Canon 5D Mark II, 300mm F/4.0L, f/7.1, 1/4000, iso 320
"Happy blog-birthday, to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
Today's post has a few themes, and I already alluded to the first one. I also want to share my first images of the calendar year, taken the morning of January 1. And then think about what the year has been like photographically, and blographically (spelling checker just rolled over and died).
First, about the pelican images. On the morning of Jan 1, I was in Avila Beach on the wonderful Central Coast. I grabbed my gear and headed out to the pier. This pier actually. I was hoping to try again for the moving wave images. But the ocean was very flat.
I walked past some pigeons - "naw I can't shoot a dang pigeon." That's when I realized that I was taking my first pictures of the year, I ought to try to make them special. I thought about heading back to the car, and maybe going somewhere else, but as I hadn't thought this through, and I had been shooting quite a bit the past few days - I just continued walking.
Years past, I would have never given a thought to "first picture of the year." The blog has made the act of getting out there with my camera more important and meaningful to me. The pressure was on! I got to the end of the pier, with no good prospects. There was a couple taking some pictures of each other, but that would be too obvious to start shooting them. I set my bag down and just took it all in. A new year, being on the ocean, a lovely day. That day we would continue our trip south, arriving in Long Beach. I sipped my tea and just tried to live in, and enjoy, the moment.
That's when the pelican flew by. I mounted the 300mm and waited for another pass. The low sun was behind me, lighting up the bird nicely. I thought this was kind of lucky, it's not easy to get birds lit up, at least for me. I really wanted the very first shot to be a blog worthy one. And it isn't bad, although #2 was better. This one is like #10, more interesting than the others.
He or she made several passes, just like I was staging the shots. Another one flew on the other side, with the sun / clouds in the background, that's the shot on top of this image. I like that one better,it has a POV almost like I was flying myself.
A nice morning, and I'm happy with a couple of the shots.
So, to the thoughts about blogging. Being the list-making, goal oriented, person I am, my first thought is "what goals did I achieve?" It seems like a long time ago, when I put up this first image. My goals were pretty straight-forward: shoot more, improve my skills, learn what photographic direction(s) I'd like to pursue.
I definitely shot more. You need a supply of images to blog frequently. I don't think previously I "made opportunities" to get out and photograph. Now I do.
When I look at my images, I do believe I have improved as well. In November, my LCD picture frame we keep in the kitchen died, so I had to get a new one. I used that opportunity to add a lot of images, including all the blog images for the year. Often when one of those pops up I'll think "hey, that's a pretty decent image!"
I really value the feedback I get on my images. I think anyone that is engaged in a creative endeavor wants an audience. When someone tells me why they like a certain image, it makes me think about it more. I have to say I'm somewhat addicted to the comments, good thing my phone never tires of me checking them. I get excited when I can get more than 10 comments on a shot.
As far as learning what directions I could go with photography... I remain interested in all forms.
Somehow this image still haunts to me. It's from the A Portrait Speaks post. I think more than any other direction, portraiture has my attention. I don't really know how it will play out yet. I have just read a book about Richard Avedon's "In the American West" project. Interesting stuff. I plan to get more books by accomplished portrait photographers and we'll just see where it goes.
By far my favorite "experience" of the blogging is the new friends I have made. I guess each blogger is creating his or her own social network. I find it very enjoyable to see and read about the images people are creating. I like to spend time commenting on their work (and hope they'll do the same if they find my images worthy). I almost always have some email conversation going with someone who is in my blogroll.
I have yet to meet one of the new friends in person. But this year that will change. If all goes well, I'll be joining John Barclay for a workshop in The Palouse (WA) in June. I have wanted to go there for several years so I am looking forward to that, as well as getting to know him in person.
Although having a blog friend means they can be located anywhere, several of mine are here in Northern California, so I plan to make some time to meet in person. New friend Bob Cornelis has a studio in Sonoma County, and I plan to get over there. I'd very much like to take a Daily Walk with Diane Varner, she is just a few hours away.
In yesterday's post about new blogroll members, I inadvertently left friend Mary V out. Here is the link to her blog, and I'm adding her to the blogroll. We met while hiking on a trail, found we have quite a bit in common, but weren't able to get a shoot together in 2009. But as I already mentioned in a post earlier this month, I definitely plan to.
If any of you are planning Northern California trips this year, let's try to meet up.
Once again, I sincerely appreciate the comments, feedback and support!
Well, this is turning into a novel. Maybe in an upcoming post I'll share some goals for the second year of blogging. I would sure like to get out shooting today!
