I Learned a Lot, Specifically, What I Still Need to Learn

Yesterday, I had my first ‘photo shoot’ with an amazing family.

I spent the afternoon at their house, taking the photos they wanted, and then the photos I could capture.

I learned a lot.

I learned that I have a lot more to learn.

A. LOT. More to learn.

For a while, every session I have will be a learning experience for me.  I’ve spent years chasing my kids, and Brian’s kids. This was the first time I took pictures of people I am not related too.

There is still much I don’t know.  There is still much I have to learn.

I learned I need to know what poses I want, how to pose people and groups.  I need to remember, that I can and have to ask for specifically what I want.

I am not there just because I take good photos, I’m there because I know how to, and how to pose people, and how to group them, to make them all look good.

Supposedly.

I need to learn how to adapt, how to work quickly in unexpectedly chilly weather.  I need to learn that what I see when I scope out the site, is not always going to be what I’ll see when there are people there.

Yesterday, the family/friends in front of my camera were wonderful. They were fun to work with, they had their own ideas, and they let me do my own thing too.  I hope that at the end of the day they like what I did.

Much to learn. Many more photos to take in the process.

But yesterday, was a start, and I had a blast.

Tomorrow I take a real step towards realizing a dream

Tomorrow, is my first ‘real’ photo shoot, of people, (about 20) who are not in any way related to me.  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

And nervous.

But they promise, there will be a margarita waiting for me, when I put the camera down.

Tomorrow I take my first real step towards realizing my dream.

When Words Fail Me, My Camera Picks Up the Slack

It’s been one of those weeks, when my brain just can’t muster up enough functionality to string together enough words to form coherent thoughts let alone a entertaining brilliant blog post.  Lucky for me, my camera can produce some pretty amazing shit without much thought.

Brian gave me this ring for Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago.  The relationship didn’t last.  The ring? Still has it’s uses.  Some days I sit there with the morning light streaming in my front windows, creating some amazing lighting for some beautiful photos.

I bought these bracelets from Charlotte Russe for $1.49 at Christmas.  Cute, cheap, costume bangles. They were on clearance, but when set in the morning sunlight, they look so much more impressive than they are.  In fact, I posted this on my Flickr account and Lotus Carroll (Who’s photography I have admired for months now) favorited it.  I was beside myself with OMG!

I was digging around in a friend’s basement this past weekend (that is not an euphemism for anything) when I came across an old ball and glove.  Sure, it’s only January, but spring training will be starting in just a few short months.  I got a nice surprise today, when I saw that Lotus Carroll had favorited this one on Flickr too.

Sometimes the things you drive by every single day take on an entirely different look when you see them through the lens of your camera.  I drive by this antique store in our small town, at least once a day without giving it a second thought.  But when taking photos for a theme (frames) I saw the simple words framed over the store front.

Again, looking at every day ordinary things through the lens of a camera can turn a simple drop or two of water from a kitchen faucet into something incredibly beautiful, and really kinda cool.

 

In 2012 I am Going to Try Something New

With the start of a new year, comes the hopes and dreams of it being better than the last.  And that we will be better than we were.  In my head a new year looks like this:

and ends up looking like this:

I don’t make resolutions anymore.  Sure I sit down the first of the year, and look at all the Self and Shape magazines I subscribed to last year, and think “Wow I’d look amazing if I worked out and ate right.”  Then, I go eat the last few Christmas cookies that escaped the girls’ radar.

This year, instead of improving myself, because let’s be honest, the road to success is not paved with good intentions, I’m going to try something new.

iTunes offers free music every week.  Starbucks offers free downloads as well.  It is always a band, a group, a soloist I have never heard of.  I’ve never tried them. I have no idea why not, I have nothing to lose.  This year?  I’m going to try new music.  New music+free downloads = win/win. Or at the very least, break even.  Also included in this, would be podcasts.  I have two I listen to consistently I need more.

For years, my mother would give me a subscription to Taste of Home magazine for Christmas, along with the hardback cookbook of every recipe they had published the year before.  Great gift. I loved it.  I have stacks and stacks of magazines, and more recipe cards than Vegas has playing cards.  And I have about 8 meals in my repertoire, and that is being overly generous.  So this year, I’m going to try new recipes. I’ve got plenty at my disposal. I have time to shop, and plenty of time to cook, and if the girls don’t like it, I’ve got peanut butter and jelly.

I have an amazing camera.  My Nikon D40.  Meredith and the cheerleaders have insisted it be brought to every home game.  I have spent years shooting people.  Guess what? My camera takes pictures of other things besides people.  I’m going to try to photograph less people, more things and places. My cousin Melissa has started a Facebook Group, The 52 Week Photography Challenge which will push and encourage me to shoot things besides people.

I love to read, but I’ll admit, I am afraid to step outside my comfort zone and read new authors.  I go to the library every. single. day.  Library=free books.  What do I have to lose? If I don’t like it, return it, get something new.  This year, I’m going to try to read new authors, new books.

Since I am open to trying new things, I am, therefore, open to suggestions from you.

What would you suggest I try first?

Also, don’t forget my review and giveaway that ends on Jan 5th.  A free copy of digital scrapbooking software.  Please?

 

I honestly hope they see themselves the way I see them; Beautiful