Determination and Donuts
For the past year or so I haven't gone a week without mentioning to Cam that I want a nice camera. I always see all of these amazing pictures of nature and babies that people take and it's just a skill that I wish I had. Sooo because I was tired of wishing and also too lazy to read five million tutorials, I asked my talented photographer friend, Elise, to teach me the ropes.
Around 8 last night I headed over to her place for lesson number one. After somewhat learning about all of the presets on her camera, she attempted to show me how to take pictures manually and my gosh! It's hard! It's trial and error and patience and all sorts of things that I am not good at. Ha! Luckily, Elise has plenty of patience and has already gone through years of trial and error and didn't give up on me after 20 minutes. And when I got really impulsive and decided that I was ready to try my hand at extended exposure, she didn't even hesitate. We, along with Breana (the cutest), Brittney (the Australian), and Adam (their favorite apartment friend), loaded a sofa, tons of blankets and pillows, and snacks into the car and drove to a nearby campsite to take my award-winning galaxy photo and to stargaze a little.
After we took about 50 focus test shots, 10 crappy extended exposure shots, and about an hour of trying to take decent pictures, my spirits were low. In frustration I declared that I was finished trying that night, but Elise told me to just try one more time. We chose a new location, lit the trees, and hoped for the best. And you know what? It's turned out pretty decent for once! Now obviously there are (much) better photos, but I was pretty happy to see this after so many failed attempts.
Today I decided that I wanted to learn how to focus on things close-up and far-away. And what better way to do that than with donuts?? So this morning I went and got the prettiest donuts that I could find in Rexburg, Idaho, and headed over to the girl's apartment to figure it out.
And Hello.
I crushed it! Ha!
Total amateur shots, I know, but guys! I am learning! And it was so much fun. Seriously these girls are the best and I am always having the best time with them! (Also, last weekish we went to that movie "The DUFF" So good!) But I eventually handed over the camera to the pro and let her have some fun. And okay, way to show me up Elise!
After looking at all of the pictures on the computer, I realized that I had only taken picture that focused up close and that I had only half met my goal. So I grabbed the camera, dragged Breana outside with me, and tried really hard to get the focus on her lovely face instead of the donut. And I failed over and over again. Like so many times that she was licking her lips, trying to keep smiling. Such a good sport, that one. Realizing that I needed Elise's help, I started heading upstairs and then BAM! Her words of wisdom flooded my head and I knew how to fix my mistake. I ran back to the sunlight, Breana posed, and that next picture was exactly what I was trying to do! And I figured it out on my own (after lessons of course). I mean, just look.
I. Was. So. Excited. Like so excited that even right now, writing this post, I am smiling ear to ear. Ha! I seriously cannot wait to start really figuring all of this photography stuff out and I am so lucky that I have these girls to help me out!
Now all I need is a nice camera of my own. *Cough cough* Cameron:)
P.S. I know what you're all thinking, and no, I'm not booking weddings and family picture just quite yet;)
0 comments: