Crazy + Stupid = Ambition

Right now I'm feeling happy as a pig in a puddle of shit, excited beyond overwhelming at the prospect of the new career I'm embarking on; and at the same time nervous as all hell at the sheer amount of money I have just spent at around 13h30 today and whether/when I will be able to pay it off!

I have just purchased the basic tools that will shape my future career as a photographer, a professional photographer. A career I have been pondering and dreaming of for years with little hope of achieving due to the expense of the training and equipment needed. I now have the training in motion and the basic equipment I need to get this dream to transform into an exciting reality, thanks to my first ever (now blown) credit card!

I went to Orms Photo Warehouse in Cape Town, an amazing place with everything a photographer could dream of! After 20 minutes I walked out with the following:

• Nikon D7000 camera body
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm VR II Lens
• Nikon SB-700 Speedlight Flash
• Sony Cybershot W520 Compact point & shoot camera (For the wife, her birthday present this year)
• Spare battery for the D7000
• 2 x 8GB memory cards for the D7000
• Large Nikon camera bag

Yes it's effectively just one camera and lens with a speedflash and some accessories, but it's a bloody good start. As time goes by I'll include a few extra lenses for different situations, but the next important thing I need to invest in is a portable studio-to-go kit. This will allow gigs such as family and portrait photography and schools photography, both genres which I will be marketing my business to extensively next year when it's up and running!

I would LOVE to also invest in a serious telephoto zoom at least 500mm, which I'll double with a teleconverter unit for bird and wildlife photography, an ultra wide angle "fish-eye" lens for wide angle and landscape shots, and a macro lens for close up pictures. But these and other gadgets will come as and when my income allows and the need arises. For now the lens I got today, an big upgrade from the very good kit lens on offer with the camera, will suffice as it's a multi use lens capable of decent levels of all shooting conditions. Oh yes, and I'll probably make good use of a sturdy tripod too!

I am very much in love with my new toys and chomping at the bit with anticipation of getting to know how it works and taking photo's that make the world a brighter place!

In the meantime, if you've bothered reading this far and are feeling particularly generous, I would love to get my hands on some reading material, either of the following:

• D7000. From snapshots to great shots. By John Batdorf
• David Busch's Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

Much appreciated, thanks for reading! Now to get this lot insured by the end of the day!