Its been a while

I haven't updated my blog in a while but I have been super busy and have been practicing taking pics. I am starting to like my pics a lot more as I keep taking them. Some days suck but other days are great. My forum that I take pics for isn't doing weekly contest anymore so I joined one that Jason is on so that I could still keep taking new pics every week and give myself something to work on.Over the last couple month, Jason was home on R&R so I got to learn a lot from him. So, here is some of my most recent work:
sunset and Monte Berico


The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

This was taken at the gardens of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

My book shipped!

Woot! I am so excited. Once I get it I will be able to like, learn stuff. haha.

I have been playing with each of the settings on the camera but I don't really know what I am doing too much yet so hopefully, between me playing with it and getting the book, I will figure it all out.

Today, Bella was in the pool so I got a chance to play some more. I think I want to try some water shots out of the faucet. I saw some recently that were really cool and it made me want to try. I also kind want to water the flowers just to take pics. LOL.

Well here are a few pics from today
Bella is happy to be in the water.


This pic I thought was awesome.


Just playing with the Macro setting on the camera. I didn't even notice the ant til I looked at the pics on the computer. haha

Another day....

I was playing with my camera some more yesterday. I have become kinda obsessed. Haha. I just love taking it out and well, I have such a cute model. :) I was playing with some of the settings and am kind learning them a little bit more. I have a new favorite of Bella too. I had to edit it, just to brighten in up a little cause I took it on a manual setting and it came out a little dark but I think its awesome.

Here it is. I am pretty happy with it. I am sure I should do some other things with editing but I like it like it is :)











the one with the ball is a little dark but when I tried to brighten it, it made her too bright so I just left it. I love the look of concentration. The slide is just one of my favs from yesterday afternoon.

So overwhelmed!

This is all so overwhelming to start with. Not only do you have the rules of photography, you also have editing. I downloaded a free photo editing called "gimp" and was totally lost. So, I decided to look up tutorials and am kinda lost there too. I don't know if I should learn about editing along with taking the pics or just focus on one aspect.

I also learned today about "noiseware". Looking at the before/after pics are amazing but I don't think I am anywhere near ready in my career (for lack of a better word, haha) to spend the money that is required for the program. I downloaded the free version but can't really see much difference in my photo's.

Here are the links to the stuff I am talking about

GIMP-http://www.gimp.org/
Noiseware- http://www.stuckincustoms.com/noiseware-review/

I am pretty sure that my neighbors think I am spying on them or something. I was trying to take pics of the rain that we got earlier and it happened to be that their house was in the background. I hope they don't call the cops on me and think I am being some kind of Peeping tom. I was back out at dark trying to figure out some settings on my camera.


Well, they aren't great but I am hoping to learn this editing stuff so I can make them more awesome but here are a couple rain shots from today and one of Bella.

Getting started with photography

Last week, Bella broke by awesome pink camera. I was so sad. I took a trip to the PX to buy a new one Sunday. I knew I wanted either a Nikon or a Cannon. The selection was not that great but I decided on the Nikon D3000. Jason has Nikons so I knew we would be able to share lenses and stuff. Seemed like a good idea.

So, I get home and start playing with the camera and start looking stuff up online. Holy COW! There is so much to learn about photography beyond just "point and click". I am waiting for the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson so I can learn about things like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

Last night, I took the camera and just played with it. Here are some pics of what I got.


I am hoping to be able to play some more today. Heidi and I are taking a class on post with the art center at the end of the month. I am excited to see how it goes.

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Follow me on my journey to becoming a better photographer. :)