101.2 ~ week 1
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What type of things do you like to photograph? That was the question for the assignment this week. No real rules except absolutely no photo editing allowed. The point of this course is to learn to improve our originals in the camera, not in a graphics program. So all that cropping and doctoring are out....all warts and blemishes will be displayed. Tall order for a graphics fiddling addict, but that's why I am here....to learn. [grin] I enjoy photographing bits and pieces, details and little things. I enjoy looking at large panoramic views of a sunset, a beach, a building, but I get really excited by the shots [or crops] of the little details. To me they are more interesting. That is a constant source of amazement to my *better half.* If we happen upon a sunset and I have camera in hand his response is, "Wow! Need to be up on that hill, building [insert spot] and get a shot of this!" While I am busily being delighted with the way the light is hitting a leaf and the shadow from the bug that is sitting on it. I don't know why I tend to zero in on the detail rather than the panorama, but it is what I prefer. It seems that somewhere in my gut, I feel like the overall picture is *informational,* while the little detail tells the real story and better captures the way whatever the setting might be makes me feel at the moment. I also have a real taste for old ramshackle houses and barns. They seem to have a story to tell. I like to find corners and bits that appear to have pieces of that tale. We were also asked to consider how we will be using/displaying the images. At least 90% of the time I will be using these for web viewing only. However, I am shooting in the highest .jpg setting since you never know when you might want a print of that special photo. I have not yet experimented with using .raw mode, but that will happen soon I imagine. First I became rather busy this week and the camera sat. Then when I had a moment, I had nooooo inspiration. Started to whine that the things I like are all at the beach and I am in old land locked [currently extremely hot] Tennessee. THHHHEENNN, I was in town today for an appointment and it occurred to me that there were some incredible photo possibilities in a mid-town park that I frequented as a child. So I cruised the area. Focused on the Japanese garden that was in full summer bloom. That was all it took to remind me of the beauty that abounds in my hometown. The results are not all that I would like them to be. All were shot in auto mode today as: (a) I have forgotten everything , (b) I find it next to impossible to see the settings notations on the lcd [not to mention the results of the shot] when I am out in bright light. It's a real guessing game until I get more practiced and polished. I have noted the EXIF settings here to give myself a point of reference. The camera I am using for this class is a Canon PowerShotS-30. At 3.2 megapixels 3x optical, 10x digital zoom, it is by far not one of the powerhouses of the class, but it was important to me that the camera I selected be small enough to tuck in a purse or glovebox. If it is too bulky or large I will tend to leave it at home and defeat the purpose of having it. Bigger is for later. This little fellow packs a lot of whallop for his size. Many more features than I am comfortable with or use well...yet. I know, if I pay attention, this course will refresh my oh, too short memory and improve my skills. For now, it serves my purposes well. More camera details and reviews can be found at this spot on the imaging-resourse.com website. Click the thumbnails below for larger views and comments/information:
Thanks for looking. Next week's lesson will be shot on the BEACH! Yippee! I have no excuse for lack of subject matter there...I do love the sea! Until then, happy snapping! _^..^_
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