My first camera was obtained by trading with a classmate using my computer. It was a Nikon D7100.
Compared to the mirrorless cameras that weigh less than 1kg nowadays, DSLRs are indeed bulkier machines. When I first started, as someone who had to manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other parameters, I was a bit clumsy. But later, after looking up tutorials online, I managed to learn some techniques on my own.
When I first got the camera, I was studying in Okayama. I would often take it out to take photos around the school and where I lived. There was a period of time when I would intentionally wake up early, bring my camera, and take photos of flowers and other small details of life in the morning.
I started learning about composition and how to make my photos have a focal point. It takes a lot of practice to master these techniques. My friends would take me out and teach me some photography tricks, and as expected, I became a disciple of a seasoned photographer.
When I say seasoned photographer, I mean the kind of person who goes to the park with a variety of lenses to take photos of lotus flowers. It's truly enjoyable to capture these plants. It's probably the kind of joy that comes from waiting for a good weather, feeling the breeze, and enjoying the coolness of a morning while appreciating the beautiful scenery by the lake.
At first, I only took photos of landscapes and didn't photograph people. I think I had some social anxiety, and I was hesitant to engage in intrusive street photography. Perhaps it's the inherent reserve of East Asians, and I didn't want to bother others. I tried some street photography, but I used a telephoto lens and didn't dare to get too close, fearing that someone might hit me (hahaha).
Later, while studying, I explored all the nearby scenic areas. The most memorable experience was in Himeji. When we were queuing to enter Himeji Castle, a plane flew over us at the foot of the castle. I quickly grabbed my camera and took a photo of the plane and the castle, perfectly aligned. I really love this kind of "unexpected beauty."
In the streets of Kyoto, I casually took a photo of a street performer dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, holding a monkey and playing a flute. I uploaded the photo to Unsplash, and unexpectedly, within a month, it had nearly 100,000 views. I had never experienced such a response to a photo before.