Met a cool photographer and got to shoot my first DSLR today!

Well today I had traveled down to Pittsburgh with my cousin to support him in his first modeling shoot. Along with that I wanted to go down and see the photographer in action, I love watching them and learning from them.

Well when we got there, the photographer took us all back to the changing room and we split his clothes up and what he was going to wear first, second and third. He led us (my Aunt and Grandparents) to the studio where he was going to shoot and as I walked in the first thing I noticed was sitting over yonder was a gripped 30D with a 70-200 f/2.8. I had asked him if he was going to use it for the shoot and he said yes, I then let him finish setting up. When he was done setting up, he was waiting and started talking to my grandparents and me, and he asked me if I shoot. I said no but I really want to start and told him I was looking into either the 20D or 30D.

We talked more and then he pulled out his 20D back up and let me hold it. (Do know that I"m not an adult, I just turned 16 yesterday, and not many photographers let people hold there cameras, let alone shoot)
I had never held one and it fit perfectly in my hand, but then he took it from me and put on his 18-55, he told me "now this isn't a great lens but go ahead and shoot some." and I just about melted! I knew all the basics and stuff but they were not turning out great and I didnt want to use a flash and mess him up. Well that shoot some, turned into 30min and then he gave me his 50 f/1.8 and my shots became so much better. I got to shoot for another 30min until he was done. I was in hog heaven.

At the end he talked to me more and showed me some stuff and then shook my hand. It was one of the coolest things that had happened on my birthday besides getting my permit. Now all I have to do is finish saving and buy, because I was worried that the 20D's screen would be to small but it really is not that small to me, so I want it!

So that was my first experience shooting a DSLR.

Don't look at a 40D then, or the 20D's screen will look tiny.

I would know :P

OdiN1701 wrote in post #5713166
Don't look at a 40D then, or the 20D's screen will look tiny.

I would know :P

Ha I already did, but I ruled it out because the body was just a little to big for comfort at the moment. But I looked at his 30D, and it still did not phase me a bit about the size difference.

Happy Birthday! .. What a memorable experience for you .. even more special because it was your birthday! LOL .. and congrats on the permit

That photographer sounds like a real classy guy. Someday when you are in his shoes, don't forget to pay it forward.

Playm wrote in post #5713324
Happy Birthday! .. What a memorable experience for you .. even more special because it was your birthday! LOL .. and congrats on the permit

Thanks so much! Yes it will definably be a memorable experience for sure!

ironchef31 wrote in post #5713337
That photographer sounds like a real classy guy. Someday when you are in his shoes, don't forget to pay it forward.

He definably was, I hear you, I just hope I will be able to.

What a cool birthday story. Have fun saving/spending your money from now on...You're hooked. Better start a list.

wow there are still some around.

That is the way it was in the old days.
Not a lot of people will do that anymore.

Happy Birthday.

glad you met that nice guy! i've always have utmost respect for working pros who are happy to share their knowledge (and equipment) and are gentle towards newbies. and yes, plse pay it forward...

I will let other people take a look at my camera, but I always hand it to them in such a way that they see I want them to put the strap over their head while they are playing with it.

RSiewert wrote in post #5713436
What a cool birthday story. Have fun saving/spending your money from now on...You're hooked. Better start a list.

It was defiantly a fun day! Trust me the list is to big, because I will probably on have a cheap budget of $900-1000 (maybe more, maybe less), so I will be stretching the dollar as far as I can make it, because I have been hooked for over a year now, its just been really hard making my parents understand and see that this is something I truly want and not something I will use for a day and stop using. They tell me I have a perfectly good P&S, (they dont know anything about cameras to begin with) but now after having it for 3 years and realizing how crappy it is. (Slow AF, no manual controls except for changing the ISO "100, 200, 300, 400 & 400 is grainy ", the lens is only 6.3-18.9mm "I like wildlife and equine photography", 5 mega pixels and such) so yea will see how it goes in the next week, because they have completely ruled out helping me buy one, so I'm going to buy it myself with the money I have earned and saved.
Sorry for the long reply.:p

strmrdr wrote in post #5713491
wow there are still some around.

That is the way it was in the old days.
Not a lot of people will do that anymore.

Happy Birthday.

Thanks!
Exactly what I was thinking "wow there people like this around"

artyboy wrote in post #5713762
glad you met that nice guy! i've always have utmost respect for working pros who are happy to share their knowledge (and equipment) and are gentle towards newbies. and yes, plse pay it forward...

I"m glad I met him also. !

It's always nice to hear stories like that. A used 20D is only $475 in the sell forum.

Until then, look at these for some inspiration:
Great stuff from a P&S!

Robert Mekis - Photos gallery / Landscapes with a P&S & a 300D & Kit Lens