I have always wondered what my "talent" was, and have been somewhat disappointed that I didn't have one....I used to think it was softball since I could throw a ball from Center field to home plate, and could wow the pants off opposing coaches with the power of my hits (once, I questioned bleachers that appeared to be in the middle of the outfield. I was assured no one had ever hit a ball that far so we shouldn't worry about them. Wouldn't you know, myself and another team-mate reached those bleachers!). I think if I had the proper training and had kept up with the sport I could have been pretty decent. I thought it was writing for quite a while but I haven't written anything of quality in years, and even though I am inspired sometimes, the words just aren't forming correctly. I thought it was crafting-crocheting, making cute things for my daughter, scrapbooking, etc...but I don't have the time or passion to put that much detail into those things. I cannot do more than a basic crochet stitch, even though I've been shown how and have researched it several times.
So now I believe it to be photography.
It started off when I was young, not sure how young though. At one point I had a red 110 film camera and cherished it. I took pictures of anything and everything and often would choose to spend my money on developing my film than buying something I really needed. Over the years I bought several cheap film cameras and had been given them as presents. My sister got a digital point-and-click in 2004 and I fell in love with the instant viewing/deleting/retaking/perfecting aspect. I also loved the fact that I did not need to buy film or develop film any more, and I could carry my photos around on a tiny memory card, and store everything online!
It continued to never being able to throw my pictures away, no matter how awful they were. One of my biggest fears as a child (and still is though not as much) is this: If there were ever a fire in my house, I had to know the exact where-abouts of my box of photos and photo albums so I could save them. Today, I do not know the exact where-abouts of my box of treasures, so I try not to think about that horrible event ever happening. And with the digital era upon us, I worry much less.
From this point, I thought of scrap-booking and invested time and money into books, scissors, papers, and developing more prints. That didn't last long as it was way too detailed for me to handle. Lots of headaches, time, and money involved, all of which I do not care to deal with, especially working full-time, being a mother, and a house wife.
Sometime after my grandfather passed away, I was given his film SLR camera and lenses. I didn't know much about it, but I knew it produced fantastic pictures. I invested in some film and went on some photo shoots with my sister, with Cate, and on various other things. I used up rolls experimenting with the various lenses, and quickly decided that I would only use the camera for special pictures.
My simple point-and-click broke about 1 month before I had my daughter and I was devistated. I thought about sending it in to get fixed since it was within my warranty, but I knew I wouldn't have it back before I had the baby, so I went out and bought a new, inexpensive point-and-click to cover everything baby.
A few months after having the baby and taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures, I began snapping shots with demo cameras at the mall, Instantly I fell in love with how much more stunning my already beautiful child looked. I knew I needed one of those cameras, but oh!, the price!!
When Cate was 9 months old, I caved and purchased a Nikon D60. The kit came with an auto-focus vibration-reduction 18-55mm lens, but I still had 5 other various lenses from my grandfather's collection. I experimented with the camera and various lenses, learning very quickly that the lenses from my grandfather would pretty much collect dust as they are all manual focus, even on a digital SLR body. Through experimenting with them, I found it very difficult to not only focus properly, but find the correct color balance. The one lens I used frequently was the "stalker" lens-an 80-200 (far away just got a whole lot closer!). Still a nuisance to manual focus/color balance, but not so bad that I couldn't use it.
I have always enjoyed taking "artsy" pictures, of people, objects, flowers, the moon, basically anything and everything, and the DSLR made that even easier and more enjoyable. It is so easy to take your shot, view, lightly edit, and move on to the next shot with a DSLR, and add to that the fact that having a computer to store and edit even more makes the whole process a cinch. So, sometime recently (within the past 6 months) I've really stepped up my practice. I started by just taking those "artsy" shots as often as possible (yes, I carry my DSLR in my purse most days), and telling people about my renewed passion of photography. I had a friend offer to let me photograph a wedding with her, and a few friends have lent me their children to practice portraits with. I found a friend at work that is very into photography, and have picked up several tips from her (Thanks!!!)
I was decently confident going into the wedding, had spent several hours researching poses and ideas and good editing software, so I was pretty excited. Now that the wedding has come and gone, and I've looked at the hundreds of pictures I got, I was disappointed at how they came out. Don't get me wrong, I think they are good, but they could have been much better. This has prompted me to really dive into the world of photography and research how to use my camera to it's full potential. I want to know just what my camera can do for me, and before I buy more high-tech lenses, or a newer, more powerful camera, I have to make sure I can use what I have to it's fullest potential.
I've learned a lot over the past few weeks and cannot seem to get enough information in. I've requested a sit-down with my uncle who has shot professionally so I can get hands on and visuals, I've asked friends to borrow their children (again!), and my sister has volunteered to help as well (I try on my husband and daughter, but neither are willing subjects-especially since the daughter is a 2 year old on the go!).
The more I snap my camera, the more I love this hobby. I look forward to working with more (patient) people, and finding new places, things, and events to capture on digital (as opposed to film, ha!).
I hope you have enjoyed my l-o-n-g story and now have a better understanding of just how I came about this passion.
Enjoy some examples of my progression, along with camera and mode used for taking:
Using a Point-and-click (late summer 2004), Auto
DSLR (Nikon D60) on Auto (early fall 2009)
Nikon D60, ISO 200, AF-C, f/6.3, 1/160s:
