Making the Most Out of Every Photo

Pentax K1000 Review

Introduction

Technology is like fashion. Most people want to buy the latest thing to show off to their friends and to get their approval. I, on the other hand, have taken the opposite approach by going ‘retro’ and buying a film camera from Ebay. Vintage is the new fashion. Photography has always been something that fascinates me because of a person’s ability to hold something in their hand which is capable of capturing memories which can last forever. Especially nowadays, now that taking photos are potentially being taken for granted and nearly everyone who has a camera uses a digital. All of these photos are uploaded onto a computer and lost with the many hundreds they have uploaded previously. I decided to make an approach which is not as conventional nowadays, but there was a time when it was: Film. 

The Camera

I have only just started out in photography over the last couple of years and I thought that the best way to learn how a camera operates was without all the fancy buttons so I could just concentrate on the basics by utilising the aperture, shutter speed and ISO to obtain that correct exposure. I got the Pentax K1000 second hand for around £80, which is actually surprisingly relatively expensive. I did not mind paying a substantial amount for the camera because I knew a lot about it after having done tonnes of research and that this is meant to be the camera that is perfect for beginners.

Upon taking the camera out of its box, I could see that it was a gem. Bear in my mind that this camera has been in production since 1976. The style of the camera is very old and basic and was once the ideal camera used in photography classes and workshops, so beginners could get used to its principal functions without being overwhelmed by the crazy amount of buttons. Perfect for a beginner! On the ride side of the camera looking down we can see the shutter speed dial. This shutter speed dial ranges from 1/1000th of a second to 1 second with the option of B (Bulb) which allows for even longer exposures. All you have to do is twist the 360 degree dial in the desired direction. To the right of this is the conveniently placed shutter. Personally, I love the sound of the ‘click’ when pressing down on the shutter (albeit a very expensive click). To the right of this is the advance film lever which also shows the user how many photos they have taken on the particular role of film. Maybe it is just me, but I find advancing the film forward and then letting it go is a much more satisfying feeling than the film cameras which advance automatically, like my Nikon F80. This way it feels you are doing all of the work and this leads to appreciating the photos a lot more. Again looking down at the camera, but on the left side, we can see there is a film rewind lever. All you need to do is press the rewind release button and then pull up the lever, pull again until you hear a click, and then you can start rewinding. You know the film has rewound completely once the lever feels very loose. This is relatively simple to use once you know how, but initially it may take a little bit of practice. However, with the help of a manual, there should not be too much difficulty. If you think a full guide of how to insert and rewind film in this camera would be helpful, here is a good Youtube video which is very clear and easy to follow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjCfcTFP5​0E. Finally on the top of the camera is the hot shoe which can make way for an external flash to be fitted. The flash synchro speed is only 1/60th second.

The viewfinder is of an average size and it there is a microprism spot focus tool to help. There is no dioptre adjustment, but inside there is a lever which measures the exposure. I am unable to take a photo of it to show you, but whilst looking through the viewfinder, on the right hand side there is a + and a - . If the shot is underexposed (too dark) the lever will go down to the bottom and if it is overexposed (too bright) it will go all the way to the top. The idea is to find a balance via the usage of aperture and shutter speed to create the correct exposure, thus making the lever balance in the middle of the viewfinder. The lever is the only thing that is operated by a battery, but this battery is comparable to one you would find in a watch, so there is no need to replace it very often at all and Pentax obviously has confidence in it because there is not even an on/off button on the camera. I did not mention the ISO when referring to balancing the exposure because, although this is just as important, the ISO depends on what film is used. For example, you can buy a negative with ISO 400. The camera will need to set its ISO at 400 and this will be fixed right up until the last exposure. Film with higher ISO is meant for low light photography and low ISO for portrait or landscape photography on a beautiful day. Finally, a couple of things that are worth noting are that this is also a completely manual focus camera because the K1000 does not support any automatic focus lenses and the body is made of black leather and chrome tin.

Different results vary depending on which lens is used with this camera. I bought the fixed F2 35mm prime lens separately and I also got the Chinon 1:4-5.6 35-200mm lens for even cheaper. Both these lens are great and are easy to remove and place onto the camera. The only thing I would suggest when buying a used lens is to make sure that there is minimal focus and scratches, because these are old lenses after all. This is a good article which explains everything you should check over before buying a used lens: http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Good-Used-C​amera-Lens. The overall quality of the camera is decent, but not perfect. Obviously, because this is such an old camera, it is a bit behind in terms of image quality but I would say that is as far as it goes. It is a well designed, robust camera which is not too heavy (628g) for a film camera. 

Conclusion

Initially, it could take me up to a minute to put all the settings right before I was ready, and then before I knew it, the moment was gone. Admittedly, it is not ideal for something like wildlife or sport photography, however at one time, this is all there was. Because I am only 22, I never saw the full impact of what film cameras had on society, and instead I was brought up on those £5 Kodak disposable cameras with 32 frames. I feel that using a film camera is a great way to learn the basics of a camera’s operation and theoretical side too. It has a very metallic and robust feel to it which adds to its retro quality. I am very glad I bought this camera and I would recommend to anybody who is just starting out in photography and wants to learn the basics without having to always use the auto modes. I love film photography because you are in the control of the camera rather than vice versa. I develop the photos myself too which makes it even more satisfying when they come out. Overall I give this camera an 8/10 because although the image quality is not perfect, I am sure over a period of time and practice my results will become clearer. Finally, be careful when you buy a film camera because you may love it so much, you’ll have to buy another one. I am sure that, before too long, I will be buying a third. Thanks for reading! 

Photo A Day 2013 - Tips and Tricks

How to do a Photo Each Day for a Year

As the majority of these blogs will be photography related, I thought I would link my last blog on procrastination with a bit of photography procrastination. Photo a Day is, as it describes itself, taking a photo a day. This is a challenge I set myself at the start of the year after seeing my flatmate try but fail. It is quite a common practice as a couple of my friends have tried it, but it is a lot harder than one might think as I have nearly been caught out a few times.

Firstly, in order to successfully do this each day for a year, you've got to be committed. You have to want to do it. The tips I will be giving in this post will be tips I have applied to my own technique when it comes to doing the challenge. Okay so here goes...

What camera can I use? 

This is probably the question most people ask themselves because, of course, you have to use a camera. DSLR or Compact is probably more convenient than using Film, but here is where you can make your own rules up. Some people remain loyal to one camera, other people however maybe use 2 or 3. I personally use about 5 methods of taking different photos. I will explain more in the Difficulties section.

What are the rules? 

The great thing about this is that you can make your own rules up. This is your own personal goal and unless you're doing it for a company. Just try to keep your photos up to date whenever or if ever you transfer them to a computer because otherwise if you are using a range of methods to take photos, you may forget on what device they were taken. The general rule I give myself is, midnight to midnight, upload onto the PC at least once a week, a photo counts if you are in it but it was taken by somebody else, a photo counts if you order someone to take it in a particular way. Print screens do not count. Also, you don't even have to do photos. Do a video a day, or a blog a day!

How long do I have to do this for?

Ultimately, this is just for fun and for memories sake so you can do it for as long or as little as you like. If you get bored, then stop. I chose a year because it is a round length of time rather than 4 months and 13 days.

What's the point?

My response to that question would be what's the point in doing anything?! If you think you will like it, then try it. I do this for myself as a way to keep a photographic diary for 2013 and to also improve my photography. It encourages you to take your camera everywhere with you. I am a very competitive person and now that I have gotten myself to this stage 4 months in, I think if I stopped now I would very much regret it.

If you have any more questions then don't hesistate to ask me via the Contact page.

Sample photos:

15th March - Nice evening at Humphrey Head.

30th January - Health Attack!

28th March - Crows eating out of a bin.

Difficulties

• You have 24 hours to complete each photo by any means. A problem I have found on occasion is that if you come across a day when you are really busy, you may forget your camera. Now, as already mentioned, I use about 5 different cameras in order to capture the image from that day. When I have forgotten to take my camera somewhere, I'll either use my camera on my phone (luckily this makes the challenge a lot easier nowadays, but photos may not be as high a quality), or a friends phone/camera , or just ANY camera you can get hold of. 

• If you forget to take a photo on a particular day, then you can do one of two things. Either take double the amount of photos the next day, or cheat. Luckily this hasn't been an issue for me just yet, but it's only April! A piece of advice I would give you is to set an alarm at say 10pm so it gives you a couple of hours of warning to take a photo of something. Just anything. I will show you an example of when I almost forgot and what that photo looked like!

Remember, it is just a bit of fun. Spice up your rules, be lenient and your photographs are sure to improve. Get out the house most days too. Take a photo of something funny, serious, colourful, abstract, HDR, peaceful, romantic, dangerous, portraits, do night time photography. Even take a photo of yourself or your new born baby and watch it grow up through a series of pictures. Do anything you so desire. If you think this challenge will be easy, challenge yourself by only doing a particular type of photo all year such as Upside down photos for a year. Customise it and have a laugh. I hope this page will inspire you. And no, you don't have to wait until 1st January 2014. One more thing, remember to write down which day you took which photo and give it an original caption. Good luck and enjoy yourself!

Is Procrastination Really Worth it?

Seeing as this is my first blog that I have ever written and I barely know the basics to writing a blog, let alone a good one, I thought I'd begin by talking about exactly what I am doing right now. PROCRASTINATING! I will try to utilise my personal experiences as well as experiences of others about procrastination and I will compile a list of tips in order to get over it, and do your work! I am specifically talking to myself right now. Anyway....

What is Procrastination?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is the "Action of delaying or postponing something." and according to the Urban Dictionary it's definition is "I'll put up a definition later." Pretty self-explanatory. 

This is something that is incredibly common in all walks of life and will affect the majority of the population at some point during their lives. The idea of putting something off can be applied to a huge amount of scenarios, whether it be school homework, revision, assignment deadlines, ringing the doctor, buying necessities (especially when money is tight), doing the laundry, and so on. Procrastination is not only common, but in extreme cases, it can seriously affect your life, particularly as it is a known effect of mental disorders. 

My Experience

From my point of view, as I am still an undergraduate student, this is particularly a bad time to procrastinate. I have a number of essays to write as well as a script and then in May I have exams. The problem is that I know I have all of this work to do, but I blank it out of my mind (especially during the holiday.) Considering right now is the Easter Holiday and I don't have to go back to Uni for another 2 weeks, I already know that I am going to be leaving the majority of my work up until the last week. Is this a bad thing? Well, it is and it isn't. Depending on your personality and how well you respond to pressure, results can vary. I remember at secondary school how my classmates (and sometimes myself) did the homework on the school bus. Looking back I don't see much point in it, other than to avoid getting told off. But then again, at least it's fresh in the mind for the class that day! 

The fact that I always have work on my mind puts me on edge a little but if it really affected me, then I would definitely do something about it. You are your own person and you can decide how much something means to you. Procrastination is very much linked with negative connotations, but why can't we embrace it? So here are my tips for avoiding procrastination! If  you dislike it, this is the blog for you. Otherwise, if you prefer to procrastinate, just be careful it doesn't become passive and get out of hand. 

How to Avoid or Reduce the Amount of Time your Procrastinate

1) Distractions are often a common cause of procrastination. You become so engaged in your hobby or interest that you put your work or formalities on the back burner. The TV and Video Games are probably the most common methods people use to put something off. "Oh I'll just watch this first" What's that? A sequel? I'll play an hour of my game first"  Then one hour becomes two. Does this sound like you? It sounds like me. So my first tip is to Avoid Distractions by any means: work outside, work in the car, go to the library, unplug the television. These distractions should be used as a treat rather than a priority. I'm sure we all know it, but if it is becoming a problem, then you have to avoid any situation where you may be tempted to leave your work. 

2) Diet, Exercise and Sleep. Thinking about it, I didn't sleep at all last night because my cat Felix was Meowing his head off and I've eaten a whole easter egg today. No wonder I'm not working! Diet affects your concentrations levels, mood and well being. Also, watch out comfort eaters, are you eating because you are bored or just because you're going to have a break from work and then end up not bothering to go back to it. Exercise must be taken either before or after doing work if work is your procrastination. I find there is nothing worse than sitting at the computer all day. Finally, sleep is just as important and I find it particularly underrated. For those of you that do your essay the night before a deadline, I don't condone your actions, but I commend you. There is no possible way I could do that. 

3) Get your priorities straight. Look at yourself and think. Why am I procrastinating? I'm using work/homework as an example as this is what I know best (I'm 22 so I get my mum to do my laundry.) . If it is a degree you're doing, think of all the money you are spending on getting an education. If you are at school, the grades you get will definitely depend on how hard you worked and how organised you were. Because if you leave education at 16 and get a job, it will otherwise become a steep learning curve. Make sure you look at your work from a different point of view. 

4) If you are depressed or anxious then procrastination is something which will be affecting a great deal of your life. It is not only about that, but also a lack of motivation to do anything at all. In this case, where procrastination may appear to worsen and spiral out of control, I recommend seeing a professional. Not only will this give you an outlet to relieve all your problems that are on your chest, but it too will benefit you because they have dealt with these issues many times before. 

5) Work with friends or a group. This more often than not helps you to get your work done. Set a day aside to get down and do some work together in a quiet environment. I find that if you are doing work which is different to your friends' work, it is even better. 

6) Consequences. What will happen if I don't do the work? I have no issue with extending deadlines for whatever reason, other than can't be bothered. Fixing a date on an extension is okay, but an informal extension where there is no set date can sometimes be a hindrance rather than a help. When talking to your tutor, teacher or boss, make sure you organise an exact date when the work needs to be done for. This is very important. 

7) Reward yourself. Yes, it turns out there is light at the end of the tunnel! Find some sort of method to give yourself a reward every time you do a piece of work. If it's TV give yourself a break, but time yourself. If it's food, restrict your quantity. Remember, us non-procrastinators eat healthily! :) 

IN SUMMARY

Procrastination can be quite difficult to overcome, but as long as you can recognise you're doing it, you are one step of the way to getting rid of it. Try different techniques, experiment. If none of my techniques work, then try alternative therapies like meditation or yoga. Just think, no matter how long you leave it, the work will get done. If you think you can cope and relish procrastination then great, but if you are suffering because of it, then seriously consider some of my tips. If you are having a hard time, talk to someone. A problem shared is a problem halved (not doubled.) Thank you for reading and I hope to blog again soon. =]

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