Big step

This morning I took another big step towards my career change.

During the morning I received notification from UCOL that I had been formally enrolled and was sent the invoice for my first year of the Diploma in Photographic Imaging. So I took the plunge and handed my resignation letter in, informing the company that I would leave on December 31.

In a sense, it is quite a relief now that it is done. It's public now, and my colleagues have been informed. So I can spend the next few weeks without the burden of keeping it secret.

Phew! Things are moving.

Playing around

Since the photography equipment arrived, I have not had much opportunity to take serious photos because of work commitments, but I have been learning as much as I can about it all and have played around a little to familiarise myself with it all.

I am very impressed with both the camera and the lenses, and what little fiddling around with the flash I have done has impressed me too. I'll post some photos as soon as I have some time to do some serious shots.

In the meantime, I acquired, today, some new photography books I thought I'd mention.

They're hardly professional, but they do offer some nice tricks and tips in a nontechnical way. I am looking forward to getting into them. They are a three-volume set by Scott Kelby and come highly recommended.

So far I have just browsed through them, and they certainly look promising - easy ways to get great pics without all the jargon that you read in so many other photography books, of which I have plenty.

I have also taken out a subscription to Practical Photography magazine. Can't do enough reading and learning ahead of the course next year!

Look what arrived!

Despite the dreadful delays and bad service, my goods arrived this afternoon!

I am thrilled, as you can imagine. This equipment is the seed that will, God willing, grow into a successful photography career once my studies are over.

Here's what came in the box:

Dreadful service!

I am seriously regretting placing my camera and lens order through this particular company.

Remember, the order was placed on October 18. On Saturday, October 24, the money was deducted from my account. Then, on Tuesday, October 27, I received an email:

I thought I'd better send you a note to let you know where your order is as you may have noticed that we have charged your card. There was a mixup with the couriers so there has been a delay. Your order should reach you in full either on Thursday or Friday. My apologies for the delay.

Kind regards,
S

Notice how the courier company is blamed. The story changes in the next communication. Anyway, Thursday and Friday came and went. No delivery. So on Saturday, October 31, I sent an email asking what was going on and enquiring whether the order had in fact been dispatched.

This came back:

Absolutely, we had a mix up here and between S and I we made an error. The goods were redirected via a very good client of our in Wellington, he is trust worthy and we have paid him the extra courier tickets to send it to you. It should have been overnight. If it doesn't show Monday morning please let me know straight away and I will hunt it down.

Once again, our apologies, I addressed a Canon outfit to a regular at [a company name] and S saw what was in it and presumed it was yours ( it was yours ) I sealed the box up and sent it.

Too many chiefs, not enough indians.

Thanks for your patience.

G

Well, Monday (today) came and went, and still nothing. So this afternoon I sent another mail informing them it had not arrived and asking whether I would get a refund. I just received this response:

The camera is still waiting to be picked up. I've spoken with the Courier company and they are attempting to pick it up this afternoon. That would mean delivery would be early tomorrow morning. Otherwise it should reach you on Weds morning.

Kind regards,
S

Honestly, I should have gone with someone else. Will the delivery happen within the next two days? Time will tell.

Is this the week?

The delivery of my camera and lenses was delayed because one of the lenses, the Sigma, has had to be brought in from Melbourne, Australia. I opted to have it all delivered together, so the rest of it has been sitting in Christchurch pending the arrival of the Sigma lens.

But there are signs things are about to happen - the money was deducted from my account this weekend, so I am hoping that means my box of goodies will arrive some time this week.

Equipment ordered

This morning I placed the order for the camera and the associated equipment - totalling NZ$4,789.

If step one in my career change was applying to study the diploma, step two has been completed.

I'm on my way!

Down to lenses

Now that the camera question is settled, I'm looking at lenses and a flash. This is what I am seriously considering at present (prices in NZ dollars):

• Sigma AF17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC $695.00
• Canon EFS 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM $1,395.00
• Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II $175.00
• FLASH: Canon Speedlite 580EX II $775.00

It's not a cheap exercise, as you can see! I'll update once I make a final decision.