Say cheese


I don’t really get jealous over people with bigger houses than mine (too much to clean) or better bodies (they must never eat chocolate) or who drive fancy cars or wear expensive shoes (too much to worry about when they get scratched or muddy).


But, there is one envy I feel to the middle of my bones: It is jealousy for people who are great at photography.

Every time I see a baby photo that makes my heart stop, I think, why didn’t I do that when my babies were little?!?!

If I go to the zoo, I don’t even bother taking out my camera because I know I’ll end up with a bunch of teeny animals swimming in the middle of a big circle of nothing.

Even my pictures of food don’t look like anything I’d want to actually eat.

I know, I know part of my problem is ignorance. I know nothing about the mechanics of photography except Use Natural Light and Shoot Your Subject Off-Center, and I know both these “rules” have asterisks after them for the exceptions.

But, I finally got a “good” camera, though it is a point-and-shoot, not one of those SLR jobbies. Hey, if it doesn’t say “Auto”, I’m in trouble. And, I’m trying, I’m trying. I actually signed up for month-long photography workshop after I reviewed it for Cool Mom Picks.
Picture Summer isn’t a class, per se. But, with such limited time and brain space for photography lingo, I like that it’s forcing me to actually bring my camera with me and, this is important, use it.

How’s it going? Well here are my favorite shots from each day (I upload about three each day to the gallery). I’m still working to capture action and emotion up close, and learning how to keep an eye on the background so it doesn’t distract from the subject.

And, I’m also taking the photo on the same day as the prompt. No searching archives or, worse, using one of my husband’s pictures as my own.

Day 1: A sign of summer

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have a seat

Day 2: Splashy (water shot)

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bike wash

Day 3: Getting Centered (see the photo on my July 3rd post as well)

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dirty angel

Day 4: Holiday Traditions

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up for air

So, if today you see me taking a photo of a glass of water in various places, please don’t look at me funny. I’m doing my homework.



Comments

  1. You're doing great! I love your pictures.

  2. You're doing great! I love your pictures.

  3. You're doing really well – it's all in the practicing, trying things and seeing what works and what doesn't, what you love and what you don't. Good for you for doing a course, you're going to love it!

    (And you know, those photos would make great Summer Stock entries, wink, wink)

    ———————————–
    My photography is available for purchase – visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

  4. You're doing really well – it's all in the practicing, trying things and seeing what works and what doesn't, what you love and what you don't. Good for you for doing a course, you're going to love it!

    (And you know, those photos would make great Summer Stock entries, wink, wink)

    ———————————–
    My photography is available for purchase – visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

  5. I wish I could change my font color to green! I swear you DO all the things I WANT to do! I would love to take a workshop on photography or cake decortating, or cupcake decorating.

    Also, that is a great opportunity for personal enrichment. Good for you!

  6. I wish I could change my font color to green! I swear you DO all the things I WANT to do! I would love to take a workshop on photography or cake decortating, or cupcake decorating.

    Also, that is a great opportunity for personal enrichment. Good for you!

  7. I know how you feel – I'm jealous of other's photo skills as well. But, just keep practicing!

  8. I know how you feel – I'm jealous of other's photo skills as well. But, just keep practicing!

  9. Sure, boast away. Make the rest of us jealous.

  10. Sure, boast away. Make the rest of us jealous.

  11. Fairly Odd Mother says

    LOL, you guys! It was $30 for the month! And, Picture Fall sign ups will be in August. Join me and we can all "brag" about our achievements together.

    (and, really, today when it is 90+ degrees, the people I'm most jealous of are the ones with pools. Or central air.)

  12. Fairly Odd Mother says

    LOL, you guys! It was $30 for the month! And, Picture Fall sign ups will be in August. Join me and we can all "brag" about our achievements together.

    (and, really, today when it is 90+ degrees, the people I'm most jealous of are the ones with pools. Or central air.)

  13. Whirlwind says

    Your pictures are great. I always look at other pictures and think, I should do that. But what's great about your pictures are they are who your kids are, not staged photo's. Which is probably why we don't have many family shots because they are so not who we are.

    Keep up the great work – with practice, it will come!

    Also, I envy people with central ac and pools too. Tomorrow we are braving the Cape… Wish us luck!

  14. Whirlwind says

    Your pictures are great. I always look at other pictures and think, I should do that. But what's great about your pictures are they are who your kids are, not staged photo's. Which is probably why we don't have many family shots because they are so not who we are.

    Keep up the great work – with practice, it will come!

    Also, I envy people with central ac and pools too. Tomorrow we are braving the Cape… Wish us luck!

  15. I LOVE that last one. And I'm jealous of good photography too. And I have a Dad who is a photographer but mine never look like his!

  16. I LOVE that last one. And I'm jealous of good photography too. And I have a Dad who is a photographer but mine never look like his!

  17. Sure looks like summer to me! Awesome!

  18. Sure looks like summer to me! Awesome!

  19. Those are beautiful! I especially love the last picture with the water.

    Our camera is DEAD! And we can't afford to replace it! Although my mom takes pictures of my kids daily, I still feel like we are WASTING THEIR CHILDHOODS not to have a new camera. ha.

  20. Those are beautiful! I especially love the last picture with the water.

    Our camera is DEAD! And we can't afford to replace it! Although my mom takes pictures of my kids daily, I still feel like we are WASTING THEIR CHILDHOODS not to have a new camera. ha.

  21. Little Miss Sunshine State says

    When I got my digital camera, I took 5 or 6 shots of every photo. I discarded more than I kept, but that was how I learned the best settings for the camera.

    I REALLY loved your first shot of the bench and the hydrangeas and also the one of (your daughter?) coming up out of the water.

    Keep it up!

  22. Little Miss Sunshine State says

    When I got my digital camera, I took 5 or 6 shots of every photo. I discarded more than I kept, but that was how I learned the best settings for the camera.

    I REALLY loved your first shot of the bench and the hydrangeas and also the one of (your daughter?) coming up out of the water.

    Keep it up!

  23. I think your pics are terrific and very creative! Definitely some talent there, stop being so hard on yourself, I can't wait to see more!

  24. I think your pics are terrific and very creative! Definitely some talent there, stop being so hard on yourself, I can't wait to see more!

  25. The Empress says

    "up for air" is a blue ribbon winner for sure. any area county fairs you can enter that one in? It's wonderful.

  26. The Empress says

    "up for air" is a blue ribbon winner for sure. any area county fairs you can enter that one in? It's wonderful.

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