BUDGET Photography Gear SHOOTOUT | ft. PhotoMeIke | Ep 6
As a photographer, I love exploring new techniques, experimenting with different gear, and pushing myself to see things differently. So when the opportunity arose to participate in the Budget Photography Gear Shootout, I jumped at the chance. The premise was simple: take experienced photographers and give them entry-level or outdated gear and see what happens.
I joined forces with PhotoMeIke for this shoot, and we headed out to the beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with our inexpensive photography equipment. We had the gorgeous Juliana with us, and I was excited to see what we could create.
I decided to use the Sony a6500, an older camera that is still a great piece of gear. I paired it with a cheap 80mm manual focus prime lens, which meant that I had to focus and aperture manually. It was definitely a challenge, but I wanted to handicap myself a bit and see what I could create.
PhotoMeIke went with the Canon 5D Mark II, a camera that changed the photo-video world by melding them together. He used a nifty 50mm 1.8 lens, which is not manual focus, but he switched to manual focus to level the playing field.
The rules were simple: we would each shoot to our heart's content, and then it was time for editing and printing. After seeing our printed photos, it was up to the viewers to determine which photographer's photo they liked best.
We found a location that we both liked with great color and texture, and Juliana's lovely blue eyes immediately caught my attention. However, there was a blue squid that was eating a kid in the background, which was definitely a handicap. Plus, I had to deal with the Sony color clients of the a6500, which can be a bit tricky.
Despite these challenges, we were both able to create some great images. I used the rule of thirds for some shots and asked Juliana to lean against the wall with her shoulder out for others. I had to be careful with my lens, as it didn't have any corrections, which meant that the barrel distortion could be a problem if I wasn't careful.
We both had a lot of fun shooting, and it was interesting to see what we could create with budget gear. In the end, it's not about the gear you have, but how you use it that matters. I'm grateful for the opportunity to push myself and try something new, and I can't wait to see where my photography journey takes me next.
