The Weekend Country Girl

This past weekend I took my first ever photography class at Hermann Park in Houston, Texas.  It was chilly for Houston only in the mid 50’s when we got there but the day was beautiful.  I actually signed up for this class through a Groupon (big step for me to use a Groupon) because of this Blog.  I see amazing photography on other blogs and I always feel that what I do is lacking.   The class was though Artistic Photo Academy .  I will be honest and tell you that I probably wouldn’t have taken the class unless Sweet Amanda had agreed to come with me.  I really needed her too.  She listens better than I do.

Here is what I learned in a nutshell:

The camera I have is a decent introductory SLR, but not awesome.

I need a different lens- well actually I guess I need two different lenses.  a 50 1.8 and an 18 to 200 lens.  I do not have either one.

I need to get some reflectors

To boil down everything above- Photography is an expensive hobby if you want to do it well.  Darn it!

After the class I can now:

Meter the light in my shots and make sure I have the proper exposure.

I know how to use the M setting (manual) on my camera.

To a lesser degree I can use the TV mode.  Still shaky on this one.

I can adjust the shutter speed.

I can take a picture with movement in it that isn’t blurry.

To summarize- I learned a little that I think will help my photography- but I still have a lot to learn.

Here are some of my awful shots from the beginning of class.  I was trying to take a photo of a tree from close up, two feet, and 4 feet.  Truly awful lighting. I went first on this exercise and think my teacher was happy that my first shots were so bad.  He could show the other students what NOT to do.

I even over exposed the instructor!

 

I did get better.  I was able to get a shot of the fountain without blur.  You can see the actual water drops.

The exercise was to catch the movement of the water.  This is set at  1/4000 .

I love the bride in the background.

 

And here is my favorite shot of the day.  I love the sleeping duck.

I really enjoyed our instructors.

You gotta love a Texas guy who shows up in downtown Houston in his old boots.

Can you pick out our other instructor?

Yep, the Lumberjack with his hat on sideways and gym shorts.  He is young but he knows his stuff!

Here are my portrait pictures of Sweet Amanda.  I think she is stunning.

I now have homework.  I am supposed to take 50 shots a day and spend 30 minutes each evening metering the light while pointing it toward the  television.

Here is my favorite of the 50 from Sunday.  The cardinals now have 3 eggs in their nest outside our window.

I hope I didn’t bore you with my show and tell.

Have a great week.