What makes a great photograph?

I have been involved in quite a lot of fashion photo shoots recently 

(hence why there's been so many 'behind the scene' photos) 

but today I wish to write about something that I've always been in love with... 

and that is the style of photography that I have always been attracted towards!

It's that 'fresh-cool-atmospheric-faded-background-but-all-focus-

on-the-model-infront' kinda photos! Very much like this one here...

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I've been trying to achieve this style over the last few years, myself, using many different cameras, only to find out later on that it's all to do with the type of lens you use! I would have been very appreciative  if someone had actually taken 5 precious minutes from their lives and explained it all to me but unfortunately, no one bothered so, if you are interested, and would love a giggle, then you can witness my horrendous 'photography' attempts at the very start, first few posts, of my blog!

So, what makes a great photograph?

For me, it is all about the lens! I do not wish to call myself a photographer and I am definitely  not a camera expert but today, from my own experience, I wish to rant on about my camera and what lens I would like to buy!

 And for all you 'photographers' who might be on the same boat that I was in, I may have some helpful tips for you, regarding cameras/lens/where to buy them. Cos' I'm nice like that =)

MY CAMERA

First of all, let me introduce you to my sexy little camera! 

It's hardly small, really. It's a handful- like many Nikon cameras!

It's my beloved NIKON D3100 with 18-55mm lens, click here, which only costs £264.99 now in Jessops click here (cheapest price I've seen in the market) but I clearly remember paying around £500 for mine, just a year ago! Despite it's weight, I bought a Nikon camera purely because one of my friend had her Nikon for 7years! Canon cameras are just as good, lighter in weight but I needed to know that my camera was going to last me years so I stuck to Nikon. 

Nikon D3100 has been a great help to me, in terms of blogging. 18-55mm lens' fab for taking beauty product shots and close up shots and the camera also allows me to take videos in HD! Just incase you'd like to know.. I use a tripod that I purchased from Ebay for only £5- bargain!

  

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As you can see, the lens allows me to capture every little detail, very close-up and that is just perfect for my blogging world! So if you are looking into buying a new camera, which can produce great quality photos for your blog, then this is your camera!

By the way, the 18-55mm lens have VR which basically means VIBRATION REDUCTION aka, you can reduce your shutter speed by up to four stops before getting blur due to camera shake! Aka, GREAT PHOTOS!

CANON LENS WISHLIST

Honestly, I have never bought any fancy lens myself because they are far too expensive for a student like me. I just book them out of the university and since they only have a range of Canons, I will now start talking about a few Canon lens that I've come across and have been brilliant fun to use!

 

left, Canon EF 50mm F1.8 is one of the BEST lens I've come across! Especially for taking portrait shots! It seems to be sold at various prices. One seller seems to be selling it for a very cheap amount of just £69.99 on Ebay click here but I would be too worried about buying it at this low price! 

Jessops click here and Currys click here seem to be selling it for a much more reasonable price!

right, another lens that would be on my wishlist is the Canon EF 35mm f2.0 lens. Yesterday, I was at a photoshoot with a very experienced photographer. She used her Canon 35mm lens and I remember her saying that they are wide-angle lens. After a quick research, aparantly 'With a minimum focusing distance of only 0.8 ft. (25cm), you can approach the subject closer and still obtain a more natural wide-angle effect. You can even obtain good background blur for portraits.' according to Canon click here.

It is priced at £216.99 in Amazon click here which seems to be a very reasonable price.

NIKON LENS WISHLIST

 

At the end of the day, I do have a Nikon camera and I do really need some Nikon lens! Here are the two 35mm and 50mm (from the Nikon family) I wish to try one day! Are they similar to the Canon family? What is the difference?!

Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.4G and the Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8G 

50mm ... with a small difference in the pricing, £327.99 at Ebay click here and £272.99  at Jessops click here, I'm confused! I think I will need to look into it more!

35mm.. prices seem to range from £100 upwards in Ebay click here (Oh I do love my ebay!!)

Let me know what lens YOU use to take your top class photos? 

Ps, I use my iPhone to take my behind the scene photos ;)