I was on my way to my step-daughter's cross country meet when I asked my wife if we could stop at Walmart so I could pick up a camera since all of our little "point and shoot" cameras were broken. She reluctantly said yes. We stopped right outside of town and I walked back to the camera section.
I had no idea what I was looking for, in fact, I didn't even know what the different models of cameras looked like. Megapixel, optical zoom, SD, CF, digital zoom... it all seemed like a bunch of jibberish to me. So, I found one for around $300. Anymore than that, and I would have gotten divorced much sooner that I already did.
The camera was a Sony DSLR that looked almost like a real camera, but had no interchangeable lenses, etc. It was good enough for my pea-brain to handle at the time. I basically knew only how to "point and shoot".
Little did I know that I was about to start a journey which would turn into a profession - all from a random trip to Walmart. Furthermore, I was on my way to learning the fact to take a really good picture (especially sports), a much more professional camera would be needed. Now, remember, I was completely oblivious to what this would mean. Even more "in the dark" was my wallet. Boy, was it in for a nonstop series of shockers!
After taking some "okay" pictures at the cross country meet, I decided that a high school football game was another good place to take photos. After all, I already had experience, right? I mean, I had just shot an actual event! Well, my step-daughter was on the drill team, I'm an alumni and the team was doing pretty good. What a better way to start taking pictures from the sidelines and become a "real" photographer. I could just imagine the parents coming to me in droves - asking me for a copy of the photo. Of course, these eager parents would be more than willing to pay a premium for my shots. $25 for an 8x10... no problem. At least, that was my vision.
Now, how to get on the sidelines... A former friend (the explanation of 'former' comes later) of mine, used his recruiting busines to get us both in. Now remember, this is high school football field at night. At the time, I was unaware of how difficult it is to shoot in low light.
I have to admit, I felt "special". Here I was, one of over a thousand spectators, and I was on the field! How important they must think I am to be granted such "insider's access". Looking back, that cracks me up everytime. It's fun to remember the excitement I had the first time I could be on the sidelines of a football game. Just me and my Walmart Sony camera with it's wonderful built-in flash... I just knew I was going to be the next Brad Mangin.
I stood there for about two hours, snapping away in Sports Mode, ready for the next big play. Never once, did I bother looking at the LCD. Not once did I "CHIMP"! I was too busy telling everyone to move out of my way to even think about reviewing the pictures. I mean, come on... I spent over $200 on my camera AND I have it in "sports mode". What else is there?
The game ended and I couldn't wait to get home and view my masterpieces. I was sure that once the local paper received some of my images, they would be begging me for more. What a life! Here I was, on the cusp of a new and exciting career. I would be a celebrity around town, everyone would be asking me to take their picture, my phone would be ringing off the hook with orders and I would have a byline on the front page of our local paper every day. I was stoked!
I arrived home and I don't need to even get into what the end product looked like. I could seriously write for two days on the reality check I got when I popped my 1GB SD card in the PC. Wasn't quite the "check" I was anticipating.
Man, I was pissed. That stupid camera that I spend OVER $200 for must be broken. I had made a huge investment, got on the sidelines - even noticed the little running man icon on the dial. How could that stupid camera ruin my awesome shots? It's not like I had it on AUTO or anything... I had it on sports mode. That should've made all my shots tack sharp and bursting with color. Furthermore, WTF? Why do all the whites look yellow? Spots? Speckles? I immediately Googled a replacement camera. I'd be dammed if I let another money-making opportunity pass me by. Gotta get a better camera. One that can keep up with my talent.
Well, stupid Google didn't have any pertinent information on cameras. I couldn't find anything that I thought would be smart enough to keep up with me. So, I went and returned the Sony camera to Walmart.
On my way out of the store, I notice a camera that didn't seem to have a lens on it. A camera with no lens? I was not only confused, but now I had to find the 18yr old manager and ask him to explain this phenomenon to me. That's when he introduced me to the Nikon D40. $500?? Why the hell would I spend $500 on a camera? Can't I just replace my 12x zoom Sony with a new one? I mean, the only thing wrong with it was that the sports mode was malfunctioning. I didn't need an overpriced camera that didn't even have a lens!
He then opened my eyes to something I had not thought about. He showed me the lens that came with the camera. He spent several minutes showing me how it zoomed (could see that by the cool telescoping action of the lens) and how it also had a sports mode. In his professional opinion, this was a much better camera and the sports mode was far more advanced than the model I had just returned.
I proudly exchanged my Sony for a Nikon D40 with a lens that came in a different box. THAT must be the camera the pros use. I even looked at Nikon's website when I got home. The title was emblazoned across the top of the page: "The Nikon D40... incredible pictures, incredibly easy!"
The next game, the weather was about 15 degrees. Cold as hell. I remember my teeth chattering with the wind blasting across the field. I took my new D40 and ran up and down the sidelines, taking even MORE photos that I did the first night. Parents were noticing me. The calls would most certainly be coming in by the morning. I couldn't wait to start raking in the cash. I had more than doubled my investment and now had, what the Walmart Electronics Manager said was, the best camera they made.
Again, I am sure that I don't have to outline the experience I endured after popping the SD card in my PC. Not only were my photos still yellow, but now they were BLURRY? And what was with how small the players looked? I had the interchangeable lens. I had the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6. How could this be? Did I get another broken camera?
This is when I was introduced to this oddity called "camera shake". Apparently, my expensive camera wasn't keeping the image clear when I was shivering. What did I pay $500 for? I was mad at Nikon, still mad at the guy from the local newspaper who yelled at me for running in front of him and kicking his "camera stick". For real? Who needs a stick to hold up a camera? Hit the weight room, buddy!
I am going to summarize the very beginning of my career in one sentence. Little did I realize that I was, in fact, the thing I despise most today. I am not afraid to admit it - even to my fellow professionals. I was... I was...
A GWC!!!
I thought I knew everything and actually knew less than nothing. I was an obstruction, a distraction, an annoyance and worst of all - terrible at taking pictures! Here's one the first football pictures I ever took. I may have purchased the other "kit" lens (70-300mm f/4.5-5.6) by this time. I didn't realize that I was making it even more difficult in low light situations.
I can't believe that I actually took someone's money for this image. I should probably track them down and refund it.
To this day, I still have no idea how I put that grid on there and obviously didn't know how to take it off. Professional, I know...
