I’ve secretly always wanted to be a photographer – don’t get me wrong, I love to write and want to make a career out of it – but there is something so cool about being able to take really good photographs. Being able to capture a moment, scene, landscape, event, etc. exactly as it happened, with an artistic angle, is such a talent. I love to take pictures and am decent at it, but I don’t have the skills I would love to say that I possess.
However, I’ve realized in the past year or so that I don’t have to be a professional photographer, with a fancy camera and “artsy look” to take great pictures. Yes, a nice digital camera helps and advanced editing software is a big plus, but you don’t always need that to capture something and not to sound cliche, “record a moment in time.”
A challenge for you: take pictures – not just every now and then and not just for special occasions – if you see something pretty, interesting, funny, candid, special, pull out your camera and snap a photograph. With digital cameras and memory cards, take as many pictures as you can, it doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad because they will be special to you no matter what. You will never regret having too many pictures.
Not to “toot my own horn,” but here are some examples of pictures I’ve taken recently. This is not meant as a bragging right – goes to show that if I can take decent pictures, anyone can!
3 Comments
November 26, 2008 at 10:40 pm
This is crazy, but I was thinking about doing this post because I LOVE taking pictures! It is one of my favorite things to do and the best way to keep memories alive!
November 29, 2008 at 12:10 am
Yes. You beat me to the punch as well! I got to take the first class in the photo sequence this semester and it has been great to think about photography in a new way and learn what all the “manual” settings really mean. I’ve had so much fun…and inundated my hard drive with pics, but hey, no regrets, right?
February 4, 2009 at 8:15 am
Caroline,
You are quite right–you don’t need to be an “artist” to enjoy photography. That’s also one of the advantages of digital photography; with its “free”, unlimited pictures, you can be carefree, shooting anything that captures your eye; and if the photo doesn’t come out quite right, you’ll know right then and you might have a chance to retake it.
Just use your camera and have fun with the process. Getting nice pics is just a bonus, and one that you’ll improve at with time.
Your 1st and 5th pics show that you do have a good eye, and I also like the 2nd. Stick with it, Caroline!