Sigma 135-400) and I realised just how limiting digiscoping was, the terrible shutter lag on the 4500 became obvious as did my inability to get flight shots. About 7 months ago I got my first dslr a 300D (2 months later an accident forced me to change to a 350D) and now can do the photography I really want to.

I got into photography a few years ago, so I could keep a record of school field trips. I started out using my dads Fuji finepix S602Z. I was later bought the Fuji finepix F700. (problem is, I forgot to back up these files, so they where lost,forever.
When my dad said that i could have his 35mm SLR, with 35-70mm and 100-400mm lenses, I began to take an intrest in bird photography.
When I got my first (and current) scope, I tried out digiscoping, with my F700, the results where, rubbish, but what do you expect from a cheep scope off Ebay, and a camera that is not sutible for digiscoping.
Although, i did various types of photography with my F700, it turned out that it was not versitile enough for most kinds of photography, meaning, I was limited to mainly bird photography, as I kept getting good results.

this month, I bought the 350D, with 18-55mm lens, With this, I started doing different kinds of photography. Simply because I dont need to pay for film.

Both of my parents had cameras, albeit very simple ones, and my mother had a drawer-full of snapshots which we used to look through from time to time (I've still got most of them!). I was always fascinated by the way the negatives matched up to the prints - this was back in the fifties when roll-film was the order of the day and each negative was cut individually.

I could never equate this semi-rigid 'plasticky' negative with the start of the roll of film that you put into the camera which was sort of cartridge paper, red on the back and matt black on the inner-side (whereabouts inside this interminable film-leader, which ran all around the back of the camera, did those eight precious rectangles fit!!)

It wasn't until years later, after first purchasing a Kodak Instamatic to keep me happy wherever I went, that a friend, who developed his own films, enlightened me as to how straightforward the whole 'magic' process actually was!

Full of enthusiasm, I purchased my own SLR, eventually adding a 400mm lens which in turn re-awakened my interest in birds and this led me to form new friendships, etc., etc., - I often wonder what would have happened had my mate not have showed me his camera (a Zenit 'C' model)...

My story starts off somewhat similar to postcards. I became interested in bird photography as a teenager after finding roach abbey. I was a keen birder in those days and at roach abbey there was a large tree stump that was baited in the winter and attracted a hugh array of birds, including marsh tits and nuthatches that you could get really close to. For my birthday my dad bought me an slr with a 300mm lens (I cant remember what make) and I was hooked. Then we had a burglary and my camera was stolen and that was that. Then events took over (I went to university and had a family etc) and I never got back into it. Then about 3 years ago I bought a computer as I wanted to set up an internet business and as part of the package I got a Olympus brio d230 which I thought was wonderful and which I used to photograph all the flowers in my gardens and allotments. Then one day a friend of mine posted a photograph of a bluetit on a forum that I visited and I was amazed at the closeness that she had achieved. That was all that was needed to trigger my passion in bird photography once again. That was when I bought my Minolta dimage z1. Certainly not the best camera to use but it was a great starter for me. Then I found birdforum and saw all the bird photos that were being posted and the quality that was being achieved and I wanted to take photos like that. A friend of mine convinced me that the canon 300d would be the camera for me (the 350d had only just come out and was very expensive!) So I bought it but even from the beginning I didnt like it. It was very slow and the delay in start up drove me crazy so after only 2 months I bit the bullet and bought the 350d. Now I am starting to produce the kind of birdphotos that I want and am starting to look elsewhere for inspiration. New lenses and filters are planned for this year and once again I find that I still have alot to learn!

Adey it seems that friends have alot to answer for! ;)

I have always been surrounded by cameras, my father worked in photography industry such as Kodak film testing dept, Cassio film and Hadland (and escaped the young poisoner Graham Young at the latter). With free film and free prosessing always available, photography was inevitable for our family.
My photograhic start was an instamatic to take photos of the fish I caught when i was a kid. At xmas in the early 80's I recieved an Olympus OM10 (plus the vital manual adapter!!) and I went from there.

Along with the fishing, I also had an interest in birds, so I tried to do my best with the limited focal length of my Zuiko 50mm f1.8 :) I did progress to a 200mm and teleconverter.

I can't remember when, but I swapped out and went Nikon in late 80's, culminating in the purchase of a 300/2.8 and teleconverters, then in the 90's I was using a spotting scope with a 35mm adapter to take bird photos. Then digital arrived ;)

cheers,
Andy

it all started at the age of 13 (1970) when i got an instamatic for x-mas. & months later the school offered a course in photography.3 years later I bought a slr and joined the local photo club. 4 years ago I got my first digital camera.
Henning

My God, but you guys all sound so young!;)
I bought my first SLR in about 1960. I used it for a while then sort of moved away from photography until I went to Egypt in 1973. I took lots of pictures of the camp etc over there.
In 1982 I bought a used Konica SLR and some lenses including a 350 mm telephoto. Later I bought another Konica body and a couple more lenses. I really wanted to take bird pictures but found that the slow speed when using the long lens plus the fact that I still couldn't get the frame filling bird shots that I wanted ( even adding a x2 converter) made me give up on birds.
When I retired Kodak gave me a digital camera for a retirement present annd I've been taking pictures in great numbers ever since. Now I do a fair bit of digiscoping but I'm also very interested in close-ups of wildflowers.

I became interested by accident. Normally just a snapper, I never really looked at a camera other than for taking a few snaps of holidays etc.

Then about two years ago (when I was made redundant and found a job immediately) I decided to treat myself to a digital camers a Canon A75 powershot. Read a book about digi-photography and thought I acheived passable results. When I realised the limits of the camera I looked at upgrading to a DSLR as I am really interested in Landscapes. Having read the reviews of many DSLR's I settled on the Nikon D70 after chatting with my local photo store who were really helpful.

I have now invested in a Sigma 70-300 D APO DG, and a x2 teleconverter.

At 47 and very active (lots of walking and Birding) I felt it was important to keep the mind active as well.

It has been tremendously enjoyable and have learnt so much. It is a very large learnibg curve and confussing at times but I can honestly say I am looking forward to improving and trying different styles of photography.

Nogbad

I was always around my brother who made old 8mm movies; then received this little canon powershot a75 for x-mas in 04. I soon after got really interested in film SLR. now I'm beginning to develop my own b&w. i think its only necessary to have something to do after our school or job is over.

I took up birdwatching after mobility probs meant I was unable to do lots of walking and motorcyling.I needed to be out of doors,able to sit down and not look like a spare part.I then wanted to be able to take photos of the birds .My first digi cam was a used Finepixs620.A great cam,I was amazed I could take a shot,that was not minus half of the object.But then I needed to be able to see on a photo,the object I could see in the scope,hence a tip off re Andy's digiscoping Forum,which in turn led me to BF.Then as has been already mentioned the 300d arrived on the scene,affordable,and it does take some great shots.Then came the 100-400 lens,and it now so simple to take relatively close up shots of birds.Unfortunately,all happened rather late in life,when brain is somewhat sponge-like,so remembering various settings etc and techniques is not so easy,but I just enjoy being outside and taking photos in general.

My life in Photography.
I was fascinated with photography from a very early age in the 50's. My dad used to put a negative on a piece of photo paper and put it in the sun to develop. I watched in amazement as the picture appeared. I don't know how he made them light fast, I never saw that bit. From then on it was part of my life till I left school and started in a development house printing colour.I worked there for a number of years until they closed down just at the time I was to get married and move away. I had a break for a few years then went back to photography to do door to door photography doing children's portraits and weddings, this was fun but it kept me out of the darkroom which I missed, so I then decided to do mail order black and white working from home all hand printed. I received work from Universities in Ireland, London and from abroad. A few years went by and we decided to move house so had to let everyone know that I would no longer be in business. I then sold everything and gave up apart from the odd snapshot until about 4 years ago I bought my first digital compact then I wanted to experiment with digiscoping but that didn't last long I wanted more freedom in taking photo's of the birds. I went and bought my first digital slr 18mths ago. the spark is back with a vengeance.

I was always interested in photography and birds, but when I was young I didn't have the money, and then when I was older I had the money, but not the time. A couple of years ago I got made redundant and discovered that one one wanted to employ as 59 year old antique as I was then so I decided to retire. I initially got a scope and bins but felt that there should be more to it than just looking at birds, so I bought a Nikon 4500. That's when the frustration set in. I have got a bit better with digiscoping but still end up with lots of pictures of birds tails!! So I then invested in a 20D and the 100-400 lens. Now I feel a bit like the expression "all mouth and no trousers" that is, I have all the kit but not much experience. Maybe trying to master both digiscoping and DSLR photography at the same time is too much?
But.....I am finding this forum and BirdForum an invaluable source of knowledge and am so grateful to all the experts who take the time and trouble to respond to questions. The only problem is that there is so much information that it takes time to find it all. At least one upside of the recent bad weather is that it has given me some time!!

Robin

I have had a camera for a number of years but only ever used it to take family photo's and the usual holiday snaps. Then I got interested in Bird watching and all forms of wildlife.I found trying to photograph birds on 35mm both nearly impossible and very expensive. Then along came digital cameras and it was, and still is a steep learning curve,but a whole new ball game. I still find it very hard to get a decent bird photo (mine are rubbish compared to those on this forum) but at least I am enjoying myself and not spending a fortune on film anymore.

My way into photography:
My mum holds a degree in photography and used to work at the Rspb in the negative archive. Since i was born (which was not that long ago compared to most of you(1986) there has always been a camera in the house. Its a 30+ year old olympus film camera, brilliant bit of kit. I would be taken off to airshows at a very young age and by the time i was about 7 i was borrowing the camera and taking photos with it. After years shooting in film i moved into digital with a 1.5 megapixel thing that didnt last me very long. I then upgraded to a Z2 which i still own and have recantly treated myself to a D50.
My interests wandered in my early teenage years away from aircraft and onto other things and i didnt take photos. Im glad to be back taking lots of photos now.

I guess my interest in photography was sparked by my father who used to regale my sister and me with stories of tiny, chemical-filled boot camp darkrooms and hastily developed black and whites. We were wide-eyed and impressionable, and dad took full advantage, instilling in us a sense of appreciation for art and creativity.

My sister now works for a well-known professional commercial photography studio in our town, and I continue to strive for image excellence. I have a little more difficulty than my sister does, only because I also balance a full time job and a family. Precious quality time with my Nikon is something I don't get nearly enough of!

I have yet to produce pictures of a caliber with which I'm satisfied, but I hope to pick up on my mistakes faster when I finally buy that DSLR I've been waiting (rather impatiently) for.

After a recent trip to Panama, I was hooked. I borrowed a camera for the trip but wish I had the RebelXT that I bought because of that trip. I photographed a Harpy Eagle not to mention a few other birds and a couple of crocs and capybara. The wildlife there is incredible. I'm now a lifer:o) Now if I could just figure out how to use this thing.