P is for Photography ~ The Pursuit of Pretty Pictures

(shimelle.com)

I'm going to school ... camera school that is. Shimelle is offering a FREE camera course on her blog. The lessons are so helpful and easy to understand ... they're not all gacked up with weird acronyms or really long words like like "solarization". What does that even mean?

ohhh, so THAT'S "solarization"

So far, there are three lessons up and I've read them all and done the "assignments". I've wanted to learn to take pictures forever. Plus, did I mention it's FREE?!? I did? Oh. Well, it's EXCITING. FREE STUFF ROCKS.

Unless it's this free stuff. Then maybe you should just say NO.

That's just creepy

I have a kid now and I would love to be able to take pictures of him that aren't blurry, fuzzy, washed out, too pale or too dark ... or make it look like I have a red-eyed demon baby.

MY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PICTURE-TAKING AWESOMENESS

> a camera. duh.

I'm using a point and shoot digital one I picked up for $60 on sale at Wal-Mart. It's a Samsung PL100. I love that it has an LCD screen on the front of the camera. The only problem is there's a bunch of dead pixels on the back screen, meaning there's a weird black spot right where people's faces usually are. Bummer. Someday, I aspire to own a Canon Rebel. Until then, Monsieur Weird Phantom Black Spot (WPBS) is here to stay.

> a hose hanger, a car, a music stand, the grill, the dog (and some duct tape) ...

I don't have a tripod so I've been propping my camera up on anything and everything in order to get that perfect shot.
Someday, I will have a nice tripod. Until then, you will occasionally hear me screaming, "HERSHEY, GET YOUR BUTT BACK HERE WITH MY CAMERA! THE DUCT TAPE IS COMING OFF!"

> a cute baby

What's better to practice photography on? Plus, my munchkin isn't old enough to run away or yell, "NO MORE PIC-SHURRS, MOMMY".
I figure I better take advantage of this while I can.

> GIMP

This is the free version of Photoshop. Lovin' it so far. You can find the download here.

> Picnik

The auto-correct feature on this FREE website is F to the ABULOUS. They also have some cool filters. And remember, FREE IS FREAKING AWESOME. Unless it's an ugly couch ... or 15,000 expired cans of pickled okra. Just sayin'.

> Photobucket

Photobucket helps me store all my videos in a semi-organized fashion. It also makes it easy to resize them to appropriate dimensions for my bloggy.

> Inspiration

My Tumblr
My Pinterest

I've also been clicking around on Click It Up A Notch (did you catch that one? What do you mean, you're tired of my stupid puns? INCONCEIVABLE). And here is a great tutorial from Disney of Ruffles and Stuff. Heart her.

If you've ever wanted to improve your photography skills, join me! Because at Rex Kwon Do, we use the buddy system. NO MORE FLYING SOLO.

Get clickin'!

Caiti