Any ideas?
I’ll give you a hint…
A really obvious hint…
Have you guessed it?!
That’s right, ladies and gents, a DSLR has finally made its way into my life. After nine months of blogging and being sure that it was a hobby that would stick, I gathered up the funds accumulated from hours upon hours of tutoring many a sweet kiddo and bought my dreamy Nikon D3100. At the moment—especially since I’m still just an enthusiastic amateur—I went ahead and bought the camera with the 18-55mm Nikkor lens that came with it. With a maximum aperture of 3.5, I find it still gives me plenty of that oh-so-delicious bokeh (a.k.a. blurry background) that I can’t resist. Plus it’s got fun extras like auto focus and vibration reduction, which make for a simpler setup when I just want to take a quick shot.
Following the bliss-fest that accompanies this beauty’s arrival, I feel that it’s only right to pay a moment of tribute to the point-and-shoot that I’ve been using for the past few months. First of all, it’s actually my sister’s camera, so I’m sending kudos to her for patiently allowing me to effectively steal it almost every day. In fact, if you’re a long time reader of La Kocinera, you also know that it’s a replacement camera for her Kodak that I accidently broke. It’s a good thing that I make that girl so many cookies. Thanks hermanita!
This little Nikon Coolpix has been a fantastic camera, producing gorgeous pictures with beautiful color. It’s definitely one that I would recommend to those in the point-and-shoot market. Even for blossoming food bloggers, its macro setting is truly amazing.
So thank you, dear Baby Nikon. You have taken some mighty fine photos.
Baby Nikon is actually what I just named that camera, having sadly allowed it to remain anonymous in the past. If you know me, you that I tend to name the inanimate objects that I hold dear—from the cupcake keychain named Rodrigo, to my unaffordable, ebony upright piano-that-I-dream-of-actually-knowing-how-to-play, Josephine. This DSLR is no different. After several months of deliberation (how geeky does that sound?), I finally decided upon the perfect name…
Schatzi.
Allow me to explain.
A portion of my convoluted genetic makeup comes from Germany and a handful of key phrases have been passed down the generations from those ancestors who spoke the language. One such recognizable word is “schatzi,” meaning something similar to “sweetie” or “darling” in English. It’s a lovely term of endearment that also functions as a pun, since it’s pronounced “shot-zee” and cameras take shots!! Ohhh, I laughed for days over that. But then again, what can you expect from a person who names inanimate objects?
Oh, and please don’t ask me to speak any more German. The only other words that I know are a mixture of basic vocabulary and the occasional curse word that the elders refused to properly translate. What a loss…I would love to know how to cuss in German.
So, my friends, there you have it. My past few days have been spent in loving devotion and crazed picture-snapping with my dear Schatzi. I’m constantly astonished by the beauty of these pictures and the difference between Schatzi and Baby Nikon. Seriously, today I took a picture of my lunch—whole grain bread covered in peanut butter, bananas, honey, and granola with a few grapes—and ended up with this…
Oh my gawsh.
I'm so jealous! I wish I could get a dslr, but just no funds for a fancy camera (hm maybe graduation present in a few months?). And I had no idea you had a point and shoot camera! That must really be a good one!
And I love the name you came up with for it. I love naming my new gadgets!
Congratulations on your new camera. Your photos have always been beautiful and I look forward to many new blogs with even greater images. I'm a point and shoot Kodak gal myself, but I admire your expertise.
schatzi! i love it!!!! oh congratulations bella, well deserved and so very exciting, I rejoice with you!!! so SO awesome 🙂
Congratulations on Schatzi! Can't wait to see all the great pictures you will have (not that you haven't had great pictures already). :o)
I love the naming of objects. I name all my external drives and flash drives Cutie, Cupcake, teenie, Weenie, etc. Congrats on your new camera.
"Schatzi", btw is from the German word "Schatz" which means "treasure". To call someone Schatzi is basically calling them "Little Treasure".
I just got a new camera, too! I'm still learning to use it (and by learning, i mean, not doing anything other than taking pictures and noting that they look so much better than pictures with my old camera…. maybe I should read the manual).
@Amanda: That sounds like a fantastic graduation present! Yep, before now, it's all been point-and-shoot. That camera truly did serve me well. Thanks! 🙂
@Lady Cooks the Blues: Thank you! I've used Kodaks myself, as well. They make a great camera!
@mangiabella: Aw, thank you! 😀
@Susi: hehehe Thanks! You'll definitely be seeing a lot of photos–I can't keep myself away from that camera! 😀
@Lora: What cute names! Thanks for the German tip! Schatzi definitely qualifies as my "little treasure." 🙂
@Dana: Congrats! Reading the manual does help, but I have to admit that I haven't read mine all the way through, either. 😀
This is the same camera I have been looking at! How exciting! Can't wait to see the pictures you take!
De nada querida hermana! Your food is well worth it!
Yay! I'm so happy for you! Nikons are great, I have one too, though I'm still trying to figure out what all the little buttons are for. And, I must confess, I also name things, like my pots and pans. I think my husband shakes his head when he hears me whisper and talk to "my things" wondering what he got himself into 🙂
I had F.'s dad's DSLR on permanent loan for far too long and just bought one at Christmas too, rather exciting stuff, innit! Now I have my sights set on a tripod…;P
Congrats, Koci! That camera looks amazing. I have always been so impressed by your photos with the Baby Nikon, I can't wait to see what your going to do with Schatzi! lol I love that name! By the way, thanks so much for adding me to your bloggie love page. 😀
what a cool mane for a camera, Schatzi 🙂
i thought you already had a DSLR, your photos were/are stunning.