DSLR for Photography Society?

Recently I’ve been giving alot of thoughts as to which CCA I should join in SMU which would give me the most real-world benefit while providing a break from IT related stuff and at the same time is something that I am also interested in. I’ve decided on Photography Society.

BUT.

I don’t own any DSLR.

A second hand budget DSLR with kit lens would cost me about $550, but with kit lens the photographs would be no better or possibly worst than the Prosumer camera I currently own. Getting a DSLR would also mean a huge chunk of money out of my already flat bank account. Or I may have to sell away my Little Dot MkIII AND one of my R/C car to acquire it.

But then, after some discussions friends, I have arrived at the conclusion that my current prosumer is good enough for all photography needs (except night photography). What matters in photography is not so much the equipment, but rather the person behind the camera.

I can already see how exciting it would be to be the only person not using DSLR and taking just as good photos as the rest in Photography society…

The problem now lies in how not to be a laughing stock as the only one without DSLR and joining that CCA.

Will they even accept me?

Helpful? Too helpful? Take aways from Java Enrichment Course

Firstly, some have commented that SMU timetable look so slack… but the reality is hardly so. According to my seniors, this would be a more accurate depiction of an SMU timetable.

Today is the day 2 of the Sun Microsystem Foundation Java Enrichment course. Why did I sign up for it?
-Despite having knowledge of programming etc, I have no formal IT training. This course will provide a certificate so that I can finally have a documentary proof that I know programming
-I need to learn Java to take part in the IS200 exemption test and Java is SIS requirement.
-Revise and consolidate various programming stuff which I pick up here and there during my self-directed learning
-I love programming.

As it turned out, I already know most of the stuff taught over the past 2 days, and I realized that the lesson was conducted at too fast a pace for other students who had no prior background, and I took it upon myself to try my best to guide and help those sitting around me to understand some more difficult concepts and to help them with their practical. Looking at them learn programming reminded me of how much difficulties I had when I first learn programming 8 years ago and I felt obliged to help them. As I told my friends to approach me if they encounter any difficulties, it occurred to me that by doing so, was I trying to be too helpful? To the extend where I may be seemed as a hao lian person? I certainly hope not. Oh well.

It was not as if I know everything that was taught over the past 2 days. I picked up a few interesting tibits of information as well during the lesson.

I guess from the way one learns programming you can know so much about a person. My good buddy Chuen Full absolutely loves experimenting around with different codes, to the extend where I ended up being rude to him to ask him to focus on the questions. I was a victim of being too innovative in my coding which I presumed to have eventually cost me a B in A Level computing when I was so confident that I could get an A. I can tell that Chuen Full is very passionate about IT and is highly creative. Linda was such a fast learner (unsurprisingly) and it was almost as if she had learnt Java before and this course was just a refresher course for her. No doubt a very smart person. Weiyi seems abit blur at the beginning but she caught on just fine. She is like the tortoise in the hare and tortoise race. Her preserverance and determination is something that I totally admire and should learn from.

The Sun Microsystem Foundation Java Programming Enrichment Course costs 1.2k to enroll outside, and SMU was fantastic enough to provide us similar Enrichment Course (following the same syllabus, and also the same certification), at just $25 to cover cost of the course materials. You gotta love SMU. This is a fine example of a fantastic institute of learning.

2.5days of the Enrichment Course left. Tiring, but I look forward to it. Beats rotting at home watching anime and emo-ing.