I’m one of those photographers. A self-proclaimed learn as I go kinda gal. With an older version (not just of myself) of a Canon Rebel XSi camera.
I’m on a mission to remain in learning mode versus becoming a professional.
Why?
Because, duh…the obvious.
Our digital world is jam-packed full of professionals or wannabe professional photographers who are rising to the top.
I find there is always room for learners like me to take up a small chunk of cyberspace…
as we crawl our way out of our shells and reach for our next level, wherever that may take us.
It’s damn hard to compete with the pros if you compare yourself with them. Let alone stand out from all of the incredibly talented, well-equipped lot of pros, so I choose instead to compete with my former self.
Former self?
Yep, the photographer I was yesterday when I grabbed my camera, that is. Every new day is a day to discover my world from a different view.
Remaining in learning mode allows me the freedom to discover and find inspiration wherever I may be at that moment in time.
If I don’t have my camera, I imagine that I do. Framing the shot in my minds’ eye.
I look at every scene as if I had my camera, take notes, but mostly I will just be in awe of the beauty around me. I take it all in while I smile and think to myself, “If I could, I would catch an icicle drip.”
I know somewhere, someone (aka, one of the pros) probably already took a shot like that. Doing so with their better equipment, or at a minimum, using their expertise of how to best capture that kind of moment. And likely theirs was a much better shot. But my shot was my shot. And it taught me something about myself and my camera.
Yesterday morning, after my SD card broke, I felt lost.
I knew I had a picture of dinner that I really wanted to make sure turned out. Mr., by the way, was thankfully able to recover my photos! Here’s proof the pictures did turn out, just like dinner did – it was delicious!
As I was waiting to hear the news about the SD card recovery, I looked out our front window and saw something that reminded me that not every moment is meant to be caught in a photo. Some moments are just meant to be admired.
At least for me, that’s true.
As the sun was rising, the frigid cold air above the snow was doing something that interested me. The warmth from the sun reminded me of looking out at dewdrops on the grass, which is my favorite thing to photograph when it’s warm out. My first glance at the cold blustery scene, all I saw was the white snow. And then I looked again and noticed icy twinkles that caught my eye.
I watched the area just above the snow and tiny ice crystals were rising up in the air to meet the sun’s rays. I like it when ice crystals often form on the fence and I can catch them in a photo, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s fun to try.
But yesterday, it was different. I didn’t have my camera, for one thing, but I was intrigued enough to just stand there and watch the ice crystals as they danced with the sun. I moved around to see if it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. Nope, it was real. Every angle I moved, I saw the tiny sparkles. I know even if I had my camera, I wouldn’t have been able to capture the beauty I saw with my eyes.
So I just watched and admired and smiled.
Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don’t settle for them. – Mia Hamm
I appreciate knowing my limitations with my camera, but I also never stop trying to learn what I can and cannot do with it.
Especially when I have a new SD card, that is! I can’t wait to see where this card takes me…bring on the next discovery!
Post Inspiration – Dutch Goes The Photo – Tuesday Photo Challenge Round
PS – Happy Tuesday! Hope you enjoyed seeing some spring and summer photos instead of all snow.
Your photos are wonderful! I’m glad you got the new card. I look forward to seeing where it takes you, Shelley.
Thank you, Dan, I appreciate your encouragement! Soon, that card is taking me to a warm beach! 7 days in the future…………..
Your photos are always really good Shelley, you have a wonderful way of looking at photography. Glad you have a new card! 😎🙏🏻
Thank you, John! Your photos inspire me to pay attention to the world around me!
I enjoy all your photos and I can imagine how upsetting it was not to have it when you felt inspired. I have a camera question while we’re on the subject…I am thinking of getting a Canon mirrorless DSLR. My very first SLR was a Canon, so I gravitate towards that brand. Other than the card crisis, have you been happy with it?
Yes, I was really upset, but I had a hunch Mr. could rescue them for me. Glad that hunch came true. I love my Canon. It was my daughter’s first one and when she upgraded she gave it to me. I’m so used to it, I’d have a hard time switching brands. A lot of people like Nikon though, so I can’t knock either one. You take beautiful photos, so I’m sure no matter which one you get, your photos will be stunning!
Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence!
You have taken many great shots, Shelley. I agree with you about learning as you go. You have inspired me to take pictures from different angles and to use some editing where I would not have done so before. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing some of those beach photos!
Thank you, Janet! I look forward to sharing them too! 🙂
Love your thoughts, reflections, photography and thoughts of photography! I knew a man who was trekking Annapurna in Nepal and broke his camera – and took the first flight home without finishing the trek. Because, he could not take anymore photos of his journey. I felt so sad for him – like you say, it is enough just to stand there in the middle of beauty and enjoy. Some things you just cannot catch with a camera. The moment might be caught, but hardly the feeling. I think loosing ones card sometimes is a good thing…
Aw, thank you, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and the Nepal story. How sad to quit the trek. There is so much to see and enjoy in life, behind and without a camera! Happy clicking to you!
The same to you, Shelley!
You have shared some beautiful photos on your blog Shelley. Admiring the dewiness of Spring just warmed my soul on a day when it was a -15 windchill here in SE Michigan.
Thank you, Linda! I’m glad I sent some warmth your way. It’s -13 here this morning…I may need to look at warm photos again today! Stay warm, supposedly this weekend will bring warmer temps?
Yes, for us too – big rainstorm Saturday and lingering into Sunday. It’s hard to get a clear and precip-free day for walking. Today would have been good but we had very cold weather and sub-zero windchills, not as cold as you though. I figured it was a good day for errands.
Hope the beach time was great – and this post had a nice flow – like the plants emerging and the snow points all were in sync.