My Thoughts on Photography | PERSONAL STUFF

Over the years, family members, friends, and acquaintances often told me what great photos I took.  It wasn’t until a few years ago, at the encouragement of my friends and family that I have decided to actually “do something” with my work.  You know, like show it to people and put it on display!!  What a novel idea!!  Since then, I’ve had my works in galleries and in 2005 had my first “recognized” exhibit!!  It was extremely thrilling for me.

It’s been an exciting adventure…and I’ve barely just begun my journey.  I only dabbled in B&W in the past, but now B&W is my predominant medium.  All my work presented here is in its natural state.  In other words, I enjoy utilizing the available natural light.  I own very little equipment: my Minolta SRT 201 that I used for 25+ years.  I updated to a Canon Rebel a few years ago, and recently bought another Canon:  an Elan II.  I do not have my own darkroom – maybe some day.  I feel I’ve been lucky in that maybe my photos are actually good photos taken right the first time and “frame” my shots in the viewfinder.

When I take photos, in my mind, they are an extension of my love for life!  All that it has to offer, Mother Earth’s infinite pulchritude (I always wanted to use that word) and what she has to show us, and unfortunately, how little time I have to capture just a small sampling of her beauty! 

Here’s something you may relate to:  When I go out for a walk, it’s really not a simple walk.  It’s an exploration.  My eyes are constantly “framing”.  Do you do that too?  I’m enjoying the scenery so much, that I don’t always cover as much territory as I want to.  And there’s so much to see…it drives me crazy!

As you will see, I enjoy architecture, scenic/landscape, the ocean, and floral photography.  I’ve photographed a couple of weddings and lately doing more portrait sittings in B&W.  Portraiture that I have done include family, a lot of my granddaughter who lives close by, and friends.   Basically, “Ishoot from the heart”!

I have met some wonderful people in my new adventure.  Every one of them has “shared” some kind of information about photography.  And that’s one of the great surprises…meeting new people, learning more and more about photography, other websites, where to obtain supplies, how to build a web site, lighting, filters, film, information shared about mistakes made by others sparing you from doing the same!!  And it’s all there – it’s FREE -- all you have to do is ask!  We’ve all been given one life here on earth to live, love, laugh…and to create…to carry out our own true desires.  At times we are our own enemies, our own stumbling blocks.  To progress and succeed in life one must take risks.  It took me a long time to get here, but now I’m going for it.  I want to share with you what someone else said, that is now my life’s motto:

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