I completed the last of the regular semester grading last night and I am giddy with excitement! I have classes this week, finals next week, and then summer is officially here.
I celebrated the advent of freedom by taking a photography class last night at our local library. It was a two hour class taught by a local photographer and it met all my expectations! He lectured for about 45 minutes, not really telling me anything I had not already read, but saying it in a slightly different way that made me take notice. He had plenty of examples - which is great for a visual learner like myself.
After the lecture we then went outside for about a half hour to practice what we had learned. The evening was beautiful for early May: clear skies, warm sun, and a temperature of about 80 degrees. We wandered around the perimeter of the library, trying to train our eye to see the beauty in every day life. While I have a long way to go.... I did enjoy trying to take an "emotional" shot of this park bench. I know that I want to capture the Parisian lifestyle this summer and anticipate taking several photos of local cafes; I thought this bench provided the perfect practice opportunity. (as a side note....in surfing the web today I discovered an amazing site:
City Daily Photo. I plan to use the Paris listings to help me develop a list of photo opportunities for my summer trip)
As I walked around the building and through the parking lot, I noticed the flag - its bright red stripes flying in contrast to the clear blue sky; I noticed the vertical lines of the garbage can, although I did not seem to get quite close enough to make art out of trash; I noticed the city worker cutting the green grass atop his yellow lawn mower; I noticed the beauty in the rock formations that section off the parking lot. It was nice to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.
When then returned to the classroom for the final twenty minutes and some brave students shared their pictures. I was astounded at the differing perspectives we all brought to our photographs. Some showcased talent in framing a subject using an available tree branch, bike rack, or hole in a picket fence. Others zoomed in on an everyday bicycle and focused on the gears, or the handle bars, or the bicycle seat. At times I was intimated by their creativity - but I was also greatly inspired.
I know that photography is like anything else in life: it requires practice - practice - practice. Now that I am armed with some practical advice, I am ready to put in the work.
As I walked around the building and through the parking lot, I noticed the flag - its bright red stripes flying in contrast to the clear blue sky; I noticed the vertical lines of the garbage can, although I did not seem to get quite close enough to make art out of trash; I noticed the city worker cutting the green grass atop his yellow lawn mower; I noticed the beauty in the rock formations that section off the parking lot. It was nice to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.
Hey Molly, I'm glad that you took this class and it sounds like you really enjoyed it. Yes, it takes practice, definitely - and even as a "seasoned" photographer I still take tons of crappy and uninspired pictures. I liked your description how you start to "see differently", noticing the little things. I believe you will take some great photos in Paris!
ReplyDeleteI need to take a photography class. I really would like to take better pictures but don't seem to have a good eye for composure.
ReplyDeletePhotography is a great way to focus on one interesting thing at a time. I like that it slows us down to appreciate things we normally overlook or step over like your pebble picture. Sounds like the class was just what you needed,
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that this is going to be a fun and enjoyable experience for you!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun this sounds, Molly. Isn't it wonderful to be stimulated like this? Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteNow this his a course I would love to do! I always find my pictures boring in comparison to other peoples.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks until summer? I find your summer holidays strange and long.
Practice, practice, practice. I really need to work on improving my skills.
ReplyDeleteYes, practice seems to be they key. I'd love to do a class like this!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a neat class. Love the shots you shared. It sounds like you have a wonderful teacher and I love that you get hands on practice during the class.
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