Adventure Awaits Even If It's Cold...(6 word story)
Start of Year Two. I’ll end on my 50th birthday.
It’s a new year and a new game for me personally (getting act together), professionally (only going for new/engaging/good-paying opportunities), and photographically (got some photo-bling for xmas—hell yeah—time to get moving with it!).
Here are my goals for the year:
1) learn how to effectively use all my lenses: I have a zoom (75-300); an all-manual wide-angle; a 35mm prime (1.4) lens that acts as a nifty-fifty on my crop-sensor—it’s for a full-framed camera; a macro-clip; and the kit lens (18-55 or something)
2) learn how to use my editing programs in the best ways possible from importing to editing to sorting and cataloguing. I have Lightroom 5 and I have Photoshop Elements 10
3) shoot in RAW (and know what the heck that means—seriously) and do things outside my comfort zone
4) continue to foster the great relationships I have on here in a way that promotes both 1, 2 & 3 above!
New rules for myself:
1) If time to make comments is there, I’ll do it, but otherwise, I'll focus on asking questions and answering questions (if I get any). Comments are fun, but conversation is even funerer (yes, intentional).
2) Try things I have never done and post crappy shots with joy—feel free to field questions from 365friends who say, “why did you take such a crappy shot?” with answers like “because I didn’t care and I love it anyway.” Haha.
3) Don’t feel obligated to stick to dates and such. Year One did that. Year Two is about breaking all the rules and loving it!
That should cover it all! Haha, for now.
And, by the way, HOTDOG, if you made it to this important point. I’m awarding big points for reading my narratives. Like the kind that make you want to forget things like Top Twenty, Popular Page, and Trending. A HOTDOG point is way betterererererererer. ;)
If you are new, take your time. You got a year to figure it all out. My first year was an absolute blast.
@anazad511 Thanks Ana, I'm so glad I took a break because I really needed it, but I love this place so much and I'm excited about a new year! I've been seeing all your travels, and seriously, I can fit in a small bag or serve as an assistant any time you need me to go with you. I love seeing the world through your eyes! :)
@seanoneill Good to be back Sean! I've missed my buds and I've really enjoyed the break to just look at photos and not produce them! Yours have been so stunning--just stunning. And I have my workflow for LR5 mostly figured out, but it will take some more investigation. But I have enough to start! :)
@mace508 Thanks so much! I'm LOVING your shots this year--the mono, the water shot in the tank (I'm joining a Photography society too!!), and well, your shots look awesome. I read your new profile. I changed mine too for Year Two. Feels good to start over now. :) Points for you! :)
Welcome back Daryl!! I loved reading your new goals and you've inspired me to get more clear on my own -- not just what I'm not doing that I did before, but what I want to get out of it. That might help me break some of these habits that need breaking (see post, if you have time, in other thread GB started). I especially like the way you're going to handle responding to your comments -- answering questions and conversing, avoiding the 'thank you' or 'nice shot' sort of thing. That would help a lot! So in the spirit of new comments, in this shot, wow -- here's what I particularly like or find strong in it...great balance among the fence, bird, background; effective bokeh from your choice of DoF; positioning the bird so the 'rules of thirds plays out in columns, rather than positioning the bird on the line of the first third (don't know if that makes sense -- hope so). Just a window into how I'm using postings to figure out what makes a photo 'work' for me. So glad you're back!!
@markp Thanks Mark! I've been looking at all of your wonderful bird shots and they are wonderful as usual. I especially liked the one with the four Goldfinches. I got one today (but the American variety). I just finished a book called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, one of my fav authors! And...points for you! ;)
@taffy Thanks Taffy. There was no way I was going to start Year Two without some time off. For one, it was a huge accomplishment for me to do year one given some of the obstacles that came my way, and I wanted to savor it. I even feel like I'm getting back in a little too early, but I thought it would be great fun to end on age 50--another milestone!
365 is a great obsession for me. It's healthy, I have fun with it, and I am becoming a skilled photographer. But I don't have the time that many can have with this site, and it's very anxiety producing for me if I try to do things that really I don't have time for. After Mike's mom died and my trip to Mexico left me in a very dark place, I decided that 365 will really work for me if I make things clear on my part. Just mine. I've even put my goals/rules in my profile so those coming by will know that I'm not going to probably be the best partner for those just starting out--but I'll gladly answer questions and ask them! :)
And to your analysis of the photo! yes, rule of 3rds played in the composition and I wanted the dof and bokeh to highlight some of the skills I have now that are not, thankfully, accidental now! The bird's position is representative of my re-emergence on 365. A bit hesitant, but I know adventure awaits and if I could have a coat of blue like the bluebird, well, I'd be just too happy to wear it! It's freezing here, though. It's like Chicago weather, but no snow. Ugh.
@spair It was yesterday. So thanks! Last year of the 40's. Blah, blah, blah. Glad to be back and I'm loving your shots this year. And the new profile shot. Woohoo! ;)
Woohoo! Congrats on ending the year. Now comes the fun bit! Are you sure you will be fifty? I can't see it somehow - I thought that you were much younger than that.
Well this is a fantabulous start for year two!! I love it and it's a fav...although I will award it a hotdog if you prefer ;o) Love your new rule #2 I have just posted a shot that hubby isn't that keen on "you've taken better..." but I love it and informed him it's "ART". Looking forward to making some time for conversation :o) xx
@steampowered Thanks Paul. I ended year one Dec. 31st, but took a nice 21-day break to savor the end of year one (and recover from mother-in-law's sudden death). You are kind to say I must be younger than I am. I'm just a kid at heart. :) Glad to be back after the break.
@psychographer Rule number two is important! :) Conversation is best! I know I love the shots of folks I follow. They know it too. I'd rather ask how they do something and then go from there. I'm going to use the Fav button more to communicate a drive by "wow" and I'm hoping you and everyone will feel free to never comment on my work unless you really want to! Ahhh, that feels so good to say! But if you wanna chat or talk shop, well, please do! :)
@danette Thanks Danette, it's great to be back "officially" instead of lurking all over everyone's photos, but I must admit it was so nice to just look, comment, and not post for a few weeks. I'm looking forward to following your work this year, and I do really hope you make it up here so we can meet in person! :)
Welcome back, so glad we will be continuing on together, although I will be going at a far gentler pace, especially as I'll be turning 50 in 2 months eeeeeeek!! Love that beautiful bird btw.
Thoughtful little bluebird! Is it the Bluebird of Happiness?! ;) Anyway, well said in your narrative! Sounds like you're in for a "cracking good" year! Happy belated birthday, too! ;)
Well, HOTDOG! It is good to see you back. The relaxed approach is definitely more fun, so I hope you have a great year. Your fluffy little bird is a good start.
Hi, Daryl! And W E L C O M E B A C K!.
I agree with your goals for year 2. reading your list clarified some of my ideas about how to handle year 2....Like you, I wouldn't want to repeat the same things I did in year one.
However, I'm working on another project with a professional photog who's guiding me and am focused on that. Therefore, I'm afraid I won't have too much time to devote to posting and taking photos for 365. Nor can I use the photos I'm taking for the other project: they concern urban exploration (of my hometown) and they're not the sort of pictures one would post on 365 - they're neat, architectural and urban shots of different neighbourhoods of my city with notes and texts concerning urban sociology. I don't think many would care...
I will visit your project and will be glad to learn from you - I like the style of conversation you and Taffy @taffy started here..I have so much to learn and you two are so much ahead ...hope to have the time to mature, study and learn. I'm full of doubts at the moment,.
Glad we had a chance to meet, though only at the end of our first year of photos.
Buon lavoro!
PS Do I get it right that January 22 is your birthday??
@rvwalker Thanks so much Ross. I missed my 365 buds so much, and I'm happy to be back. It was pretty fun just looking and not posting for the past three weeks! :)
@mara19500 How exciting to have the new project. You might be surprised at what folks find interesting. I love what you are talking about, so I'd gladly follow your project, but I understand. I'm hoping to fit photography in my new business ventures this year! Keep in touch and let me know of any other photography links to follow your work! And birthday was yesterday. By starting today, I'll end on my 50th! :)
@darylo Thank you Daryl! I will certainly let you know the links I'll be using for my project in progress. I have a flickr account (mara19500) and here's my email address: maradani@hotmail.com
I'd like to have yours, in case we want to exchange pics or other conversations.
Glad you feel excited about the new project and good luck for your new business venture. I hope it will be successful!
PS Meanwhile I think I will continue to post whenever I have decent photos to share with the community.
all I can say is HOTDOG and a belated follow, I am going all out on the follows this year lol my feed gets clogged and I miss a few but hey...love the birdy
@kali66 Say what? You never followed me? Hahahahaha Feel free to never comment either. I don't like that pressure to keep up. I trimmed my following list even. I'm commenting a bunch for photo number one, but who knows how I'll manage going forward. I love your photos. You know that, so I'll try to be a good visitor! :)
365 is a great obsession for me. It's healthy, I have fun with it, and I am becoming a skilled photographer. But I don't have the time that many can have with this site, and it's very anxiety producing for me if I try to do things that really I don't have time for. After Mike's mom died and my trip to Mexico left me in a very dark place, I decided that 365 will really work for me if I make things clear on my part. Just mine. I've even put my goals/rules in my profile so those coming by will know that I'm not going to probably be the best partner for those just starting out--but I'll gladly answer questions and ask them! :)
And to your analysis of the photo! yes, rule of 3rds played in the composition and I wanted the dof and bokeh to highlight some of the skills I have now that are not, thankfully, accidental now! The bird's position is representative of my re-emergence on 365. A bit hesitant, but I know adventure awaits and if I could have a coat of blue like the bluebird, well, I'd be just too happy to wear it! It's freezing here, though. It's like Chicago weather, but no snow. Ugh.
I agree with your goals for year 2. reading your list clarified some of my ideas about how to handle year 2....Like you, I wouldn't want to repeat the same things I did in year one.
However, I'm working on another project with a professional photog who's guiding me and am focused on that. Therefore, I'm afraid I won't have too much time to devote to posting and taking photos for 365. Nor can I use the photos I'm taking for the other project: they concern urban exploration (of my hometown) and they're not the sort of pictures one would post on 365 - they're neat, architectural and urban shots of different neighbourhoods of my city with notes and texts concerning urban sociology. I don't think many would care...
I will visit your project and will be glad to learn from you - I like the style of conversation you and Taffy @taffy started here..I have so much to learn and you two are so much ahead ...hope to have the time to mature, study and learn. I'm full of doubts at the moment,.
Glad we had a chance to meet, though only at the end of our first year of photos.
Buon lavoro!
PS Do I get it right that January 22 is your birthday??
I'd like to have yours, in case we want to exchange pics or other conversations.
Glad you feel excited about the new project and good luck for your new business venture. I hope it will be successful!
PS Meanwhile I think I will continue to post whenever I have decent photos to share with the community.
Nice new profile pic. Also lovely photo!!
Happy birthday!
Lovely story and a lovely shot.
2... Bahahahahahha "post crappy shots with joy" However, I highly doubt any of your shots...even if you are trying something new...will be crappy!!
3...Love this shot! LOVE the bird...wish we had more, but his little forlorn look is what got me!
So glad you're back! :)