Pointing, Shooting, and Everything in Between

A few months back, I was seriously contemplating getting an Olympus Pen Mini in White. I almost convinced myself that I was going to study photography and went as far as reading about the different lenses of the micro-four thirds kind and comparing prices. At the end of the day though, budget won over the desire to get into photography. Turns out that was one of my best purchase decisions ever!

I rediscovered how utterly impatient I am from the moment we set foot at the airport with Ron giving Anna a crash course on their matching Pentax DSLRs - I immediately tuned them out because 1.) I couldn't understand a thing and 2.) I was quite silently thankful for not having to carry the big camera bags they had. I had my iPad filling up my bag quite enough already. I focused instead on tinkering with the iPad and contemplating how sad it was that we didn't have free wifi at the airport still.

Anyway, I went for the point and shoot kind - waterproof, shockproof, and PINK! Which reflects me quite nicely - completely functional and full-featured, effortless, practical while being impractical at the same time, and fun. That is, if you know how to get through to the filters. I love the fact that it's waterproof - there was a slight drizzle one day and both Anna and Ron were clamoring for their DSLRs to be protected while I just waltzed through and walked in the rain. I love how I never read the manual but still got to use it quite easily. I still have to test it under water though.

Meet my Olympus Tough TG-620.

Pink.

Accessories - iPad camera connector and free pouch

I found out though that the battery doesn't last an entire day of pointing and shooting even without flash. I may need to buy an extra battery or two. I bought the iPad camera connector kit just before our trip instead of an additional SD card. I liked having my photos immediately backed up on the iPad. (And yes, the iCloud.) Plus, seeing the pictures in a larger screen is really nice instead of just viewing them on the little camera display.

Anyway, I keep it simple when taking pictures and just follow these 5 simple rules:

one. POINT.

If I see something I like to document, I just point and capture. No framing, no composition - just pure instinct. Sometimes not thinking works. (But honestly, not most of the time. Just sometimes.)

Airport - passing through.

two. VERTICAL LINES SHOULD BE VERTICAL.

As much as I promote my diagonal shots, there are instances when the vertical lines just have to be vertical. 

Display - I forgot which country though

three. TRY AND TRY AGAIN.
If at first you get a blurred photo, it's okay to take another one. Just don't take too long especially if there are people waiting to take a picture at the exact same spot you're shooting.

Blurred.

I think I have to soft press my camera button first for auto-focus.

four. FILTER AWAY.

When I'm feeling really, really lazy in taking pictures, I switch to the Magic Filters mode of my Olympus Tough and click away. Instant anti-boredom.

Fish eye gelato

Anna and Ron - Punk

five. SHOOT.

Just enjoy. Cameras are really useful things to document the experience and details of every moment. I am yet to discover my eidetic memory so in the meantime, I'll be using my TG-620 to remind me.

Samsung pavilion - waited for 4 hours standing in line, in the heat of the midday sun