Wednesday, August 13, 2008

What in the World?

I treated myself to a little present yesterday. I have been admiring 'it' for awhile. I had even done some research so 'it' wasn't just an impulse buy. Plus my son just got married on Saturday so I am suffering from some odd emotions and nothing cheers me up more than a little gift.



'It' is not glittery or sparkly but I have been having fun since the purchase. I have also been mildly frustrated but I realize that there is a learning curve involved with 'it'. I am still in total amateur mode and would probably benefit from a class to help me better understand 'it'. Are you scratching your head, wondering what in the world I could have bought for myself? Sorry. Didn't mean to perplex you. I bought Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 so I can do more with my pictures. I love my pictures and am truly a 'wannabe' photographer.



I successfully downloaded the program onto my computer - that was the easy part. Now I am figuring out all of the jargon. I am nervous about just pushing icon buttons in fear of losing my pictures. I am amazed by the technology especially when I think back a few years to my old Polaroid camera which I thought was magical.



I have great respect for the photography I have seen on the many blogs which I read. I am totally self-taught and striving to improve. One photographer/author whose work I truly appreciate is David McMahon. I always fiind myself wanting to touch his photographs. I love the shininess and the clarity. I want my colors to pop out that way his do.



So I am taking a deep breath as I now proudly present to you my first 'What in the World? Wednesday photo. What in the world is it? Let me know what you think then check back on Friday when I reveal the truth. Enjoy.




11 comments:

Elaine Denning said...

Is it a view inside a bottle?

I love photography too...I only wish I was better!

Michele said...

I am intrigued, can't wait to read more!

Akelamalu said...

Thanks for stopping by my place, I'm pleased you enjoyed your visit and I hope you'll call in again. :)

I think the photograph is looking at the bottom of a bottle from the inside.


Will you be posting some wedding photos? I love weddings. :)

Sades said...

Looking down through a glass of water onto a leaf. It is a nice photograph. You should look at taking a photography class at the Tech. They are always a lot of fun, and you can learn a lot while sharing your images.

Merisi said...

Through the looking glass ... no ... looking through a green drinking glass out onto an orchard?

Congratulations on your little gift! :-)

Make yourself a folder with copies of the pictures you are experimenting with, that way you do not have to worry about "losing" a photograph.

While photography classes would be great, reading through the public library's books on photography would be quite educational too. While I still believe that "Photography - Adapted from the Life Library of Photography" by Barbara Upton/John Upton, publ. Little, Brown an Company, is still a very worthwhile read to understand some basics about photography (skip the technical parts, about films and the like), there are many good books out there published in the digital age (even National Geographic's in on the theme).

Collect images from magazines, which happen to delight you, take every opportunity to look at great photographer's images (I would start with the great old classics, Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, to name a few - Stieglitz's black and white images of clouds have inspired me to no end). Observe the use of light and angles, not only in photographs, but also in paintings. Photograph a class of water from as many different angles, under different lighting conditions, various backgrounds, until you are happy with the result. Try to figure out why and then try to remember this next time you are presented with a similar situation.

Take photos, every day, of ordinary objects (like in school, homework each and every single day! *g*). Make your own secret little album or blog, where you put your very own best pictures of the day. Review weekly, monthly, study the reasons why you like them. Become your own best teacher.

Happy photographing! :-)

Deb said...

Miss Understood ~ Close guess, sort of. I have always talked about being better and NOW I am going to try and get better. Want to join me? :)

Rapunzel ~ Happy you are back from NYC

Akelamalu ~ Good Guess but no cigar! Wedding photos and stories soon. And of course, I will be back - dancing to the music!

Sade ~ Creative guess, close too. SO happy to hear from you. Hope you are doing well. I am working up the courage to take a class. :)

Merisi ~ Thank you for such valuable advice. You are so talented - I appreciate you taking the time to help me. I am going to go to the library this weekend to search for some of those books - with my camera in hand. Very close guess. Thanks for visiting.

pink dogwood said...

thanks for stopping by my blog. Half way through reading your post I thought you had bought a Wii :)

About your picture - is this a view through a drop of water?

I am so glad that you stopped by my blog because I absolutely love your blog.Yesterday, I was debating about buying the book that you have on your shelfari - then I didn't want to spend the money and thought I would request it from the library. How is it?

see you around :)

Willow said...

It's the top of a glass bottle! Maybe 7 Up or Sprite or Mountain Dew.

Marg said...

You are looking through a circular device that covers your lens and obviously showing us some scenic trees with leaves.

Congratulations on purchasing Adobe Photoshop. I have it but am to scared to know which buttons to push.
I appreciate what merisi said.

david mcmahon said...

Debbie, I'm delighted that you're having fun. And may I add, most humbly, that if in some small way I have whetted your appetite for photography, then I consider it a job well done.

Do keep in touch and do enjoy the rush of imagery.

Anonymous said...

I often squat, lean, climb, look and see things with a new frame of mind when I photograph. I really like the abstraction of the tree trunks that you've captured through the blown glass window.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...