I need your input, difficult decission!

[Youngster]

Hello, it's been a long time since I've posted on here!

Anyways, to make a long story short, I've been working my butt off lately and I've decided to buy myself a present. I have a budget set up and I thought I already knew what to buy, but...

The thing is, I'm a drummer and a student. Get it? Drummers don't bang their drums in a tiny flat, I don't actually get to drum often at all. Therefor I had decided to get an electronic kit, on which I could play from dusk to dawn and noone would be bothered. But (yes, you saw a 'but' coming, didn't you?), I haven't been shooting a lot of photos lately and that's pretty much because of one single fact; My camera. I have a Canon S1 IS and I loved it dearly for over a year, but as I've learned more about photography and improved as a photographer it simply bores the hell out of me - There's nothing more I can do with it! Suddenly I feel the urge to go out and take photos again, and so here I am: Drumkit, or camera? Of course I know I'm at biased neighbourhoods coming here to you guys, but I'm sure you can see the problem here.

The hardest part is that I have to decide what to continue studying within a year. My top two choices are either something related to music or photography...(or media in general)...This, obviously, makes my choice even harder.

The camera that I could fit in my budget is the Canon EOS 350D (kit, with the standard objective).

I would appreciate your opinion! :)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Depends on which hobby you're more passionate about. Sounds like a 1:1, ya know? However, if you go for the camera, you may want to try squeezing in a 50mm f/1.8 MkII, for a mere $60 or so, used. It'll give you the speed you'll want, and the sharpness you need. The kit lens can be handy for landscapes and such (stopped down to f/8 or smaller), but you may want that 50 for your "general" shots, and you probably won't even need a flash, with the fast aperture and all.

[vjack]

Whichever route you decide to pursue as a career, the other can be a hobby. Granted, it may be awhile before you feel like you can afford to pursue both. But I think it is important to realize that you should eventually be able to do both if you decide that it what you want to do.

[PhotoJourno]

Ok, here is my opinion.

Taking photos must be something you love to do. If a month goes by, and you are aching because you have not taken any photos, then it is time to focus on it. Being bored has nothing to do with the craft, perhaps you just need to have some motivation or new ideas for shooting essays (which should make for a great thread of its own).

Don't waste your money on an electronic Drum set. You will end up stuck in your room for hours, wishing you had something to photograph.

Try getting a new camera (if you can get a 350D with lens, great) and then go looking for photo projects. Pace yourself, and make every session count.

In my case, I used to walk around the block looking for photos, but I never came back with more than an old shoe, someone's dentures lost in the dirt, and other crap. It was pretty discouraging (the whole "sees the extraordinary out of regular life" phrase is true, but not out on the field it isn't, its pretty hard to achieve).

Anyhow, I decided to give myself assignments. So one day I called the local Golf club, and said "hey, I am a local photographer, and I would like to spend about an hour in your club, taking photos. is this ok?" and suddenly I had a theme, an objective, and plenty of photo taking opportunities.
Although I am taking photos almost for a living, I have never stopped giving myself fun assignements, just to improve my technique, gather possible portfolio/gallery photos, and sheer fun of taking photos. This last week I contacted a Nasa Space Center, and gotten permission and a day pass to take photos of their exterior installations. No pay, no joy other than spending the day taking photos (which is plenty of fun for me), and the potential for some great shots.

So I would encourage you to do the same. One day hit a Cemetery, another a Skate Park, a Beach, a local baseball game, a concert, you get the idea.

Good luck, and do post how things work out for you.

[Steve Parr]

Being a musician myself, I can understand the dilemma.

I can't really offer advice, but I've got a joke for ya':

Q - How can you tell when the drum riser is level?

A - Drool comes out of both sides of the drummer's mouth

Thank you. Thankyouverymuch; I'm here all week...

:lol:

[Youngster]

Hah! Steve, I do drool a lot.. ;)

Thank you for your input so far! Ronald, around here it isn't that easy finding used gear, I've tried. But I do, of course, wish to get other lenses apart from the standard one if I decide to go with the camera.

The funny part is, that technically I can practise drumming wherever I am. A pillow works perfectly, but I know I'd be a lot more motivated to play if I had something decent to practise on. However, it's the same thing with the camera. And especially the 350D would put me on the move a lot more, and I know it would be a piece of equipment that would last for years. Sure, I'd probably get new lenses when I'd afford them, but the camera itself would be good enough for a long time I'm sure. Heck, any camera is good enough if you just decide so, I guess..

Thank you mgravina for sharing your experiences, I can see myself doing that; giving myself assignments. I truly believe I'm leaning towards the camera...

[Steve Parr]

My top two choices are either something related to music or photography...(or media in general)...This, obviously, makes my choice even harder.

Drop the drums, buy the camera, and get into concert photography...

[Youngster]

Drop the drums, buy the camera, and get into concert photography...

Among other jobs I work as a freelance journalist. Just the other day I interviewed the drummer of Lordi, winner of this years Eurovision song contest. I've been thinking of photo journalism..possibly and hopefully related to music. So far I've had little luck finding a college or university to study such things at, though.

[Youngster]

Oh, and I'm most certainly not dropping drums ;) I've got a drumkit that I will never get rid off, the E-kit would have been for practise only.

[PhotoJourno]

Ok, now here is a challenge. Record 10 mins of Drum solo, routines and such, and then go out and listen to it while taking photos. Most of the time I dont use headphones, as I do press work. But sometimes I like to walk and take pics at the rythm of my favorite mood music. I find it helpful, and somehow I can always tell what I was listening to, when I took the photo.

Don't give up the drums !.. that's about timing, and photography is mostly about timing as well.

[Youngster]

Ok, now here is a challenge. Record 10 mins of Drum solo, routines and such, and then go out and listen to it while taking photos. Most of the time I dont use headphones, as I do press work. But sometimes I like to walk and take pics at the rythm of my favorite mood music. I find it helpful, and somehow I can always tell what I was listening to, when I took the photo.

Don't give up the drums !.. that's about timing, and photography is mostly about timing as well.

That does sound like an excellent idea. And I had never planned on giving up drumming, and I never will. But I'm quite confident that I'll be getting the camera instead. It will also be a bit cheaper, and for me every bit of money can make a huge difference.

Thank you. :)