Throughout my time as a student here at the AIP-OD I have done a lot of research and ordered a lot of equipment. It felt a little old-school writing papers again and doing all of this personal and academic research made me feel a little nerdy at times, but as a professional it is very important to take a keen interest in the things you do and always put in your best effort. "Google-it" is not always the answer so I have put together a list of my top 5 places for...
...finding what I want and need to exceed.
Research & Purchases
If you're like me, purchasing your first DSLR was confusing and frustrating. With all of the different brands, specifications, and prices out there it can be difficult to know what you want and need. The best suggestion I learned about choosing a camera is to hold it; each manufacturer designs camera bodies differently and will feel differently in your hands. If you're loyal to one brand or another or just curious, this website will help you look at the differences and similarities between cameras as well as what they recommend for you in regards to your particular requirements.
4. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
This is a very popular site for shopping for gear. What I love about them is their student discount membership and huge variety of equipment. They have a great Used section where you can find deals on certain products and most of the time I can get free shipping--bonus!! You can also "trade up or cash in" your used gear--a great feature for when you outgrow your gear and are looking to upgrade!
3. http://www.adorama.com/
Another very popular site and arguably the best next to B&H. They also offer student discounts, free shipping, and have a Used department where you can sell your old gear too. Both Adorama and B&H allow you to subscribe to email notifications for sales and discounts and I have taken equal advantage of their great deals. What do I think makes Adorama just a little bit better? They offer you the option to rent equipment which makes it easy to try out a new lens or DSLR, rent a camera body while yours is being serviced, or rent lighting equipment...just something to consider before investing in gear you aren't sure about.
2. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
The Photography program will undoubtedly present you with classes in which you will have to write papers and answer discussion questions that require citations in MLA format; it's daunting, but essential. "Why?" you might ask--two reasons: plagiarism and copyright infringement. Both can get you caught in legal and academic disputes and that is very unprofessional. OWL, the Online Writing Lab, is my go-to for writing a correct citation for the many types of resources I use which brings me to...
1. The local public library.
Yes! I go to the library and you should too. It is not only a great place to check out books on photographers you might be studying in classes like Photo History I and History of Photography II or for your own personal interest, but there are also books to help you learn how to make money for your photos right now, learn tips and tricks, and *wink, wink* I have also seen a copy of the textbook for those two classes at my local library.
"Outstanding past work in photography, and in fact in all the arts, is very important to today’s photographers. But it should be used for inspiration and not for imitation. These works should be something to be built upon, not to be repeated."--Alexey Brodovitch (Benigno)
Do you have a favorite go-to for your resources? Did I miss something? Please leave me some feedback in the comments section below!
Works Cited
adorama. Adorama Camera, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.adorama.com/ >
Benigno, John A. "Famous Photography Quotes." mastersofphotography.blogspot. Blogger, 11 July 2012. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://mastersofphotography.blogspot.com/p/famous-photography-quotes.html>
bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ >
owl.english.purdue. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ >
snapsort. Snapsort, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://snapsort.com/>
"Used Department." bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Used-Department/ci/2870/N/4294247188>
I am glad you posted this. I am about to take PH136 Lighting, and need to by the required equipment such as two 500w tungsten light kit, and a light meter. Do you have any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
~Lindy
Lindy, This is the set that I got and it worked great! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/298604-STUD/Impact_401470_Three_Light_Mini_Boom_Kit.html/mode/edu
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ReplyDeleteYes! Lindy, that is the same light kit that I bought that Thursday Ambassador has too! It has come in very handy to have that little backlight, the extra stand, and the boom arm. I definitely recommend buying a set of bulbs for replacement parts too because you don't want to be in the middle of an assignment and have your lights burn out on you--they are not easy to find locally.
ReplyDeleteAs for the light meter, I have a Sekonic L-358 but it is no longer available at B&H or Adorama. You might be able to find them used but if you do make sure it has the Lumigrid attachment (that is used for reflective metering) and the manual with it. If you want to do some research on a more affordable one you will want to make sure it is capable of measuring ambient and flash.