Edwin_Abedi's photostream  

Photography has somehow always been a hobby for me, even when I was a little kid I used to be my family's designated "photographer." I think there was this one instance when we were in Germany and, using my parent's cheap point and shoot 35mm camera, I took a photo that everyone eventually loved. I'm guessing that's what drew me into this...I began shooting more seriously while in High School back in the late 90s and early 2000s with a Minolta SLR. At the time I thought it was a great camera though it turned out to be a pretty horrible since it broke very quickly ( but hey it got me shooting and that's what really matters in the end.)

I bought my first legitimate SLR back in ~2003 once I started my undergrad studies at UC Berkeley. It was a Canon EOS-3 film camera plus a 50mm 1.4 lens. I fell in love with slide film...most notably Velvia 50. I loved it, I shot with that prime lens for almost a decade...never bought another lens. I think shooting with a "normal" focal length, and being restricted to a prime really made me focus on composition and seeing the world "through my lens."

I finally caved late last year and bought a 5D Mark II and a 17-40L lens ( and also a 100mm 2.8L macro :)). I have to say, I do love it though there is something "missing" from shooting digital. I really can't put my finger on it but it's something. Maybe it's the fact that I used to really have to think about my shots since I was so limited in how much film I had (poor college student and all...so at most I'd have maybe 3-4 rolls with me.)

Either way, times have changed and the versatility and immediate feedback from shooting with a dSLR can't be beat. I always feel like I'm learning something everyday though I find myself super critical of my own work. Friends and others seem to really like them...but I have very few shots of my own that make me go "WOW!"...at least not like ones I see here on Flickr or other sites. We all live to learn though so maybe one day I'll reach the point where I can enjoy my own creations.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check out my photostream and leave comments, I really do read every one of them even if I don't respond...my life is very busy and hectic so please don't take it personally...but I try my best. I appreciate all the feedback and hope to check out everyone's amazing works whenever I can!

PS: Please do NOT leave me automatically generated/generic comments that have a huge badge full of your own photos. This is a rude way of promoting yourself. Comments exist to tell others what you think about their work not to promote yourself. I do not like the clutter created by icons (hence why I don't post to award groups anymore) and I will REMOVE all such comments. Thanks!