Flowers

A while ago I wrote that I was a flower photography course. I can only say that I don't think it's really my thing. I know it would help if I took more of them, but I'm not really happy about the way they are turning out. Other people are sharing and their photos look fantastic and I look at mine and think...nope...I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I like flowers. I can't grow them, don't generally buy them, but I like wandering around a garden looking at them. It's just when I go to photograph them it doesn't turn out quite like I think it should in my head. 

Last week the lesson was about Contrejour which is basically shooting into the sun. It would help if there was sunshine. Anytime I found flowers I thought would work the sun was in the wrong position. I'm hoping to try that one out while we're away. 

This week's lesson was finding the hero flower. I quite liked this lesson as it's something I tend to do anyway. Unfortunately I didn't really find one this week. While I was out looking I did find several things on flowers. 

A spider on a flower - rather long legs!

Raindrops on a flower (plenty of those around)

And even a bug!

This is sort of what a hero flower should look like. This is one I took last year while visiting Mum. A hero flower stands out against all the others. 

I haven't shared any of these in our Facebook 'classroom'. I keep repeating the motto of A Year with my Camera (the flower course is through the 'owner' of it Emma Davies who is mainly a flower photographer) which is 'The only photographer I will compare myself to is me'. I suppose if I look at the course that way I am learning something. I am getting outside my comfort zone and trying new things. I'm even learning something about myself. 

Another Week

It's been a few days since I've posted, but this week is a lot better than last week. I'm not getting as much done as I hoped, but I am getting things done - that's more than happened last week!

I got my new chair for my craft room desk and it's a definite improvement. Not perfect, but I can sit in it for more than ten minutes without my tailbone hurting. I actually got up in my room yesterday and worked on a couple of things. I'll probably have some cards to show in a few days. I've been spending a lot of my spare time taking photos. I think I said before that I'd signed up for a flower photography course. It's quite technical - I had to get out my tape measure and measure how far I am from my flowers, the depth of my flowers. Phew. It's supposed to really help to get the flower all in focus. I'm struggling a little, but it's not something that I can't learn. I just have to keep going. I am finding it enjoyable which is that main thing. Here's one of the photos I took of my single flower.

I went out today and had lunch with a friend. I haven't seen her since Christmas so it was a lovely treat. She brought along her beautiful granddaughter. She's about 16 months and was such a treat. She's been through a lot in her young life (including heart surgery). She has Down Syndrome. She's such a cheerful little girl - always smiling and really funny. She pulls such dramatic faces. I was so glad to meet her. I've seen lots of photos so it was good to see her in person.

I don't have a lot planned for the rest of the week. We are having our first sort-of camping (we'll be in the semi-rustic mini cabin) this long holiday weekend so got some things to do before then.