Guest post : all photographs by Marla (5.5 yr old)

Yesterday we packed two cameras to the stables. I got to shoot the DSLR, and Marla asked to use the mirrorless. I was more than happy to oblige, since I’ve always encouraged her to take pictures, and I’d rather she uses a real camera, rather than a cellphone…

I changed the shooting Mode from M to A, set Iso to Auto, and handed her the NEX 7, with SEL35 mounted and set to F:1.8. The results are pretty interesting. Yes, I admit to having straightened more than one tilted shot, and ever slightly cropped a couple of others. Aside from that, they’re all hers. Enjoy

As a side note, I think the NEX7 did an amazing job of metering and preserving tonal balance on those !!

And I’m happier than ever that I refused, again this morning, to sell this camera (I really do have to pull that listing, though…)

Remember, 5.5 yr old operator here, with zero supervision whatsoever

You’ll see why in a minute

She shot was what going on in the arena

And outside of it

The nearby landscape (perfect detail being maintained in the overcast sky)

And that’s why she didn’t get any help from me.. I was busy shooting the Nikon

I was slightly impressed with this shot

And that one. Her use of shallow DOF is interesting

Yeah, a couple of feet got cut off

But that’s as good (or better, in some case) that many adults would take

And I really like this one !

I insisted she tried the DSLR, but failed to show proper technique and she just couldn’t hold it. I might give her the NEX7 again, this time with the 16-70 mounted, just out of curiosity. What do you think ?