In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
That’s how I feel about the intermittent stolen time with my camera today.
I shot more of the blue vase. Didn’t like a one.
While driving my car inside the garage, I spotted a black widow just outside the garage on a wall. I ran inside for my camera and began taking some photos of the spider. She was big. Mrs. Spider didn’t like the flash much. I was sitting on the ground hoping to get a picture of the red spot, when I felt something on my leg. I thought that something was Mrs Spider, or a relative spider. I got right up and figured that was enough shooting.
Soooo, no photos today. Well, I’ll post proof I used the camera today.
Thursday after 10am is mine to go play with the camera and various lens.
I did not go out to shoot fireworks yesterday. I wanted to, but when 9pm came around it seemed too late.
However, I’ll share with you some great directions (I intended to try) for shooting fireworks posted by Scott Kelby.
How to Shoot Fireworks
Now take a look at these incredible firework photos taken by Laurie Excel: http://www.laurieexcell.com/blog/2009/07/05/its-good-to-be-back-home-again/
I follow both Scott and Laurie’s blogs daily. Laurie is someone I would be thrilled to take a workshop with. The two workshops of hers I’m particularly interested in are the storm chasing workshop and the Alaskan bears workshop.
No pictures from me today. I slipped outside just as the sun was setting to shoot more of the blue vase photos. I’m giving up on the vase as a subject.
I had trouble with dust, spots, scratches showing up on the glass of this blue vase I shot. I actually like the composition and color of the photo. I don’t know how people shoot closeups without seeing all the dirt, scratches, smudges etc. (If you click on the photo to enlarge it you’ll see what I’m talking about.)
I used a 100mm macro which just magnified all these flaws. I also had trouble getting the vase in focus while having the back ground pillow fabric out of focus. I wanted to get in close to my subject so using the 50mm lens was out of the question as the closest I can shoot with it is 1.5 feet.
I won’t be submitting this photo for the blue lesson. It will go the way of the other 50 shots I took today……into the trash. I didn’t get a photo I like, however I did get to learn more about what I don’t want to do, what doesn’t work.
So, like posting my high golf scores, I’ll be posting my photo rejects. And, the keepers of course.
Practice, practice, practice seems to be the mantra in all areas of my life these days.
Today’s golfing couples having lunch after our hot (temperature was the same as my golf score) game.
Hit some great shots, inbetween a couple of quadruples.
Three putted often.
Ray shot a 74!!!!!!!!!!!
Ray and I tee off tomorrow at 8:15am. Wish me a good attitude and a few good shots.
We got home tonight from the Book Study in LA at 11:10pm.
Tomorrow morning I want to hit some balls at the driving range at 7am……which means I will have to get up at 5am…….that’s 5 hours and 20 minutes from right now.
No blog tonight.
Gottago
Katya arrived last night around 11pm. It was balmy outside when I drove to the front gate to let Katya in. I was tired, but the pool was beckoning me. Katya brought her overnight bag in the house and we walked right back out to the pool. I brought my camera out hoping to get a blog photo for last night’s entry. But we had too much fun, taking photos, playing in the water (I taught Katya how to squirt water from hands clasped underwater) and chatting. After the pool, after posting to Facebook, after taking my pills, writing out my food for the day to send to Xochitl, I was too tired to blog. It was 1am and I had someone coming at 8:30 to do step work.
Katya worked for me today. The job? To clean out my clothes in 3 closets, organize the remaining clothes into summer and winter clothes, and make notes of what I need to buy to make more outfits with the remaining clothes.
Around 2pm, after all the closets and clothes had been worked on we went out to buy shoes. 10 pairs of shoes, plus one purse, in one hour! Katya is fast and good. I never feel comfortable in shoes. I never wear high heels. Yet today I came home with heels and comfortable shoes.
Katya is one hell of a great personal shopper and wardrobe organizer. This is the second time she has helped me with my clothes and the second time she has succeeded in making me a very happy person (not always easy to do).
I’m sure LR won’t mind my spending the money I did today. Right LR?