“What camera did you use to take the photo, bro?”
I often come across questions like this. If I’m unemployed, usually I’ll definitely answer. In fact, I was kind enough to write a special topic about How to choose a suitable camera for traveling, which can be read by clicking this link.
So, this time, I’ll try to share how to create with limitations, especially in photography.
Okay, flashback to my high school days!
I started to love photography when I was in high school. Back then, I often read encyclopedias filled with interesting photos from around the world. Maybe that’s why I started to love photography and wanted to see the world.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera at the time. Coincidentally, my high school had a journalism club/extracurricular that had a photographer position.
Opportunity! Without thinking twice, I immediately signed up for the photography position. Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to hold a digital camera for the first time. If I remember correctly, it was only 3 megapixels! But I was so happy, I could finally learn photography!
The point is, if you’re willing to try, there’s always a way. Creating art doesn’t always have to be about having it. You can start by borrowing or maximizing the equipment you have.
I also started my travel blogging career with a borrowed camera. You could say I started documenting my travels at the end of my college years. And at that time, I didn’t have my own camera, so I borrowed one. pocket from relatives and sometimes borrowed from friends. One of the results is documentation walking from Malang to Bromo.
It wasn’t until I started working that I was able to buy my own camera. So, if someone says, “I want to learn photography and make a vlog, but I don’t have a camera,” I start working so I can afford it. Anything, as long as it’s halal. The last time I bought an expensive camera, I worked as a baker in Australia.
Seriously! But it doesn’t always have to be an expensive and sophisticated camera!
I’ve never really cared about how sophisticated my gadgets are, how expensive, or how complete my equipment is to produce work. But my method is to maximize the tools I have to produce extraordinary work.
Just for your information, with just a second-hand camera worth around two million rupiah and a regular laptop, I was able to boost the popularity of my blog catperku.com (formerly catperku.info) and publish my first book about Bali, entitled The Traveler Notes: Bali The Island Of Beauty.
During the process, I never thought about what kind of camera to use. Whether it had top-of-the-line specs or the most expensive. I only cared about a camera that fit my budget and at least met my needs.
As a beginner, my only need at the time was to take interesting photos to illustrate my catper blog, and I eventually used those photos to illustrate two of my books published by Gramedia.
However, that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to upgrade. Gradually, I felt the need for a more capable and lighter camera. So, travel time. traveling to Japan for 13 days in 2013 I bought a mirrorless camera for around 4 million rupiah. Because of it, my travel budget to Japan ballooned to over 20 million rupiah.
Once again, I just maximized the camera, mastered it as much as possible, and diligently practiced to take good photos. Even though new products entice me every year, I stuck with my first mirrorless camera for over 3 years, and I still use it now.
As a result, with that relatively standard camera, I’ve been able to travel to several countries in Asia and several places in Indonesia. Some were free, some were bartered for writing, and some were even paid.
Right now, I’m looking forward to creating more video content, doing a lot of vlogging. I really want to upgrade my laptop to something fast and easy to edit. Unfortunately, the budget is being used to upgrade my camera. So, I’m holding off for now.
See! You don’t need expensive gadgets or cameras to create. In my opinion, the gadgets or cameras you have are your best tools for creating your work.
Instead of worrying about what kind of gadget to buy, it’s better to start creating now!
Right!??
