Out of focus......

The modules are all blending in to one and I'm getting more and more confuddled about which elements of the settings I should be focusing on. I've not had anywhere near as much time to take pictures as I thought I would, and I've had even less inspiration than time. A few pics I took I would have been really happpy with had I have been able to get the focus sharper. I spent so long concentrating on the other factors that I entirely forgot about the subject. Ho hum!

Indecent Exposure

Although I have read the manual and think I understand the priciples of what Cheryl wants us to achieve this week, I am not sure that I have been able to reflect this in any of the photos I have taken. They have been coming out a bit blurry and not very sharp when I start playing around with the settings. I'm also finding it harder and harder to think of things to take pictures of.

Letters pray........

Gettit ? Letters pray, let us pray. I know it's lame but I thought it was funny. As it's Sunday I am hoping for divine intervention. I'm off down the beach later on to take some pics. The weather is bright and fine today if a little cold but there is good light today so I am going to play with my aperture (ooo errrr missus). Here is a picture I took of Michael yesterday. I love this pic. It really shows his nature.

All jumbled up....

That's how I feel this morning. I had a busy day yesterday and felt distinctly lacking in any sort of inspiration as all my focus was on making Michael's birthday special. Incidentally, I got him a digital camera for his birthday. He loves fidling with my camera and now I have bought this "posh one" he has been warned off it. I don't however want to stifle any creativity he is developing so thought a digital camera would be the ideal gift for him. My eyes are now hurting from having a flash light go off right in front of them so maybe it wasn't such a good idea?!

So, I came downstairs this morning and lo and behold inspiration struck. I found a packet or letter beads which I bought for crafting but never got around to using and hence this picture was born and it fits nicely into my letters and words theme.

A lovely day...

Today is my son's 7th Birthday. Happy Birthday Michael xx I'm so grateful for the joy he brings into my life and I tell him that every day.

I'm going to practice on him by taking some pics later on.

I've had the first assignment from Cheryl. I wonder if she could send me a version for idiots? I opened it briefly this morning - took a sharp intake of breath - closed it again and have been in avoidance mode ever since. I'll have another look later on, once I've had a glass or two of wine.

I've had time to think about the theme for this week and I've decided on words and letters. I think I could incorporate quite a lot of challenging pictures in this, including signs and building names as well as things inside the house such as words in print. Anyway I feel one step closer to actually understanding the point of all this and tomorrow I will throw myself wholeheartedly into this project.

I've been playing today. Playing with my new toy at every opportunity. I think I'm going to enjoy this.

For anyone who saw the TV series Ben's Zoo recently - We are hoping to go there on Saturday. It's actually Dartmoor Wildlife Park, formerly known as Sparkwell Zoo. It's entirely dependent on the weather though so I may have some pictures of animals, or then again we may just have a family day and have pictures of - erm - people behaving like animals!

Thank the Lord.....

It arrived today my very important parcel. I had a quick play with it at lunchtime but didn't have a CF card to record any pictures so it was a case of just fiddling about. As luck would happen one of the guys who works for me is a real enthusiast and he spotted the box when I opened the camera and came over to have a look and gave me lots of advice about which button did what. So I'm getting there...

Horrible day at work today otherwise as my boss was in one of his mean moods so he was snappy and grouchy all day. Still I had my new toy to take my mind off things.

You know one of those days when you wake up and think, hmmmm something tells me something's gonna happen today? Well today was one. A very important delivery I was expecting didn't turn up. The courier company apparently couldn't find my place of work (despite the full address and postcode being provided) so will reattempt to deliver the item tomorrow - despite my address aparently being non existent. So I'm not holding out much hope. Todays inspiration comes from the fact that I have been in greedy pig mode all day. I remembered a picture I took of some roast potatoes I made and I remember how inspired I felt by looking at their lovely crispy goldenness, just before eating them. I like taking pictures of food. I like eating food even more.

In search of inspiration...

I have scoured flickr looking for photos which take my breath away, and I came accross one photostream which did just that. I don't have the technical knowledge to be able to distinguish between a technically brilliant photo and a manipulated image, but actually that doesn't really matter to me. I just went W.O.W when I saw this picture. There's something brutal yet pure in this scene and the rest of this guy's photostream had pretty much the same effect on me. You can view the pics for yourself if you are so inclined. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-althani/

Whoooo hoooooooooooooooo

I've bought my camera..

Well I've ordered it. It's going to be delivered on Tuesday, so somehow between then and Friday I've got to read and digest the manual and convince myself that I've got the hang of it. More importantly I've got to convince others that I've got the hang of it.

I've gone for the Canon 400D. A camera I've had my eye on for a long time and one which I have seen in action. Now I'm faced with the dilema of who to blame when my photos don't turn out well. I can't exactly blame my kit can I. So having resolved my lack of camera problem, I will sleep well tonight. Roll on Friday.

Ok so who am I kidding. I'm a serial hobbyist. Crafts, cooking, knitting, sewing, card making, scrapbooking, cake decorating and now photography! I despair, I really do. Can't I just stick to one thing and make it my forever hobby? And why does each hobby get more expensive than the one before? Who knows. Who cares even.

I'm embarking on my "fantasy career" as a photography student. I've enrolled on the course; I've set up a blog; I've researched photographic equipment; I've found my inspiration. And yet I'm sure I've forgotten something. Hmmmm. It might come to me later.

So, 25 quid poorer and raring to go, I'm looking forward to Friday when I start the assignments set by Cheryl Johnson of www.feelgoodphotos.co.uk. I've booked myself onto the seemingly bargainously priced tech pro course and I can't wait to get down to some real happy snapping.

I've had an email from Cheryl asking me (and the other students no doubt) to put together some ideas which have inspired us. Basically that would involve me copying and pasting Cheryl's entire site, so I've now got to come up with some ideas of my own.

If you've managed to find this lonely little blog, hello and welcome. If you have even the vaguest intention of returning here, you will be most welcome. If you have something kind to say about the photos I'll be posting here, please feel free to boost my confidence. Otherwise bog off ;-)

Now, what was it I have forgotten. It's coming to me now. It's: oh God no: Shit!!! IT'S THE BLOODY CAMERA. ie: I HAVEN'T BOUGHT ONE YET.