Getting Serious About Having Fun

I've been having fun with my digital SLR for almost 12 months now, and have to say that when staring out, not knowing a thing about photography, the auto setting on the dial was certainly handy! I got some good shots and of couse many not so good ones. Luckily, the good ones looked good enough to motivate me to decide to learn how to take good shots. My first and favorite subject is, of course, my daughter Izabella. After all, she was the main reason I wanted a good quality camera in the first place. So I guess the motivation was already there.

Another big factor in my eagerness to learn would have to be my next door neighbour Lisa, who always has been an awesome neighbour, and has fast become an awesome photographer as well!

A big shout out also to IPQ Art, who took the very first published photo of Izabella. I am soooooo glad we were given the opportunity to "loan" Bella for a few test sessions in the early stages. Nikki Dimmock, you blew my mind (and eyes) when I saw the very first post of our Bella-bug!

Another important influence I will most likely refer to here is the book that Lisa suggested, "Understanding Exposure", by Bryan Peterson. His "Photographic Triangle" approach to photography has helped me grasp the essentials, preparing me for the learning curve ahead.

What learning curve? I'm glad you asked! Nat has thrown a challenge at me, hence this new blog. Maybe you can guess what it's about? Each week, I will be posting at least one photo to this blog. The photo will relate to a weekly theme, which Nat has started to compile. The first exposure(s) of this project, codenamed "My Foto 52", will be posted sometime next Sunday. I have been given my theme, and let me say, it's not the easiest to pull off, but I think it will be one of the funnest, and hopefully an opportunity to learn a bunch!!

Now, it would be silly for post 1 of my photo project blog to not have any pics, so here's a couple of new snaps of subject numero uno, the beautiful Ms. Izabella Jayde Doherty!

This exposure would have to be my favorite "shoot from the hip" shot right now, I just have to know what's going on in her head at that precise moment!

Ok, I think that about wraps things up. For anyone interested, feel free to follow this blog, and share it out there... BTW, I expect there will be some cosmetic and functional changes to this blog over the next months, as I learn to better manipulate it.