Patti McQuillen, 2013
"Captain, we are ready for takeoff." Someone said this in a movie; I just don't recall the name of it. I do remember the rushing power of learning bits and pieces of digital photography. The feelings of holding my first digital camera is still with me years later.
After taking thousands of photos, good and bad, what motivates me to take more? I think it's all in the angles and discovery. Here's an example: We have a gazebo at a nearby park. I've spent hours at it as rain falls, the sun beats down on humid days, and for a place to relax after a walk.
Yet, I discover new ways to aim my camera. I see lines that I missed in the past. Trees look different when I stand in an unnatural spot. I go high, I go low. I find cool shots by trying the crazy, curious, and unique angles.
Being digital works well because I erase the images that won't do my any good - not even in editing. Branching out is a way of nailing a shot that I could easily miss if I followed a hard fast plan. So, go low, go high and find new ways of capturing the world around you.
Get down in the grass, climb a big rock, line the camera up with a series of fence posts and gain a new perspective. Aim at the ripples in the water instead of the pond or lake. Look for the glow on the ground instead of the getting the sunset. Find the ladybug on a flower instead of taking in the whole bloom and stem. Snap a shot of letters that spell your name, one letter each from an array of art pieces or a print. If nothing else, pick up your camera and
"Captain, we are ready for takeoff." Someone said this in a movie; I just don't recall the name of it. I do remember the rushing power of learning bits and pieces of digital photography. The feelings of holding my first digital camera is still with me years later.
After taking thousands of photos, good and bad, what motivates me to take more? I think it's all in the angles and discovery. Here's an example: We have a gazebo at a nearby park. I've spent hours at it as rain falls, the sun beats down on humid days, and for a place to relax after a walk.
Yet, I discover new ways to aim my camera. I see lines that I missed in the past. Trees look different when I stand in an unnatural spot. I go high, I go low. I find cool shots by trying the crazy, curious, and unique angles.
Being digital works well because I erase the images that won't do my any good - not even in editing. Branching out is a way of nailing a shot that I could easily miss if I followed a hard fast plan. So, go low, go high and find new ways of capturing the world around you.
Get down in the grass, climb a big rock, line the camera up with a series of fence posts and gain a new perspective. Aim at the ripples in the water instead of the pond or lake. Look for the glow on the ground instead of the getting the sunset. Find the ladybug on a flower instead of taking in the whole bloom and stem. Snap a shot of letters that spell your name, one letter each from an array of art pieces or a print. If nothing else, pick up your camera and
- take a photo of five things within arm's reach
- walk three feet outside your front door, and snap shots of three things you see every day
- capture an emotion