Failures of Communication

"H-e-l-l-o-o-o-o!" I nearly shouted

A woman starting to walk across the dam called in response, "Hi!"

How could I possibly explain that I wasn't talking to her (I hadn't even seen her)? I decided to tell her the truth. "I'm sorry, I didn't even see you. I was exclaiming about the large dragonfly that just flew past me!"

She laughed and said, "I understand," and walked on.

Good thing she didn't also hear me curse about 

A. the lack of light

B. my inability to find the right position (including sitting in the mud with one foot on a rock to the left and the other parting leaves beside a rock on the right) to photograph and video this emerging Lancet Clubtail



and

C. my complete failure to capture even one decent snap of the large dragonfly: the first Stream Cruiser of the season. At least I know what one looks like, so IDing is easy (see that blur at left edge?)

Now if I can just befriend my camera and make Lightroom stop closing down every time I try to use it.

Grrr.

Photography Exercise 2

Todd Vorencamp's Exercise 2: Ten of One
Take 10 unique and/or abstract photographs of 1 small subject.

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Unique? Nope.

Fun? Yes.

Satisfied? With two shots, yes.

Photography Exercise 1

Todd Vorenkamp, a freelance photographer and creative content editor for B&H Photo, has written a number of helpful articles, including "13 Creative Exercises for Photographers." I completed the first of these this afternoon in an effort to explore some aspects of my camera.

Exercise 1: Two Dozen
Pick a location. Stand in one spot and make 24 unique photographs while standing in the same place. You cannot move your feet.

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Success?

Depends on the means of measurement.

Quality? Not so much. 

Pleasure? A gracious plenty.

And that's what counts.

Day 3: Another Way to Love the Camera

Inside looking out.

No other light.

Handheld.

And I just remembered that it's a touchscreen.

Oh, yes.

Santa's so good to me.

On Day 2 with a New Camera

I decided to go to All Saints'.

Two hundred plus pictures later, I came home, happy, even though I couldn't do what a Facebook friend does with apparent ease: take one decent shot of a fully focused glass reflection and whatever's beyond it.

Notes to self: ask B how he does it, and keep trying.

Happy Holidays!

New camera.

Handheld.

Night.

No flash.

Oh y-e-a-h.

S-w-e-e-e-e-e-t!