Purgatory.

As stated before in my previous blog, I had said that eventually I would like to enter the world of Digital Photography. But really not in the sense that most people do.

For the most part, the casual photographer will pick up a rather cheap box digital camera to tinker with. On the other end a serious "Money making" photographer will go out and dish the amount of a pretty nice used car for the next money making camera. I stand right in the middle somewhere.

I want a digital SLR camera that I can adjust the settings on it to take the holga-esque dark edges pictures I like. This is proving harder than originally planned. I did find out that I can adjust the settings enough to start getting this effect on my own with the Canon I do own now. Have I achieved that? Not really.

After a half roll of expired Kodak 400, I did get a few good shots. Along with the other 14 or so that were not mine but the original owners. Strange. Pictures of people I dont know.

Turns out also, that there is no filter made as of this moment that I or anyone at the local camera shops know that just do the masking I want for dark corners. Seems easy enough. I guess its because on that "money maker" end of the spectrum, they pay to just use photoshop. Which is so lame.

Im using a decent 35mm Canon SLR and basically totally relearning how to do these things. On my own may I add. This is why I waited so long to even touch this camera. Its so in depth, so far over my head, that its scary. But not so much now.

Figure that by the time I spend about 20 bucks on film and developing, I should have a firm grip on what I need to do to get the dark corner effects with a Mid Ranged priced SLR camera.

I did order some really cheap lens filters from ebay to screw around with. Got two UV filters for around $4 with free shipping. And Im bidding on a vintage soft filter to take portraits with. Get on ebay or craigslist and save some money. Now, you can modify with custom things to make a cheap UV filter into a artsy point and shoot auto-focusing powerhouse. To an extent.

Looking to get a puffer too so I can get better pictures up close with this built in flash. I wish I could turn it off sometimes.

Moving to more digital is daunting. Its kinda scary at times. But now, I feel like I have no excuses to capture the best pictures I possibly can. The holga being a loose firing cannon is a mulligan machine. You either make great shots or well, you know. They come out burnt.

Awesome still in my book.

By the way. The auto focus is great. My manual focus shots came out good as well. This is all new to me. They recommend using AF, because the brain inside is smart enough to figure all the bugs out on its own. However, to capture what I am looking for which is essentially the problems most people despise in professional photography. Seems I can use either AF or MF to achieve beautiful imperfections.

Dont get me wrong about the huge jump to wanting DSLR. I still like 35mm and always will. Its so warm and analog-y. Its inviting and pleasing to the eye. I dont think I can love digital nearly as much as 35mm. Its kinda just feeling like I need to make the switch because the market is getting better.

"I was thinking Pentax, Kx. Stormtrooper white? Yes. Thank you."