Photos

"You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it." -Author Unknown

I'm not a great photographer... I don't have any training... I attempted a class last year and never could make it because of work. So I dropped out. I like taking pictures and I need to spend more time doing it, learning what my camera can do, learning how to get the image I want. But here's some of the ones I managed to take in PARIS!. And a link to more on my flickr page.

One of the many bridges across the Seine with the Effiel Tower in the background:

The Arch de Triumph...

Standing under the Effiel Tower.

PARIS! photo blog

Look at what I just found...

http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/

Getting Better?

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." ~Eartha Kitt

I'm new to my hobby of photography and I'm trying really hard to get it. To see what I want and to make it happen - lenses, lighting, fstops, ISO, wide angle, aparature... a whole new language to learn in between everything else I have to do. I get discouraged, I think I don't have the talent, the eye or the passion. I put down my camera for days at a time because life takes over.

Then, then I'll take a shot like this one. Everything works. I got the image I was trying to capture. And I'm hopefull again. I can do it. And I keep taking more really bad pictures hoping to get another shot like this:

Editing Pictures

Like any newbie, I am spending WAY too much time taking pictures, editing pictures and playing with effects on flickr. This is one of my favorite results so far. (Sorry it's not any bigger, I'm dealing with the limitations of blogger, sigh.)

It's silk flowers streaming from the ceiling at the NYC Macy's Flower Show. I took it with my point and shot Sony Cyber-shot which has been my digital camera up until this last December (when I got my awesome SLR Nikon). I wasn't certain if I'd want to travel with my 'big' camera but once I was in NYC, I was pissed that I hadn't. But I still got some good shots. And after editing several of them, I'm really happy. I know the Nikon is 'better' but my little cyber-shot has given me some great pictures (including all the ones on this blog).

I need to show updates of my house and I will. I'm working on the kitchen right now and it's going to be a process so I'll show each stage.

What I Read...

It's been a while since I mentioned those who inspire and entertain me so I thought I'd recognize them today. Here are some of my daily clicks:

littlepurplecowphotography a local photographer who I recently met. She's unbelievably talented and she just won a national "Dream Assignment" photography contest.

Master Your Card after over dosing on finacial blogs last year, this is the only I still read. It's real, it's direct and it's unapologetic. I love it. And it reminds me to keep my spending in check.

Puttin' On the G.R.I.T.S. a southern girl with style. She looks like the country singer/American Idol contestant, Kelli Pickler to me. She's got boy stories (drama) which is always entertaining. And although she hasn't ever specifically said what she does, I'm pretty sure it's the same thing I do.

The Typing Makes Me Sounds Busy I think I was the last person to jump on this bandwagon but I've been laughing ever since. J-Money is a funny girl. And a talented writer.

cat ranch v2.0 a childhood friend's blog. I've always loved her dry sense of humor and it translates well as she describes building her first house. Plus her pictures are amazing.

Daddy Scratches the token male of the day. His stories of keeping his family of 4 moving through life crack me. And he calls his wife "Wonder Woman" which shows how much he loves and respects her. Based in Boston, I'd love to hear him say "wicked".

Daily Practice another photographer's blog. A daily practice is a exercise in mindfulness which showcases a new picture every day - beautiful and captivating.

Shutter Sisters a female photog group blog... daily practice and LPC are both members and this blog often leads me from site to site with inspiration and delight. I enjoy their interviews and profiles of artists as well as their "assignments". It's an open and accepting community for female photographers.

Brazen Careerist a great careerwoman blog who keeps it real, and I mean very real (ie. blog post about working women and oral sex). I love her. We have the same personality type and she acknowledges some truths about her life that resonate with my experiences. I feel like I have a new "sister-friend" who completely relates. In a totally non stalker scary way.

Anyone else see a pattern? Yes... I'm definitely into my new camera and learning all I can about it and gaining an even greater appreciation for others' talent. If you want to see what I've been capturing, here's a link to my photostream on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifnothingelse/