Saturday 1 November 2014

Photography

Last year, I was lucky enough to get a new camera for my birthday.  Most of the photos I take are of Matt (and his friends) playing sports.  I usually share them with the other members of the team, parents and school.  It has become quite a "tradition" for me to share the days match photos by Sunday evening, and school have started using the photos on their marketing literature, which makes me feel very happy. So my new camera has been put to good use.  Although the quality of the photos is due to the lens and camera rather than my skill.

I also have a macro lens which takes great photos of flowers in my garden.

But if I'm honest, the "everyday" lens doesn't get much use and despite my good intentions, I stick with the various auto settings, playing it safe whenever I use my camera.  

A few months ago, when glancing through my National Trust newsletter, I saw that they were offering an Autumn Photography class at Nymans Gardens  I think it was around £15 for the morning but I may be wrong, but I don't think it was too expensive.  I booked on, thinking it would be a fun thing do, and hoping I would get some hints and tips for taking some better Autumn photos.  I had assumed that my foot recovery would be slightly further ahead than it is, but I was determined to still go.  So my slightly dodgy foot and I set off yesterday for a morning of photography, in the sunshine.  Wasn't I lucky!  I was just hoping for a dry day (my camera isn't happy in the rain), but I never imagined I'd be walking around in a t-shirt and jeans with my sunglasses on.  The only downside was that on such a beautiful day, the gardens got very busy, and they even had to close the car park as they were full!

Anyway, I digress.  It was a small group of 9 of us, plus the course leader, an experienced photographer.  It was quite scary turning off the auto settings, but with guidance and encouragement, after a classroom session, a group walk, we then set off on our own to take photos before coming back to "The Potting Shed" to discuss and share what we'd achieved, whilst eating a slice of cake and drinking a cup of tea.  I learned so much.  In fact, I now want to learn more.  My camera can do so much more than I thought.  I now just need to understand more, and be a bit braver and more confident.

Would you like to see some photos?

Here is a small selection.








If you would like to see all the photos I took, you can follow this link.  I know my followers are lovely people and won't abuse it, so will leave the link open "publicly" for a week or so.

Aren't I lucky, another day doing something for myself, and today I took my Dad's wife to a card making class.  :)  Tomorrow will be a day of catching up with the washing and hoovering before going back to work and school on Monday.  

Wishing you a happy weekend. 

x


10 comments:

  1. Wonderful photos Sara, and what a great bargain, photography courses are usually really expensive. And it looks like a really beautiful place as well. I did a course a while back, that I won in a promises auction. It really helped me get to grips with the different settings and inspired me too. I hope you have some time for relaxation as well as the hoovering today! CJ xx

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  2. Some great photographs. That is what I need to do learn what my camera can do, your course sounded wonderful.

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    1. It really was quite scary moving away from auto - I've no idea why! it's not as if the tree is likely to move, so I could take as many photos as I wanted until I got it right! And it doesn't cost anything.

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  3. Hi Sarah, your photos are all lovely....I had a look at the picasa gallery ...a real treat.
    I'm sometime frustrated by my little point and shoot, but I would be clueless with a DSLR....so glad you learned a lot and got enthused to learn more.
    Have a great Sunday....it's pouring with rain here....crochet weather :0)
    Jacquie x

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    1. I would never get rid of my point and shoot - they still have lots of options and it's a lot easier to carry around! Definitely crochet weather here today too - very wet and very windy. x

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  4. stunning selection of photo`s sara :D

    xx coops xx

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  5. Wow - how lovely, you have a brilliant selection on the Icloud, I wish there was something like that here too - I also tend to just focus and shoot :)

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  6. Fabulous pictures Sara and obviously a very nice place to visit too. Glad that you enjoyed it so much and got such good results with your pictures. xx

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  7. Lovely photo's. Wouldn't it be great if we could all spare that little extra time in order to find out exactly what our camera's are capable of. For the most part I'm like you and leave it on auto but do occasionally throw caution to the wind and try out some of the other features.

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  8. Wonderful photos, Sara. I've often admired your macro close ups of the flowers in your garden, and been a little envious too as my camera does not do close ups very well. It must be fun to learn these things properly. I leave my camera on auto far too often. xx

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