Did I ever mention that George spoils me? Though I don’t think “spoils” is the right word, because I’m not rotting away or anything. Quite the contrary. I’m so tenderly loved that I’m flourishing like a well-watered garden.
A couple of days ago a package arrived in the mail. He was acting so excited I thought the contents must have something to do with the study and/or dissection of earthworms. But no! It was a gift he’d ordered for me. Wanna know what was inside? Click here.
Yep. A Nikon D40 single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera with interchangeable lenses and a compass in the stock. (Okay, there’s no compass in the stock.) This is one amazing camera, amigos. Not only does it take professional quality photographs, I can learn as I go. It has an idiot-proof, point-and-shoot setting, but it also has a multitude of manual options for image quality, exposure, shutter mode, ISO, white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation, hue, focus, metering, and flash. Imagine the possibilities!
The shots posted on my picture blog were all taken with our little Sony 3.2 megapixels cyber-shot camera. It has served us well, but I can’t wait to see the results this Nikon will get! I know it’ll take me a while to master all the cool features, but I’m determined. In fact, I’ve been busy studying, and I’ve already learned a lot. For example, I think I’ve got a solid handle on the first two warnings in the user manual:
Do not look at the sun through the viewfinder
Viewing the sun or other strong light source through the viewfinder could cause permanent visual impairment.
Using the viewfinder diopter control
When operating the viewfinder diopter control with your eye to the viewfinder, care should be taken not to put your finger in your eye accidentally.
Got it. Don’t look at the sun. Don’t poke yourself in the eye. I’ll be making photographic magic in no time!
Oh wow, you lucky thing! I can’t wait to see the results.
In fact, just show us every photo you take. Thanks in advance!
You’ll shoot your eye out!
Heather G.
AHHHH!!!! I’m sooooo jealous. I want one! The best of both worlds, SLR and digital.
Have fun playing with your new toy and post some pics soon.
Jen T.
Thanks. I’ll post some soon! This morning I braved the freezing cold to take some macro shots of holly berries and ice-tipped leaves. It’s so fun to experiment with a quality camera. 🙂
Caught my Ralphie reference, eh? I suppose I’d have to hold the camera backwards to “shoot” my eye. Hopefully I know better than to do that. (Guess I can add that to my “already mastered” list, along with not looking at the sun and not poking myself in the eye. This stuff is pretty easy so far.)
I will have fun, and I’ll post pics soon, too. But please don’t be jealous. Just remember, you’re the one with the fancy swimming technique, so it all balances out.
xo
You know, I actually attempted to watch that movie for the first (and only) time this season. I couldn’t get through it. How this became some sort of classic befuddles me.
Heather
Photographic magic
Wow, very nice! Your photographs were amazing before – can’t wait to see them now. I’ve been thinking that I need to get out my camera instruction manual to learn about the fun features on it…now you’ve inspired me to do so! Especially since there are such important warnings that could keep me from permanent visual impairment. And to think, I’ve been operating my camera all this time without knowing that. I guess luck has been on my side.
Tina H
PS – Your bday is a day after Maddy’s…well, a day and 48 years.