Photo 101 Wednesday

Well, as a newborn photographer, I'm not sure what this assignment with this journal is supposed to be about or do to improve my ability to take that one great photo that will define me as a great photographer. However, I will start jotting down my thoughts and emotions behind my shots. I truly had no idea of what to expect when I took this class, but I'm really happy I did. So my first shoot is to bracket shoot 12 different subjects, one F/stop under, one F/stop in the middle and one F/stop over; I have followed the primes of the job and I chose to stay in the higher F/stop numbers which lead to me having over exposed all my shots but I also did not use my camera's light meter properly to compensate for the higher aperture settings I was using. Not happy with my grade, remember Roosevelt, It's all a learning experience; don't get me wrong there was a lot of information on this roll that would make nice pictures I just need a little work reading for the light. Week Two- 9/5/2007 How to Pan; Create Motion & freeze Motion Using Aperture Value & Shutter Speed Again, I chose a combination of higher f/stop numbers; I feel good about this shoot because of the subject matter I have chosen. There was this flock of baby geese in mid-flight that I was able to shoot three times, a group of chipmunks, and blue birds feeding at a local feeder and I can’t wait for Fred to process this roll. I finished on 9/8, and had it processed on the tenth. 9/11 On the anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers in New York, I picked up my roll of film from Fred; strangely enough, I remember Fred not looking at me and it really struck me as odd, as he pasted me the roll of uncut un-mounted film. Then it happened, just as fast and just as devastating as the crashing down of those towers was; so did my enthusiasm and excitement come crashing down when I got a look at my film. This time they were really dark, some would argue the same is true of one’s soul; I just don’t understand how this could happen. Roosevelt, it is all learning experience, check your light meter, because you know the shot was set up properly. I tell myself, this does very little to repair the damage to my ego; I’m dammed upset. Although, I must say, taught me what not to do and not at the expense of losing a job over the mistakes; right? These are the times I’m happy to be a true photographer, when I get the chance to capture a graduation on film, for a true family that faced a lot of adversity and still managed to make it to this stepping stone in their lives. Congratulation nephews, I’m proud of all of you whom followed behind your uncles, keep working hard at it and you’ll live life instead of life living you. Although it is scary, learn to live past your front porch; what makes a man, a man is his ability to act or take a stand in spite of his fear.