My Gear #39 - TJ Mesina

Hi Matt. Hope all is well. I would like to introduce my self. Iam Francis Tj Mesina. Works in a hotel, and sometimes does a part time as a photographer (newbie, amature). I love photography and wants to learn more. I am also one of your subscribers and learned a lot from you and your channel. 

I always loved photography, even when I was little. I always capture something nice or special. So I said to my self one day ill save and save to buy me one very nice camera. The first time I were able to hold my colleague’s dslr (sony alpha), used it for like 5 mins, I felt something that I cant explain. I said to my self I gotta get me one of this. I asked a friend to buy me a DSLR that is budget friendly (since I only own a G.E. point and shoot). She bought me a Nikon D3000. I know it’s a entry level but during that time it’s the latest release from Nikon. I used it in like in 3 shoots, not all photos are great but my clients said its still good. I used a kit lens with my 1st shoot and when I was able to buy a second lens I bought a 55-200 mm non VR and used it on the 2nd and 3rd shoot. So after earning around 600 usd on those 3 shoots that I did I decided to step up my gear a little higher and bought a D5100. If I will earn more from this bad boy for sure I will get me a full frame dslr for my next upgrade. Ive done a few more shoots and my friends said that im improving a lot (thanks to your tutorials).

Any ways, now to share whats in my camera bag:

1)        Ambico tripod – my first and only tripod that a friend gave me before he left . He said it’s a parting gift, and I am so thankful I don’t have to buy one. (lol)

2)        Nikkor 50 mm f1.8g – I frequently use this indoor portraits coz of the wide aperture. I just love the “BOKEH” that it provides for my images. I also love to use this for abstract shots outdoors.

3)        Nikkor 55-200mm f4.5 – I use this most of the times for capturing birds and people coz whenever I take photos I don’t disturb or invade their space as if im not there so I get candid shots (specially with the birds).

4)        Nikon D5100 – I upgraded to this bad boy coz I had a problem with my 3rd photo shoot because the processor of D3000 is too slow. Good thing that my client is also a amateur photographer and he understood that for beginners that’s on a tight budget every equipment counts. I’m just happy that they still were very satisfied with the pictures that I took. For my recent shoots all of my clients are very satisfied and the quality of the photos really stand out with this. I’m just glad that I upgraded to this one.

5)        Nikkor 18-55 mm kit lens – this is still one of my all around lens that I use most of the time specially with macro photography.

6)        Generic I.R remote – of course I don’t to be left out of the pictures specially after a shoot. I love taking picture of my self with my clients for souvenir.

7)        Shutter release cable  - this is the cable for my triggers, I always bring this in case my I.R. remote goes out on me while in a shoot. Its always good to have a back up right.

8)        Yongnuo YN 560 – I have 2 of this and I just cant live w/o them. Fully manual and its cheap. I use it for high key and low key portraits.

9)        Fotodiox octagon softbox – I always use this most of the time for outdoor shoots specially if iam shooting sun set portraits coz I don’t have reflectors yet.

10)      Yongnuo RF 603N – one of the things that I cant live without that I always have in my bag are these triggers. Because we have beautiful sunset here that’s why in every shoot that I have sunset shots are always included. And these really comes in handy.

11)      Polaroid 52mm macro lens – occasionally I love doing macro photography. And instead of buying a very expensive macro lens I just bought these. Still does a very good job so far.

12)      Polarion 52mm filters – all i have to do is attach it to  my 52mm lens and viola removes the unwanted lens flare while protecting ur lens aswell. Love it.

13)      Fotodiox 8x12 softbox – while doing portraits and don’t want to spill light  on the background I just attach this to the side of the flash and bam no more spill.

There you have it.  That’s my favorite equipment. Wish that I was able to describe them properly and shared some ideas on how or where you could use them. Thank you for your time Matt. More power to your site and your channel. More blessing this 2013. Cheers!

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