My Nikon D5100: The Start of my Photography Journey

Hi Photography Lovers! Please give me a warm welcome to this community as I am very excited to share my photos here. So let me introduce myself, I am iTravelRox, a travel blogger, a former digital nomad, and a former wedding photographer.

Introducing to you my Nikon D5100

I got my first and only DSLR camera back in May 2013. After 3 years of working as a Virtual Assistant, I was able to save money and paid the Nikon D5100 in cash. I bought it for about PHP 25,000. At first, I wanted a Nikon D3100 for PHP 20,000 but I realized that getting a little upgrade is cool. Nikon D3100 is considered a beginner camera while D5100 is more of an intermediate camera.

My Nikon D5100 camera on Boracay Island with a broken filter

A camera strap and other accessories I bought in Taiwan

Where I purchased my Nikon D5100?

I bought my camera at IT Park in Lahug, Cebu. I was so happy to purchase an expensive gadget. Well, my Nikon D5100 camera is already 10 years old. I never upgraded my DSLR camera or switch to another brand. I will only buy a new one when it's damaged. My camera has been with me to different countries. It was a good investment because I was able to proceed to wedding photography which let me earn money on the side while working online. Also, having this camera was a big asset in my travels as I was able to take photos for my travel blog.

The Walk, IT Park in Lahug, Cebu

Inside the camera store, so many cameras you can choose from

This is me without the makeup and I had several allergies back then...

Snapshots of IT Park in Lahug, Cebu

These are some of the photos I had where I used to work as a Data Entry Operator for a US company. What I did is to process some medical claims. Our office is located at the Skyrise 3 building.

There are several IT companies in Cebu that's why the IT industry here is booming.

Convergys, a call center in Cebu, I think they have a new management and changed their names now.

You can see the Skyrise Building from The Walk.

Test Shots at Home

Upon arrival home, I decided to do some test shots. I asked my mom and sister to go to the park after dinner. We went there with a trisikad or a simple tuktuk.

The box of Nikon D5100 with 18-55 VR Kit

Simple life back then, my mother and I

My sister driving the tuktuk.

This is the city hall at night.

Using a wide aperture, the light coming in

When the aperture is not wide, small light comes in

I still have trouble learning some photographic terms. Please correct me if I made a mistake.

Test Shots with Cats

We had so many cats at home so they were a perfect subject to test my camera.

Mingming was pregnant.

Mingming used to live from our neighbor then decided to stay with us.

She loves to play with my sister.

Another stray cat who looked so grumpy.

Just Mingming with our dirty floor.

Don't bother me.

After a month, I bought a Nifty Fifty

It's an AF-S Nikkor 50 mm 1.8G lens. I bought this at Macy's Camera Shop for PHP 9,500.

Testing a Portrait Shot using the 50mm 1.8G lens

I love the bokeh effect on the background

Better photos outside of the mall with the lights from different establishments

Focusing my mom's ring

I also bought a camera case and a new card.

Mingming already gave birth and the two kittens played around with my accessories

So happy to introduce to you my camera, my kit lens and my 50mm lens. Can't you believe my camera is already a decade old? As long the camera still serves its purpose, I don't want to change yet.

Hope you will appreciate my photos in my next articles. By the way, how do you take care of your cameras?

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