(Taken by Aaron Bailey at DLWS Cape Cod 10/07 - from left: Aaron, Laurel, Mark, and Stacie)
2007 was the year that I actually got serious about being….well….a photo enthusiast. It was the year that I got out of Auto Mode and started learning AND using all those other creative dials on the back of my trusted Nikon D70s. It was the year that I figured out what Layers are and more importantly why BLEND MODES are so cool. It was the year of finally getting those pictures out of my hard drive and actually printing them. Also sharing those photos and getting valuable feedback so I could grow - Flickr has made that happen!
Most important to me was realizing that I CAN take a photo. It was in me all the time. I have discovered that I have a voice and a EYE and I don’t have to validate my skill by what others are doing or what they have done…but what I have Learned and Applied in my own art. 2007 was the year that I found my PASSION for Photography and I am holding on to it for dear life! I share that passion with many dear friends. 2007 was the Year of Art, Love, and Friendship that photography has brought in my life!
My highlights in 2007 were:
- DLWS (Digital Landscape Workshop Series) in Cape Cod - October 2007. It was there I met Mark and Stacie . Hey Mark - I hope you are taking tons of pictures of that blanket of white snow that just keeps on coming your way! Stacie- you rock!! What can I say. I also met Scott Kelby, Moose Peterson, Laurie Excell, and Joe McNally. You can check out my pictures from Cape Cod at my Flickr Set here.
- Discovering The Digital Photography Show. Michael and Scott are awesome. I have learned so much from all their shows. I think they are up to 80 now! I am now their offical Contest Queen. I love it! Check out the show here.
- Taking the Lightroom Workshop through NAPP in Tampa. I again met Scott Kelby and took some really cool pictures from the workshop that you can check out here. One realization that I made after the workshop is that I already KNEW alot of what was being taught. I’m not saying that it was not worth going - it only made me feel that I was already on the right path and knew alot more about Lightroom than I thought. Now I can share that knowledge with other newbies and give back!
- Putting my knowledge to the test. I really wanted to learn how to take better holiday photos. I read up on some great articles on Strobist.com and Photojojo.com and went out on my first assignment. I am really happy with the results. You can check out my Holiday pictures here
- Discovering some incredible photographers and teachers. I found Chris Orwig online at Lynda.com and took his Lightroom Course. It was there that it all clicked and made sense to me. Chris’s enthusiasm and passion is contagious. That’s what makes him such a fanstastic teacher. If I had to compare what I learned from Scott Kelby and Chris Orwig it would be this - Whereas Scott Kelby gives a thorough overiew of all the modules in Lightroom - Chris Orwig gets under the hood and explains all the nitty gritty. Both courses were invaluable. I probably would not have gotten as much out of Scott Kelby’s Lightroom workshop had a not checked out Chris Orwig’s video tutorial on Lynda.com first. Check out Chris Orwig’s Lightroom and other Photoshop Video tutorials here
- I LOVE Nik Software. I first found out about them at DLWS CC. I am a huge user of their noise reduction software called Dfine 2.0. The best part about their software is that they use U Point technology. Meaning you decide where the effects take place and how much of an effect to add. They just came out with their new Color Efex Pro 3.0 filter effects. You can check out some before and afters from a previous post here.
- This Blog. I started ThePhotoEnthusiast over the summer as a place to record my thoughts and to keep all those really cool articles and links that I discover online. I hope you find it helpful in your journey.
2008 Resolutions:
- Buy a tripod and head before I purchase anymore equipment or software
- Read the books all already own before purchasing anymore!
- Show my work - get involved in my local arts guild
- Complete the Strobist 101 lessons and learn to use my SB 800
- There is plenty more….
I look forward to 2008 and the many experiences that lay ahead! Have a Happy New Year and keep on shooting!
3 Comments
Hi Laurel,
Your post resonated with me as it seems we have been on a similar path in our pursuit of this digital photography journey. Although I didn’t get the added benefits of meeting the ‘guru’ in person or attending any workshops, not yet anyway, I did discover The Digital Photography Show and your blog through Scott Kelby’s blog and I discovered Chris Orwig after reading your blog. So thank you! I also discovered a lot about my passion for photography and what a great creative outlet it is. I need to get out there and take more shots, which is my goal for 2008. As you can well attest, it isn’t easy when you have 3 kids…
Best of luck to you in 2008 and I look forward to reading about your progress!
Marcy Stebbins
Hi Laurel,
Happy New Year.
A little advise - Buy the best tripod you can afford and make sure you get a ball head.
I would love to have all the equipment that Scott and the other Pros recommend. Having a graphite tripod would be great but … $$$$.
I have a Manfrotto 055XPROB and a Manfrotto 488RC4 and just love the combination. They hold my Canon 5D with a 200mm lense with no problem and believe me that is a lot of weight.
The other advise is to buy the best “glass” you can. I believe that this is more important than the camera, which will be outdated multiple times it a very short period of time.
What I have discovered since getting more serious about my photography is that you really do see the world very differently. You take time to REALLY look at what is in your view. You notice details, emotions and beauty that surrounds us every day.
Do show your work. I was a little nervous at first ( kind of silly at my age) and to my surprise somebody besides my wife liked what I capture.
The key is when someone says to you ..”you have an eye” for seeing an image. Not everyone has that ability and from what little I have seen from your postings , You have the “eye”
Peter
Happy New Year!!!!! Thanks so much for the shout out, but my web address is http://www.stacieCmorris.com. I miss my old name!
You do have an eye and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work. I’m looking for a new tripod this year too - looking forward to sharing notes.
You completely have me hooked on The Digital Podcast - I can’t listen to them enough. And every time I hear your name, I feel like I know a star!!!!