My initial disappointment with writing a blog? The necessity of quality photographs to illustrate my words. After all, due to copyrights, I cannot just take a picture from another website and use it on my blog without permission. As a few months have passed, I feel like I have made progress in the moments that I have captured on film. But I know that I still have a long way to go.
I feel that three things seem to be necessary for taking brilliant photographs.
1) Equipment. Occasionally my cell phone seems to take better pictures than my basic Nikon. But the more I experiment, the better the camera seems to be cooperating with me, as opposed to frustrating me. Maybe someday we will have enough money to invest in a great camera. (Of course, since I tend to be a bit klutzy and drop things, sticking with what I have already might be the best idea 🙂 .)
2) Subject matter. When you are in a beautiful location, capturing the moment seems to come much easier. I have also decided that people are SO much harder to photograph. So, while at some point, I may legitimately consider myself to be a landscape photographer, I am almost positive that you will never see the words “portrait photographer” by my name!
One of the rare people pictures that I took that I like. Of course, I was able to crop the shot – that makes a difference too!
3) Timing. If you blink, you often miss the moment. While we were up in northwest Nebraska, we were treated to a couple of fabulous thunderstorms. I decided to go out and try to take a great lightning shot. (Maybe not my best idea). I did end up with one or two shots that were “okay.” But I deleted probably a hundred other shots. I learned that I need to be okay with that – willing to take a gazillion photos even if only a few are keepers.
My attempts to take a picture of a windmill from the car. More to come on that in another blog entry …
While I did crop this shot a bit, I did not edit it at all. I am not exactly sure where the side golden arch came from?
While I will continue to write Flashback Fridays, I will also be adding (or substituting) Friday Photography as well. Since I took over 1,000 shots on our Northwest Nebraska trip alone, I think I need a time to share the photos that may not fit other places.
For much to my surprise, I have begun to see life as if through a lens. In fact, I think I need to start carrying my camera with me everywhere (although my cell phone does work in a pinch). I like having a record of the places that we have traveled. Although I must confess that at times I need to remember to make sure to add people to some of my shots since that will be what I really want to remember. Those that I made the memories with.
Photo credit: my brother, Joel.
I love digital cameras for the simple fact that I can two-dozen shots (sometimes a whole lot mroe) to get the one shot I was looking for, but no film is wasted. With more experience, I hope to know right away what setting to use instead of my typical “click – adjust a setting – click – adjust a setting” method.