Picture This

Joelle said in the early morning on June 13, 2007 while listening to Beck - I Think I'm in Love

Thanks to Tom at The Media Drop, I was selected to participate in the Nikon D80 Picture This Program recently.  I’ve been coveting Kathy’s “Big Girl Camera” (also a Nikon D80) for a while now and couldn’t have been more pleased to be invited.  I get to use this gorgeous piece of equipment for 6 months, then I can either return it, buy it or re-enroll for another 6 months. The only requirement is that I take photos, post them and discuss my experiences with the camera.  It’s my understanding that if there’s something I don’t like, I am free to say so.  So far, it blows my little Sony W50 point n’ shoot out of the water. 

Don’t get me wrong — I love my wee pocket camera. I take it everywhere with me and it’s been great thus far, but if I’m going to try my hand at this “photography as a viable hobby” thing, a proper camera like the D80 is really what I need. If I were actually buying one, I might have chosen something less expensive, like a lower model of Nikon or perhaps a Canon Rebel (as my good friend Peter is so fond of his), so I’m glad I’m getting an opportunity to check out this camera I might not otherwise have been able to afford.

For those who have emailed me asking how they can get involved in this program — honestly, I don’t know.  Tom emailed me through Flickr asking for my snail mail and then a couple weeks later I had a promotional box from Nikon arrive that I almost threw away. I thought it was just some marketing materials and promotional packaging, which I sometimes get in the mail.  Sarah made me open it and inside was a letter inviting me to register online for this program. I wasn’t even sure it was from Tom, so I seriously had no clue about this program or how to get in it or what.  In fact, I just read today on ProBlogger that they only chose 50 people.  I consider myself quite lucky!

Anyway, I’ve made myself a promise that every weekend, I will take a minimum of 4 hours for myself to visit someplace different in this city for the sole purpose of walking and taking photos.  I’ve recently discovered that I’ve fallen in love with this city again and there are a billion places right around my home that would provide incredible photo ops.  So I’m looking forward to seeing what this camera can really do.  Hm, I guess I’m just as interested in seeing what I can really do.