journal entry:
PRACTICE
I have been practicing. Over and over and over. That is the beauty of digital technology. I am trying to overcome my zoom lens habits and breathe like an ultra-wide angle photographer. Amateur photographer, that is.
I have never been one to take photographs of scenery. I can’t see how it will matter when all is said and done. But, people I love. There is a different story. They are the story. So. I must learn to use my coveted Canon 10-22 lens taking photographs of people. That is what I have displayed here. It helped that my “subject” was feeling quite cooperative. Even let me put a ribbon in her hair. And grandpa gave her things to do in the garden. That helped.
The trick is getting close enough. Kids don’t like grown-ups to be right in their faces. And, kids become weary of the camera. That is why I have usually taken pictures of children with a zoom lens. I can sneak up on the moment that way.
COOPERATION
I asked Afton if I could take a picture of her beautiful hair bow. She kindly tipped her head. I felt like I was right on top of her. It is so fun to see how this lens reaches around the edges of the space. I snapped away because I knew that she wouldn’t put up with my closeness for very long.
SHARE THE CAMERA
I was in heaven. I had the most cooperative of subjects this day. She was patient and wonderful. When she asked to take a picture of me, I said “sure”. She did a pretty, good job trying to hold my heavy Canon 50D camera. I had the feeling I was going to like these photographs even before I saw them.
MOMENTS
This is a little, green apple. It fell from the tree too early. Afton knows she can’t eat it but she is fascinated with it. It is absolutely perfect. I wonder what she is thinking?
THE UNEXPECTED
I buy my sunglasses at the dollar store. It is true. If I had a nickle for every pair of sunglasses I have broken or lost or shared to death I would be a billionaire. So, I never mind when a little person asks to “borrow” my sunglasses. That is especially true if I get a photograph out of the bargain.
So, I am a little further along on my learning curve as of this day. A little more comfortable with the nuances of the lens and more aware of flipping my brain around to accommodate a different way of looking at things. I am more in love with the lens every day . . . thanks to little Afton.
afterthought . . .
I confess that I did take a few pictures of “things” today. Grandpa likes to paint with watercolors and is always looking for new things to paint. Wonder if he will paint this one?
