I have owned a digital SLR now for about 4 years and have probably only taken a handful of photos that I'm truly happy with. I keep seeing my brother-in-law's photos taken with the same camera and wondering how on earth his look so different to mine. Also with a constant feed of photos being uploaded onto Facebook it's plain to see that I'm missing a trick somewhere.
Someone mentioned in passing to me recently that he had been bought an evening course at a local studio and that I should come along. 3 hours and £50 later I have finally started to understand how to use the camera properly in manual. The following morning I head to Hurlingham park to walk Ruby and it appears that I have learnt a thing!! After taking a few dull and uninspiring photos I retreat to the safe house of Barossa for a few cappuccinos. I figured that I just don't seem to the arty requirements of a good photographer.
That weekend we head to Sussex to stay with A-L's cousins is their beautifully secluded home. The next morning we wake to 6 inches of fresh white powder. We headed out for a walk into the woods and I was immediately inspired and quickly started to understand that photography is all about light.
A white morning walk in the woods
I really enjoyed snapping away at anything and everything that morning and also when we returned to the house. I was becoming more comfortable with the camera now but ultimately still felt something was missing. I got my head into thinking that I need a Canon L series lens which are hugely expensive but do help produce extremely high quality images.
In late February A-L and I took a group of friends to Rock for a weekend of Martini drinking. An equally keen photographer joined us with all his equipment and 3 different lens. He started snapping away and his photos were sharp and also were a very good representation of what he was shooting (in regards to colours). When we arrived back at the house that evening he uploaded his photos and started tweaking them using the iPhoto editing. The difference was incredible. I know that most photographers use photoshop in some form or another but I was so surprised what a difference minor adjustments made.
Polzeath Beach Before
Polzeath Beach After
The above photo was created by simply using the enhance option on iPhoto. The bulk of the mist is cleared the blue sky more apparent and the green grass showing through nicely. That function alone may have just saved me £2,500.
Port Issac Harbour
This photo was taken with no adjustments at all. I played with the aperture settings and snapped. I am really happy with this picture and think I'm on to something. Look back here soon for an update on my photographic abilities.
