For the Amateur Photographer on a Budget

Photography is an extremely popular hobby because it is challenging but is also a way to be artistic and expressive.  However, photography is not necessarily cheap.  Cameras and film are expensive and the advanced hobbyist is often tempted by lights, tripods, lenses, and filters. 

However, it is possible to practice amateur photography on the cheap.  It will add a little more challenge to the hobby and will also result in more personal, unique images.

Buy Second Hand

While the new Nikon catalog may have some photo buffs drooling, the prices can be a bit ridiculous.  The best place to get a camera for amateur photography is a second hand outlet.  Charity shops, online auctions, and newspaper classifieds all offer cameras.  It is quite possible to find a classic Cadillac of a camera for a Hyundai price.  Older manual cameras definitely do not have built in light meters or digital zoom, but they will take a picture as fine as any new camera while you get to fiddle with different techniques.

The same rule goes for photo accessories:  lenses, filters, tripods, props and all other types of hardware should be second hand, or even simply borrowed, whenever possible.

Making Substitutions

Some kinds of hardware are easy to substitute or do without.  For an example, take a look at nice old photographs.  Maybe pricey lights are not necessary for amateur photography; maybe a flash will do, or even a composition by natural light, candlelight, or some other challenging source.

The internet is a huge help for amateur photography on a budget.  Many pages are full of tips for substitutes for filters, lenses and backgrounds.  Other sites offer a place for local people to barter and give away items they do not need any more.  Keep an eye on these sites for photo equipment.

Developing Talent

Paying to have pictures developed is often an expensive proposition.  Unless you are working with a digital camera and can preview the images, you will have to develop all your film to see if any of it turned out well.  The most obvious solution is to start out as a digital photographer. 

But when you get good enough at digital amateur photography, the next logical step is celluloid film.  Shooting in black and white may be a solution because it is comparatively easy to develop in a darkroom.  This is perfect for university students as most schools have a darkroom.  Otherwise, a little home construction or finding a friend with a darkroom might be possible.