New Ring, New Camera(ish), New Project (fingers crossed! Ha!)

New Ring, New Camera(ish), New Project (for who knows how long!)
Happy New Year fellow 365ers, and I hope I still have a few friends on here! A friend and I did our weekly "walk and talk" on Sunday today (remotely--in fact, we've been doing this weekly walking remotely via phone thing ever since the pandemic hit, and well, we decided we enjoyed it so much, we'd keep it a thing!). One thing I practiced with her last year was being her "accountability" buddy for some projects she had in mind completing, and this year, she has offered to help me with some of my own personal goals I may need an accountability partner for. I had three things: 1. find some new leads on work like I'm doing now when my contract ends, 2. learn Photoshop, and 3. throw out A LOT of my old teaching materials in order to house my family geneology materials (will hope to tackle that project in earnest this year).

One way to tackle #2 is to start up with 365 again. I can't promise to be a shot-a-day lady anymore, but I can use this space to experiment with either older photos (I have tons I have yet to edit) or ones I take daily and load into PS (or in the case of today's photo, LR). I want to really learn PS because it's a skill I think that will go with my shots I'm taking from my relatively-new "used" Sony a7RII and 35mm Zeiss lens (that lens is like butter!). For Christmas, I got a Canon mount for my nice Canon lenses for the Sony (don't want to give up my nice Canon lenses just yet).

My photo subject is very simple today--it's a ring my daughter made from an heirloom piece of silver (on old oyster fork). She made it Christmas eve in the Imagination studio at Ga Tech where she knew a friend still there working in the space (she graduated from there in the past spring). It's a lovely surprise, and I love wearing it. I took it outside before my walk-and-talk with my friend and worked with using manual focus (with the light peeking function to find what's in focus).

This camera is a steep learning curve, but I already love it. I was able to take some amazing portrait shots on Christmas eve when my entire family was in town for a luncheon, something that rarely happens at 100% everyone in attendance! I was in heaven, and I brought my tripod to get a full family shot- perfect!

I put a silly tag of my name on the shot--I want to make a logo in PS, so this was just me working with an idea in LR.

And for now, I'm not really focused on taking RAW shots (lordy, the size of the files is HUGE).

Anywho, howdy folks, fingers crossed I can keep up or post something (maybe old) each day. History says I'll fail, but this new camera, my push to learn PS and other stuff, and my general determination have me hopeful, if only for today. :)

Happy New Year, and Hot dog! xoxo

[Junko Y]

Daryl! You're baaaaaccccckkkkkk! And I'm still in and out :) and back and gone. But I love the challenge of trying to learn something new every day and this community is wonderfully supportive and inspiring so here we are! @Taffy is still here, too!

[Jane Pittenger]

As am I and i am tickled to see you Daryl. I’ll be happy to help with PS if you want

[Newbank Lass]

Heeeellllloooooo I look on 365, I dream of using my camera. struggling with long covid and heart complications :( I'm exxxhhhaaauuusssttteeedddd but very pleased you're back.

[Pam Knowler]

Wonderful to see you back Daryl! I have been struggling with my photography and am hoping starting year 11 will give me some focus and inspiration! I need a new camera I think so I will investigate! Good luck with your projects! I enjoyed reading your narrative - always interesting! Happy New Year!

[katy]

Yeah hot dog! I have no doubt that you will accomplish everything you set your mind to. Beautiful piece of jewelry and your photo is a wonderful way to highlight it. Looking forward to watching your progress this year

[bkb in the city]

Nice shot

[Taffy]

Great to see you on here again! It's been good to be able to follow you on FB -- your cooking and images of it are amazing. I have confidence you'll have success in learning PS -- there are SO many things to learn about it that I've found it best to set little goals and then use what I've learned over and over or I just forget it. Can't wait to see what you'll be doing!

[Phil Howcroft]

Sony and Zeiss 35mm is a great combo , is that the loxia f2 , I have that lens

[Danette Thompson]

As always, looking forward to your posts. I think it will be extra interesting if you post historical photos. I can’t imagine what the project you have planned.I’m just trying to prove we are Florida Builders and Settlers and I’m intimidated with the application!

[Annie D]

Oh so lovely to see you back 🙂
Wishing you a very Happy New Year and success for your projects.
What a wonderful way to repurpose silver..it's beautiful.

[Daryl O'Hare]

@annied Thank you Annie; so nice to be back (fingers crossed) @danette Oh, tell me more! Back in 2020, I did start my project on the genealogy, but it turned into a mess. @phil_howcroft I only have the 35mm at the moment for the Sony, and I suspect I may turn into a one lens person for just about everything! @taffy it will be slow going for me for sure! Love seeing you on FB too. I like the connection even if it is FB. @bkbinthecity thank you! @grammyn it was a lovely gift. Hoping I'll be better about commenting. I'm already waaaay behind. Know I'm looking, just not commenting much because of time! @pamknowler You have been a powerhouse to keep up all this time! I admire you! Happy new year! @jyokota YAY @jgpittenger be careful what you offer! ha!

[Daryl O'Hare]

@newbank hellllllooooooo! I think of you often, and I do hope you can retrieve your health. Sending lots of hugs across the world. xoxo

[Jane Pittenger]

@newbank oh Ruth, so depressing. Time you got to just be healthy and enjoy

[Newbank Lass]

@darylo @jgpittenger Thank you :) Got the 5 year of clear for cancer in Oct. That felt a huge milestone to reach :) It's been 14months now since had covid. Very slow recovery.