It's 100 photos today! More than 25% done. Why this photo? It represents a lot of what I've learned since joining the 365 community. Taken today walking home from work. The trees and fence, reflected in a large puddle in a parking lot, then rotated 180 degrees.
No need to read further...the rest is mostly just some of my reflections on hitting this little marking point. Some key things I've learned or now think about...
Themes: Themes inspire and help when ideas are slim. Even when ideas are rich, themes remind me to look at the world from multiple perspectives. Themes link me to others in the community. Themes are funny, challenging, inspiring, frustrating, and sometimes just silly. Themes remind me of all I have to learn. Theme for this photo: weekly theme of puddles. Older theme that influenced the photo: reflection.
Processing: Photography is beyond taking the photo. There's thinking before the photo is taken (settings right? DOF? Golden Triangle of ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed). Then you take it and hope for the best. But then, you can fix things or make them better! Processing here: fixed levels, upped the black point a bit, then brightened it a bit. Then, flipped it upside down.
Comments: When someone comments, I like to reciprocate which takes me to their photos which gives me new ideas. It's always humbling to see other's photos and narratives and titles. For this photo, I got the idea about turning photos on their side or upside down from looking at what others have done.
Discussion boards present great advice, from the mundane to the profound: e.g., ALWAYS carry a camera! You can take awesome photos with an iPhone, P&S, or DSLR. It's not the camera, it's the photographer. e.g., Archived conversations have tons of useful information. e.g., Read your camera manual and check out You-Tube tutorials.
I like the title a lot, I thought it was a Rihanna song, oh, it's "diamonds in the sky" or something like that. Ha!! I finished my first 365 some two years ago, made a lot of online friends in our lovely community and the experience was a great worthwhile. Continue learning. Continue shooting. And continue discovering the talents you never realized you possessed. :D
Fabulous shot and post, Taffy! I love how you have tackled your project. You are always stretching, trying new things. It's very inspiring! You have a wonderful body of work already and I always look forward to what is coming next. Onward to 365!
Great shot Taffy, congrats on the 100, I did read your post, and I agree this is such a great learning site, lots of helpful information, lots of encouragement, lots of fun and above all (for me) friends from all over the world who share my love of photography and through them I get to travel - virtually,
Thanks for the magical shot and the really clarifying post. It helped me a great deal and I look forward to the weekend when I can rethink, read up, and redouble my own efforts!
@rafaseno Thank you for being so encouraging! I thought the title would be a good play on the song -- cool that you noticed! @pflaume Lisa, thanks so much for such kind comments! This is such a wonderful community! @ness50 Thanks Vanessa -- you're so right about feeling like I'm visiting around the world each day. @lubybee Thank you Luretta -- it can be daunting keeping up, I've found. We just do what we can, right? @vankrey Exactly! I'm looking forward to a photo walk in the near future (before mid-May if we can as I leave then for the summer). Although I wouldn't want to be out there tonite!!
wow! great shot, and liked reading your musings. im still getting to grips with all the settings stuff but i too have learnt a lot by physically taking so many more photos than i would usually. this place has helped me so much. congrats on your 100th, and on all youve learned :-)
Amazing shot, I could not work out that it was a reflection at first...intriguing image. It is wonderful how much we get engrossed about something we are passionate about! Congrats on your 100 :)
Had no idea that it was a reflection at first also! Such a wonderful image, and nicely captured with all the details. Congrats on your 100th image and may you continue to learn more as you snap away. :0)
Happy 100th. Did you post this in the 100 thread I put up yesterday? I haven't seen all of them yet. This project has opened my eyes in so many ways--the irony is I started this as a writing project, but now, I know the project changes daily. Following how you have taken on the project informs what I would like to do or how I might consider taking shots--I'm still working on learning manual. So happy 100th. I love reading your narratives under the photos too--so much information and reflection! :)
Excellent shot Taffy- a fav for me because I love flipping photos around when I get one that works (like my shadowy ribbon shot the other day). I have had similar experiences as yours on my journey here- and I'm in year 3 now! There is always something to learn, something new to see. Congratulations on making it to 100! Great job!!
@jaynspain "Back at you" in congrats on the 100. I appreciate your comments! @kazlamont You're so right about being engrossing! Much more than I'd ever imagined it would be. @heidit Thanks Heidi. It's all the get-pushed challenges and the like that really are making the difference. @michaelelliott Glad to have provided the unexpected! @kwind Thank you! @darylo Thank you for starting that thread and calling it to my attention. It was a great idea! @olivetreeann It is so great to be able to follow you -- I learn so much from the more experienced 365'ers. Thanks for the fav! @vskolnik@kimshots@btorrey Thank you Vee, Brenda, and Kim. 100 seems like a lot, until I think of the remaining 265 to go! @mikegifford Many thanks -- and for the follow. I'm enjoying your work as well. @paulavdmerwe Thank you! @kerristephens Thanks Kerri @amandal Thanks Amanda
That's a terrific shot, like others i didn't realize it was a flipped puddle at first. It's a great landscape with some sort of otherworldy feel because of the non-puddle features that still blend in. I loved reading your reflections (reflections...hah!)
@colie Thanks Colie -- first time in a while I've been happy to see so much rain. But now that puddle shots are over, I'm quite hoping we'll get a break and see some sun.
Actually, the title should be Sky in the Puddle ;) Yes, if one engages with this site one can learn a lot, possibly as much as by following a photography course. It's probably less structured, but definitely more fun! And I have made some great friends :)
Wonderful photo and congratualtions on getting to 100. I understand your journey very well but for me I find things more frustrating now because of the progress I think I have made, especially when I can't get what I see into a photo the way I want :) I hope you keep learning and improving and producing great photos.
@bardejov Thank you! @thirtysevenways I know what you mean -- it's so humbling to see what others are doing and knowing how far I have to go to do what I want to do. I think we have to remind ourselves how far we've come in only a relatively short time.
Love this shot! Beautiful clarity and I love that you flipped it.
And I really love your other reflections (groan, bad pun there) about your first 100 days and everything you've learned and been inspired by - I really relate, thanks for sharing :-)
@pflaume Lisa, thanks so much for such kind comments! This is such a wonderful community!
@ness50 Thanks Vanessa -- you're so right about feeling like I'm visiting around the world each day.
@lubybee Thank you Luretta -- it can be daunting keeping up, I've found. We just do what we can, right?
@vankrey Exactly! I'm looking forward to a photo walk in the near future (before mid-May if we can as I leave then for the summer). Although I wouldn't want to be out there tonite!!
@kazlamont You're so right about being engrossing! Much more than I'd ever imagined it would be.
@heidit Thanks Heidi. It's all the get-pushed challenges and the like that really are making the difference.
@michaelelliott Glad to have provided the unexpected!
@kwind Thank you!
@darylo Thank you for starting that thread and calling it to my attention. It was a great idea!
@olivetreeann It is so great to be able to follow you -- I learn so much from the more experienced 365'ers. Thanks for the fav!
@vskolnik @kimshots @btorrey Thank you Vee, Brenda, and Kim. 100 seems like a lot, until I think of the remaining 265 to go!
@mikegifford Many thanks -- and for the follow. I'm enjoying your work as well.
@paulavdmerwe Thank you!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri
@amandal Thanks Amanda
@thirtysevenways I know what you mean -- it's so humbling to see what others are doing and knowing how far I have to go to do what I want to do. I think we have to remind ourselves how far we've come in only a relatively short time.
And I really love your other reflections (groan, bad pun there) about your first 100 days and everything you've learned and been inspired by - I really relate, thanks for sharing :-)
Also love the 180 on this -- very effective!
@carolb Thank you Carol -- I appreciate your feedback!