Becoming One With My Camera

Out of all my classes, my photography class has been my favorite. I've learned a lot so far and yet there is so much more for me to learn in the photography world. But it just feels so good to know what I'm doing. I love having my camera on a manual setting and I love being in so much control. So here are some of the assignments I've completed so far.

These assignments have been focused on things like natural light and artificial light, depth of field, color schemes, abstractness, portraits, and motion (I didn't get any actions shots that were good enough to put them on here.) So these are all my favorites of the ones I've turned in. I really enjoy the structure of this class because we have legitimate critiques. Not just "love fests" for all the already talented kids, like we have in my art class. We get some pretty useful feedback and it's not based on opinion, simply based on elements of design, and technique of shooting.

One thing that I have learned in this last assignment is that my mom is amazing. Of course I already knew that, BUT the assignment due this week helped me realize it more. It was a portrait assignment. I don't know how she does it so well. There are so many elements to be in control of like lighting, background, props and posing. However, the key really is to have amazing people skills. Taking portraits of someone is a bit of an awkward thing. And I took pictures of my roommate; someone that I feel totally comfortable with. You have to have this amazing skill to make the person who is being photographed to feel comfortable. I know my mom does it so well, while at the same time being conscience of whats happening in the background, how the lighting is coming into play and even shooting at the right angles. It's tough stuff. Luckily, I came out with a few decent pictures to turn in for the assignment. Though it sure did help that my roommate is a babe.

Well one thing is for sure, I love carrying my camera with me. Lately we've been having the most gorgeous sunsets here in Provo. They're just so full of colors like oranges, pinks, and blues that mix together so beautifully and it's awful when I don't have my camera. So I have started to carry it with me more, only to find that it sparks up a conversation more often than not. Another bonus of my beautiful camera.

Simple Pleasures

The other day I was walking home from campus when I spotted the biggest fallen leaf off to my left, I redirected my path just so I could step on it.
Crunch.
Oh what a pleasure. I don't understand why, but I love stepping on crunchy leafs, just to hear the sound they make. It's one of the simple pleasures I enjoy in life. Just like the simple pleasure of seeing all the beauty that comes with the fall leaves. The mix of oranges, reds, yellows, and greens are so wonderful to look at.
Of course here in Utah you don't get the same kind of variety of leaves as you do in Oregon, or the mass amounts of them either. However, today I saw the most beautiful array of colors that I haven't seen in a long time. Aaron and I were driving home from a camping trip further up in the Provo canyon when we saw the colors. Oh how beautiful they are. The reds, yellows, greens, and oranges splashed along the mountains as we were driving home. I was worried we'd get in a car wreck we both just couldn't stop staring.

Nature must be the definition of beauty.

Just the night before we were able to be bombarded by the countless stars in the night. They covered the sky, a site you don't see in any city. It's one of the many reasons I love camping so much. I could just stare at them forever. There is nothing better than a night under the stars. Even though last night I didn't actually sleep under the stars, we slept in a tent. A junior size tent that was meant for only two children. And guess how many people we fit in there? 3 of us. Yes, I was crammed in a child size tent with two girls I really didn't know, but that's all part of the adventure of college life, right?
Camping was fun, I need a camping trip every once in a while to rejuvenate me.
But what I find amusing is when you go camping, no matter who you're with, a campfire brings people together. The flames enthrall everyone and eventually the whole group is starting at the fire.
Another beauty I love to look at. Fire. The flames are in constant fluid motion, the coals are complied of intense colors, who couldn't just stare?
I took some really neat pictures of the fire, mostly because it fit in with my next photography assignment, but I ended up with some really cool pictures. Maybe though, they're only cool to me because I love fire so much.
Yes, this weekend I experienced a few simple pleasures. Crunchy leaves. Colorful leaves. A starry night sky. Fire. I have a feeling God knew exactly what he was doing when he created this earth, to an exactness.