Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

[My most recent shot of the three kids, using my DSLR]

Do you own a DSRL and a mobile phone?

Well, if you do, … do you shoot with your phone more often these days?

I don’t know about you, but it happens to me.

Especially since I moved to Jakarta, I hardly shoot with my DSLR.

I shoot with my iPhone, and post photos almost everyday on my Instagram.

Somehow it’s just more convenient this way.

I can quickly edit, enhance and publish photos ‘on the go’.

And really, with the 3 kids to care for and a whole lot of other tasks I need to complete everyday, the convenience my phone offers is something I do appreciate a lot!

[I capture different ‘sky moods’ from this balcony, using my very iPhone. iPhone did a GREAT JOB here, but the downside is, the quality of the image is not too good, and it’s not high in resolution]

…

Now.

Recently I somehow realised how Brie has very few ‘good quality shots’ taken with our DSLR. Unlike her two siblings when they were much younger.

And come to think of it, since our DSLR is right there at home anyway, why don’t I just use it more often to capture our children’s growing up moments too, WHILE we are at home?

DSLRs do produce quality shots that can never be achieved by camera phones, yes?

After all, DSLRs do produce quality shots that can never be achieved by camera phones, yes?

(For some weird reasons, the thought of shooting with my DSLR just didn’t cross my mind all this while!)

And, as to whether or not we’ll edit and publish the photos later on, well … it should not be our main concern (I tell myself now!)

I should just shoot and capture moments, with our DSLR too, not just with the phone.

[It felt good to whip out my DSLR and see shots like this again! Been SO LONG!]

…

So there you go.

That’s one of the things I’d like to do better in the new year.

ie. Capture and treasure moments with my DSLR more often! =)

…

Anyway.

Here are some quick pros and cons between using DSLRs and iPhones / other camera phones that you may want to consider:

DSLR Pros

– Higher quality shots (and better resolution and colour)
– Able to achieve different kind of mood and look with different lenses (love the depth of field too)
– In low light conditions, it’s still possible to capture shots without using any flash

DSLR Cons

– Bulky and can be quite a hassle to carry around, especially when you’re a parent of little ones
– Can’t take a photo and immediately share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
– More expensive compared to buying a mobile phone

[Brie is 19 months today, captured with our DSLR]

…

Camera Phone Pros

– Practical, compact, easy to carry around
– Ability to immediately share and upload to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
– Lots of great and helpful photography apps
– For a ‘camera phone standard’, many phones nowadays offer great quality results
– It is an ‘all in one’ gadget, ie. You have video/camera/voice/notes/internet, etc.

Camera Phone Cons

– Poor image quality in low light conditions, especially when the object is far away
– Images are not high-resolution enough for large printing
– Camera phone lens is obviously no comparison to DSLR lenses

…

What say you?

If you own a DSLR, do you shoot mostly with your phone more often too these days?