Night Snow

I went out last night to take some photos of the snow. These were taken after dark using the "Effects"/Night Vision" setting on my camera.   It was still snowing and too cold and wet to stay out very long. Here's the result. 

The only light source was the porch light and eve lights above and behind me. 

I wish I had taken this one with the lights off just to see what it would look like. I suppose there's a way to prevent that flash around the lights. I'll have to read and just keep experimenting. 

The last one is my favorite. It was taken in total darkness (with no flash), except for the lights you see. 

The camera is still doing all the work. I need to study some more!

Honk If You're Happy!

I decided to venture out today and try out the camera. It was a cold, but sunny day so I headed to Warrior's Path State Park in search of geese!

I guess you'd call this your basic beginner's shot of "ducks on the pond", but I wanted to get up close and personal so I waited for them to come out of the water. 

The sun was behind them so I'm not getting much detail of their faces. I decided to focus on one bird. 

I like the detail of the feathers in these, but I still want to see the face. I decided to try the tip I read about shooting "part of the object". Here's the results. 

I love the grass in his mouth. 

I finally got a shot of a goose facing the sun. Honk!

I like this last one because of the eye staring at me, the curve of his neck and the pattern of the feathers on his back. Do you have a favorite?  Maybe you can give me gentle advice or encouragement. Got any tips to share? I'd appreciate your feedback, especially if you're a photographer, too.

Where To Begin

Where to begin?  I like photography. I've always enjoyed taking photos. This past year I dropped my camera and bent the lens so my hubby decided to buy me a new camera for Christmas. It has all kinds of bells and whistles and lenses and filters. Oh dear, it's time to try to figure out how to be a better photographer. So that's my New Year's resolution. 

How to begin?  I read the manual that came with my camera and I bought a book. There's lots of stuff on the internet. There are even lessons on YouTube!  Who knew?  But, the more I read, the dizzier I get. My small brain is having a hard time grasping all the lingo and technical aspects of photography. So I'm gonna take it slow. 

I looked at an online photography course and the very first lesson asked me to define what I like about photography, what I like to shoot and why. So here goes.  I have lots of scrapbooks full of pictures of my kids and trips we've taken. Since we bought the mountain house I have thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of nature.  I like capturing the memory of those special moments.  Looking at the photos allows me to go back and relive special times. I also enjoy the awesomeness of God's creation. Seeing it through the lense of a camera gives me a deeper appreciation for every minute detail of our world. 

Whether it's the majesty of a snow covered mountain or the tiny icy drops falling from the leaves, it's all  breath-takingly beautiful. And I want to get better at capturing the images.