Chapter 2. ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT

Lenses and Filters

Batteries

Tripods

Reflectors and Diffusers

Lights and Flash

Backdrops

Camera Bags

Media Storage and Viewing

Odds'n Ends

After the photography bug has bitten, your life changes in many ways due to your new passion. You see the light in a different way, compositional elements are much more obvious, your direction skills are enhanced, and last but not least, you begin researching and planning for camera accessory purchases. Although the quality of photographs depends more on the vision and creativity of the photographer than on the equipment, you need some basic accessories to begin, and you need to plan for other accessories as your photographic skills increase.

When I began photographing, I had very little money, but I did possess a lot of desire and passion to capture life moments and express my unique creativity in a photograph. I thought that if I only had the very best equipment, I could be a better photographer. I quizzed my instructors and my peers on what to purchase and was overwhelmed with the varying opinions and the astronomical costs associated with becoming a "good" photographer. I soon discovered that photography is an evolving process; your knowledge increases, your creative vision changes, technology transforms, and the world is constantly in flux. I could dream about, plan for, rent, or borrow what I could not afford at any given time and still take amazing photographs with minimal equipment.

Desire, dream, and diligently pursue your vision. Start with the basics and build on your equipment cache. Get creative and use inexpensive items and tools to give your images a unique look. If you can afford to buy a good camera and many accessories, do so sparingly at first while you get used to your equipment. As your photographic experience grows, you can add more accessories.

After you begin building your accessory reserve, you may discover that what you once considered a techno-nerd equipment purchase is now something worth getting excited about, because it's a means to help you create and interpret your vision. Every time you add something new to your photography accessory collection, the excitement builds: a lens, a reflector, a light — it's so exciting!

Reading this chapter should help you identify what basics you require on your photographic journey, what to improvise, and what to put on your wish list.