I really have no idea what I am doing when it comes to taking pictures. I used to use other people’s point and shoot cameras to take shots and always wanted to take it further. I received my $600 economic stimulus check the day before I was going to head out on my Caribbean Cruise vacation. At the same time, Best Buy had a sale on a Nikon D40 with a 18-55mm (F3.5) lens and a 55-200mm (F4) lens for $600. It seemed like it was meant to happen. I wanted a digital SLR for my trip, I got $600 from the Feds, and Best Buy offered the sale. Although the Nikon is not as good as Canon, it was super small and light and was not too bad when it came to walking around San Juan and other Caribbean cities.

Since then I have bought a 50mm (F1.8) lens which I can’t wait to start messing with. The thing is that I have never taken a photography class. I have been contemplating some one day extension courses through Santa Monica College where we would take shots along the LA Metro Rail. I am worried that I will be paying for a course where a guy just tells me what to take pictures of instead of how to take pictures. I have missed a few formal classes at some community colleges because I do not meet some of the prerequisites or they won’t let me audit the class or take it Credit/No Credit. I think it only makes sense for me to take some courses to figure out how to use my camera correctly and to its full potential. So far, I have just been getting tips from friends, reading blogs, watching youtubes tutorials, and just getting out there and shooting.

Here are some of my favorite shots that I have taken with my Nikon D40 or point and shoot digital cameras.

Churchy

Traffic in SF? Nikon D40 55-200mm (F4) Lens

All Hail to his Hands, Nikon D40 55-200mm (F4) Lens

Playing the Background, Nikon D40

Fun & Chinese Games, Nikon D40 55-200mm (F4) Lens

Fucking Pigeons, Nikon D40 55-200mm (F4) Lens

The Projects, Nikon D40

Wires Out Mom's Window, Nikon D40 55-200mm (F4) Lens

Bees at the Getty, Canon Digital Point and Shoot

Going Green, HP Digital Point and Shoot

4th and Olive, Aiptek Digital Point and Shoot

Twisted, Aiptek Digital Point and Shoot

Cast, Aiptek Digital Point and Shoot