discovering the worth of my own point and shoot camera

post #322
          I'm a student this semester in the beginning digital photography class at nearby Morehead State University. At last I am learning some of the basics and what they really mean. In my public personna as a recognized photographer, I'm often embarrassed by how hard it has been so far for me to explain how I do anything and why. I am now hopeful that the discomfort of feeling like a beginner will go away by the end of the semester. By then I might even learn to be a better photographer. 
         Here are two images that are part of my home work -- five of this same picture but at different f stops, then five with different "film" speeds (ISO) and so forth. Doing everything manually is excellent training that I have put off for years, and so I endure the slowness of it all as best I can.

one of five versions of this view, each one with a different F-stop

"Put the important object at the edge of the photo."

       Our homework is to present 55 of these prescribed photos by Tuesday evening, ready to put in a contact sheet, 20 to a page. I didn't even know colored photos could be printed out as a contact sheet. (I admit this as evidence that I have known too little for too long.)


         I have also taken up learning how my Canon PowerShot S110 works since it is so much easier to travel with than my regular camera.  Eureka! I finally used it in a happy way during the Denver trip. Today I'm sharing some of the photos from when I was there. They are similar to the iPhone images that I posted last week, yet they are better. Also, once I learn fully how to use the camera, I will even be able to mess with focus and depth of field and all that. I actually like that stuff, but it doesn't come naturally for me. I too often rely on having a good eye. I'm more often the dork instead of the qeek where my tools of the trade are concerned.

        So here are additional snow photos plus four grandchildren photos from the birthday gathering. Several readers let me know they really appreciated the happy faces. One of those readers was my roommate from freshman year at college -- who has been in the hospital. Thanks, Meg! So glad you are home now! Good riddance to that pesky appendix!
        While I am at it, I would like to say hello to whomever it is in Ukraine who has looked at my blog regularly for a couple of years. All I see is that at least 1 person looks from there every week, and sometimes others do as well. I'm not able to learn exactly where anyone lives -- just the country. I imagine you have more snow than these photos show from western Colorado. Here in Kentucky we've so far had hardly any snow at all.

upstairs window view, tracks on the far mountainside

living room window view of the same mountain

a sweet small tree, from above

Will's mom made "Panera" mac and cheese, per request!

Both kids enjoyed the "dart board" present, with magnets.

Audrey in the sunshine -- she turned 8 a month ago.

More Paris bits, part 2 of 3

post #297
        This week's post is more Paris! Today's photos are ones made with my Canon 5D companion. I didn't carry my camera everywhere -- too heavy, even when it was in my son's backpack, and we had some rain -- plus once we left in the morning, we'd be gone most of the day.  Anyway, I love my Canon, so I did enjoy it when I had a chance to use it. (Next week: times when I used both the iPhone and the Canon at the same place.)

       So here's from early in our week, exploring the Seine and some of the 37 bridges that go over it in Paris:

moving forward

 

and then looking backwards - the roof window opened despite the drizzle, and E's head liberated.

getting closer by water to the Eiffel Tower

   The next day we got even closer to the Tower. In fact, we went up to the top!

I love trying to get a photo of something I wasn't expecting to see.

But I found that even the expected had charm.

This was as close as I got to the Bois de Bologne, by the way, which is the wonderful wooded area seen in the background.... My sisters and I remember playing there years and years and years ago.

I went across the Seine to get a view of the building we were in -- I hung my red sweat shirt over the railing of our apartment before leaving the apartment to take some photos. Hint: the building is the third one from the right, and there is a close-up in the next photo. Sightseeing boats passed by all the time, including at night, on their way to nearby Notre-Dame. The street floor of the building had a Pizza place.

       The green structure between the trees in the photo above is the back of a book stall, a famous feature in Paris since forever. One morning, early, I took a series of photos, from the opened window, of the woman across the street as she opened up that book stall for the day.  Later I went outside to talk to her, which I enjoyed very much.  She said that tourism is definitely down this year in France, and she also gave me permission to take her photo when I asked -- and I made got a good one.  Now I wish I had her address to send her a copy of it. I am not sure that anyone would deliver a letter to "the woman who works across from 47 Quai des Grands Augustins."

all set up, near the bus stop, and ready for some sales

  Since we were located within a few blocks of Notre-Dame, we went back there another day.  A late afternoon church service started up, with incense and song, and roaming tourists on the side. I remember studying that window in a history of art class at my college!

       We returned as well to Saint Chapelle (see last week's post), but this time it was for an evening concert, in the top level of the building. What a beautiful place to hear Vivaldi! Surrounded by those windows!  
       My thanks again, dear family, for my being part of such a lovely week.  Merci beaucoup, beaucoup.

 (True confession - these last two photos were taken with the iPhone, since I didn't bring the Canon with me.  It seemed better to be there for the music and family, and not be tempted to zone out with the Canon.)

links, corrections, horses, and windshield art!!

post #106, starting with the three corrections, all from the West Liberty post:

Last week I couldn't find this photo that I had wanted to include when I wrote about West Liberty.  I had used my iPhone to make this view from the parking lot I was in; the Community Artists tent was behind me.  The backs of these buildings include the justice center, on the left, and the bank, on the right.  But the show must and did go on!! 

 

One of the artists there is Tami Booher. In this photo, her art is hanging outside the community tent while she does some face painting. 

          She and I figured out that I had misidentified the artist of the turkey painting that I like so much and showed in post #103.  Tami painted it!  Here is another photo of the barn with panel; I made the correction on the earlier post.

  
   The third correction is that the several big panels that were hanging in West Liberty were done by students!  I read about it in the weekly newspaper.  Bravo again!  (One is included in post #103.)

      Now two links.  I guess these could be connected to POLITICS.  The first link is to a column by Charles Blow, from the New York Times: Charles Blow's Don't Mess with Big Bird.  So personal and so well written.  
     The other link just arrived today in an email, and it has to do with the on-going effort to provide clean water for people who actually live in Appalachia and who have been paying a high price for rogue coal removal methods.  However, since we all live downstream, this is important news for our common future.  Here is the link: KFTC - water protection progress!!


     Now for some snaps with my point and shoot, since, sorry to say, I don't always have my Canon with me....   Anyway, recently I found out who owns this house that I often photograph.  When I saw these horses by the road as I passed the house on my way home from town, I couldn't resist stopping.

I like the dappled mane that comes from shadows.  The burrs in their manes make me think they look like unicorns!

   
   
       I have saved the next photo for last.  I love it.  I had driven off with this creature on my windshield, and not having my Canon with me forced me to figure out how to do a macro shot with the point and shoot.  By the time I stopped and took one photo, my passenger decided to move on, so this is the only version.  I am glad I didn't give up before getting it. 

   Next week, some cardinal fledglings and some flickers.  Here's to random acts of wonder.

a plethora of cameras

post #77
       The title of this post just now came to me.  Say it aloud and it has a kind of a, um, click to it.... It is true, however, that this week has had me trying to remember which camera did I take which photo with.  There's the new iPhone, which seems fantastic for anything stationary, even flowers.  I haven't cracked its people photos yet.  Not the same take as I am used to doing.  (note: my last cell phone was your basic "free"model.)

      A week ago I finished up a card on my "old" camera, that first digital friend and patient teacher.  I thought I would miss its familiar touch when I traded up after giving this older camera to my newest grandbaby's parents.  I am feeling fickle: I don't miss my first Rebel at all. It's now their turn to learn on it while I get to work with the latest version of that same camera.   

      After only a week, I already love the Canon Rebel T3i.  It is light years advanced, so to speak. This includes my swooning for its instruction booklet, included in the purchase.  I can actually figure it out!  The presentation of the info makes sense!  For example, it gives clear page references where to go for additional info on a topic.  I always say it's worth whatever it takes to create clear communication with close companions, human or not.
        Thanks, Steve, for your comment after last week's post.  It got me to mulling over that perennial question about whether having a camera handy leads to better photos or just more photos.  Better comes from practice, practice, practice, so, on that score, a good phone camera can work.  But I am not sure that handy provides the giving over of the self toward connecting with the image at hand.  Is the aspect of having instant options perhaps too seductive?  Is it simply that there's not enough control over light, angle, tone, composition?  And certainly I see a problem of steadiness, both in one's hands and in one's perception of the time a good photo takes.  Such moments for me hit the blessed zone-in factor, and I am grateful when it happens. 

OK, some photos!  Can you discern the camera?

This is what greeted me when I arrived home Wednesday evening,

after riding along our road, redbud trees lining the way!

In our yard, our early lilac already begins its blooms.

a dwarf flowering almond, a gift in 1985 from Fred and Debbie (See added note below.)

from inside, the new spring through an old window

our grapevine wreath, in the right lights, made with my new Canon Rebel T3i

      Next week, more photos with another camera, in the wet woods.  The discussion will continue.  I wish for each of you the chance to be an artist in the Appalachian spring.

Note added on Tuesday 3/27:  my college roommate just shared this poem by Greek poet Nikos Kazantzakis:   I said to the almond tree,/ speak to me of God./  And the almond tree blossomed.