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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Photography, Forever
...Unless I become blind I guess!
I have always had an interest in photography, but I didn't really believe I was capable of good enough photos to become a photographer. A little over a year ago I purchased a new camera, the Kodak Z980, this was my gateway to the drug called photography! Meet the Kodak Z980:
This 12 megapixel, optical zooming, double A battery eating, kodak moment making monster of a camera was my first high-end (or what I believed was high-end) digital camera. They say you never forget your first, well this rings true in my situation. This was a great camera, although we only spent a short couple months together before I grew out of it and wanted for something larger - a real "high-end" camera - a DSLR. Before I purchased my DSLR, I used this baby... talk about zoom! I don't have much use for zoom as a portrait photographer BUT it is still a cool thing to have. The great thing about this camera is that you did not have to buy a fancy lens to do it! Zoom ZOOM zOoM all you want, because this camera does it well! I still have this camera because I haven't been able to let go of it, since it did lead me to true love, passion, and success. This camera was the start of everything, photography is a part of me now... I'm known for it. I don't even know what I would be known as if I wasn't a photographer! ..then again, maybe I don't want to know! haha!
So... when I realized my interest and passion for this thing they call photography, I decided it would be a good idea to take photography classes. I enrolled in a 6-week photography class at L5 Media in Miramichi with Larry Lynch. The course was 12 hours in total, which doesn't seem like a long time - and it isn't - BUT the amount I learned from the program was incredible and completely beneficial! Learning the basics can take your photos to a whole new level. Knowing the basics is essential in taking your creativity and amplifying it with quality. Before taking the course I invested in a new camera: a DSLR - the NIKON D5000.
Talk about excited! I had never made such an important investment towards my future, until I bought this masterpiece! This is my Nikon, my best friend, and my companion. I have never loved something so much! This is more than a camera to me, it has gotten me through so much! It has taken my photography from amateur to semi-pro...and I continue to learn and grow as a photographer due to the quality of my camera. I have not grown out of this one, and I probably won't for a while. I love my Nikon.
For a long time I couldn't find my groove, I didn't understand passion and I definitely didn't have one. Yes, I have always been creative but there was nothing that I wanted to do all the time and not get tired of it. There was nothing I was interested in that I could call an 'escape'. You know how most people have sports or talents that they can practice to get their mind off the heavy things in life? Well, I found mine...I'm sad it took so long! Whenever I am upset or confused about things, or just weighed down by life in general - I take a trip with my Nikon. The world is in my control through that lens - I control what I want to see, I control what angle I want to see it in, I control what is in focus, and I control what is not. This has helped me to see life in a way I haven't before... I have learned to focus on the important things (like your passions) instead of letting the unimportant things drag you down. I could focus on things like being hurt by someone, being lied to, being lonely, or being failed by those who I never thought would fail me...OR I could take all that energy I would use to feel empty, bitter, or hateful to improve how I capture the world through my lens. I could use that energy to revamp my business, to improve my knowledge of photography, and most importantly, to spend time with the love of my life; My Nikon. By spending so much time on photography, I have been able to come to grips with what is unfortunate in my life and overcome all of it because I realize it will never be as important to me as photography. No matter what happens, no matter who treats me bad or who does me wrong; I will always have photography & hopefully, I will always have my Nikon.
Since this is something no one can take away from me, no one can tarnish, and no one can compare to...I thought it would make for a great ink :) Here is a picture of my (soon-to-be finished) tattoo! The quote wraps around my back and says "Eyes like a shutter, Mind like a lens"
This is the story and journey of my photography as of yet! It's long but I could've rambled on forever, I kind of love this topic! I hope that all of you have a passion for something and that it helps you get through the rough and nasty stuff life tends to throw our way. Hey, it might even be photography... you can't knock it until you try it !!
I have always had an interest in photography, but I didn't really believe I was capable of good enough photos to become a photographer. A little over a year ago I purchased a new camera, the Kodak Z980, this was my gateway to the drug called photography! Meet the Kodak Z980:
This 12 megapixel, optical zooming, double A battery eating, kodak moment making monster of a camera was my first high-end (or what I believed was high-end) digital camera. They say you never forget your first, well this rings true in my situation. This was a great camera, although we only spent a short couple months together before I grew out of it and wanted for something larger - a real "high-end" camera - a DSLR. Before I purchased my DSLR, I used this baby... talk about zoom! I don't have much use for zoom as a portrait photographer BUT it is still a cool thing to have. The great thing about this camera is that you did not have to buy a fancy lens to do it! Zoom ZOOM zOoM all you want, because this camera does it well! I still have this camera because I haven't been able to let go of it, since it did lead me to true love, passion, and success. This camera was the start of everything, photography is a part of me now... I'm known for it. I don't even know what I would be known as if I wasn't a photographer! ..then again, maybe I don't want to know! haha!
So... when I realized my interest and passion for this thing they call photography, I decided it would be a good idea to take photography classes. I enrolled in a 6-week photography class at L5 Media in Miramichi with Larry Lynch. The course was 12 hours in total, which doesn't seem like a long time - and it isn't - BUT the amount I learned from the program was incredible and completely beneficial! Learning the basics can take your photos to a whole new level. Knowing the basics is essential in taking your creativity and amplifying it with quality. Before taking the course I invested in a new camera: a DSLR - the NIKON D5000.
Talk about excited! I had never made such an important investment towards my future, until I bought this masterpiece! This is my Nikon, my best friend, and my companion. I have never loved something so much! This is more than a camera to me, it has gotten me through so much! It has taken my photography from amateur to semi-pro...and I continue to learn and grow as a photographer due to the quality of my camera. I have not grown out of this one, and I probably won't for a while. I love my Nikon.
For a long time I couldn't find my groove, I didn't understand passion and I definitely didn't have one. Yes, I have always been creative but there was nothing that I wanted to do all the time and not get tired of it. There was nothing I was interested in that I could call an 'escape'. You know how most people have sports or talents that they can practice to get their mind off the heavy things in life? Well, I found mine...I'm sad it took so long! Whenever I am upset or confused about things, or just weighed down by life in general - I take a trip with my Nikon. The world is in my control through that lens - I control what I want to see, I control what angle I want to see it in, I control what is in focus, and I control what is not. This has helped me to see life in a way I haven't before... I have learned to focus on the important things (like your passions) instead of letting the unimportant things drag you down. I could focus on things like being hurt by someone, being lied to, being lonely, or being failed by those who I never thought would fail me...OR I could take all that energy I would use to feel empty, bitter, or hateful to improve how I capture the world through my lens. I could use that energy to revamp my business, to improve my knowledge of photography, and most importantly, to spend time with the love of my life; My Nikon. By spending so much time on photography, I have been able to come to grips with what is unfortunate in my life and overcome all of it because I realize it will never be as important to me as photography. No matter what happens, no matter who treats me bad or who does me wrong; I will always have photography & hopefully, I will always have my Nikon.
Since this is something no one can take away from me, no one can tarnish, and no one can compare to...I thought it would make for a great ink :) Here is a picture of my (soon-to-be finished) tattoo! The quote wraps around my back and says "Eyes like a shutter, Mind like a lens"
This is the story and journey of my photography as of yet! It's long but I could've rambled on forever, I kind of love this topic! I hope that all of you have a passion for something and that it helps you get through the rough and nasty stuff life tends to throw our way. Hey, it might even be photography... you can't knock it until you try it !!
Picasa Gallery Update
Click on the Eye of Amber Eye Photography to take a peek at all the new photos I have added to my gallery on Picasa Web Albums. Let me know what you think!
Better Angles = Better Photos
Jim Zuckerman - Eiffel Tower
The thing that separates a photographer from a 'picture taker' is creativity. Anyone can take a photo of the Eiffel Tower, but it takes creativity to make that photo different from all the others. Jim Zuckerman, a famous photographer took the photos above, he did not change them so much that you couldn't recognize the famous structure BUT he did choose effective angles that make them stand out when compared to other photos. For example:
These photos of the Eiffel Tower are very mundane and normal, could have been taken by tourists with fancy cameras. Don't get me wrong, the photos are beautiful, but... do they have much interest? The quality is great, but they don't portray any creativity.
If you want to improve your photography, focus on creativity. Ask yourself, does this photo make the viewer take a second look? Does it stand out? For what reason? Are there other angles that could make for more interest?
In photography, straight on or centered is not always the best way to take a photo. It is usually the most unoriginal thing you can do. Try for better angles, get closer, get right in there and snap that shot - even if it means balancing on one foot or cramping yourself in a awkward position - it WILL pay off when you get a photo worth talking about.
One important rule to consider in this area of photography is the "rule of thirds" - google that! Basically, when taking a picture, imagine a 3x3 grid over your photo. Instead of capturing the object of focus in the center block of the grid, try it in the other blocks... this is called composition.
Composition in my photos:
See how none of the photos are centered on the object I'm trying to emphasize?
Try out this concept and share your photos with me! amberclibby@hotmail.com
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