As you may have noticed, my photography Friday posts have been spotty to non-existent lately. I think this reflects the fact that changes need to be made in both how I do photography and how I do these posts. First, although I like doing fiction reviews on saturday, I think I’m going to swap days. From now own I’ll have a “Snapshot Saturday” as part of the corresponding meme and will post fiction on Friday. This means that if I realize at the last minute that I have no pictures to post, it’s a weekend and I can go out and take some.
Additionally, I recently entered some of my photography in the state fair and all of them got rejected. Disappointing, but also a cause for reflection. I’m happy with my photography. I’ve learned how to use my camera in manual or aperture priority mode to achieve the effects I want, including a thin focus on my subject with a blurred background. I even know how to intentionally create bocca! But I’ve plateaued. I currently take pictures whenever I happen to have the time, without any advance planning or intentional practice of my technical skills and I’d really like that to change. Currently I take good pictures, but I live within driving distance of a bird sanctuary and 18 waterfalls – I should be able to take great photos, if I simply devote the time to planning and practicing. So that’s what I’m going to do. Expect to see occasional Snapshot Saturdays that include photography book reviews, notes on what skills I’m practicing, and hopefully improving pictures 🙂
Doing Dewey 
I think the bird pictures are lovely! I’m trying to get the hang of shooting in manual mode myself…
It takes awhile to get used to shooting in manual! I’ve gotten the hang of it pretty well, but for shooting things that are going to be moving, I find I need to use aperture priority to be able to change setting fast enough.
What great shots! Love your bird photos!
Thanks Vicki 🙂
You can always try again to have your photos accepted or find somewhere else to submit them. I love your photos, but I really love birds. Have a great weekend!
I think I’ll probably try some local exhibits next time I want to enter pictures in a competition and hopefully it will go better 🙂 I didn’t take a lot of bird pictures before I moved to Ithaca, but they’ve gotten to be one of my favorite subjects since.
Sounds like a great plan! And an awesome way to get outside and enjoy nature. Plateauing is so frustrating, it’s a give up or keep going moment so good for you for feeling more spurred on to get better.
Thanks Alice! I have found that one of the best ways to get good pictures it to have interesting experiences, so trying to get better pictures will hopefully motivate me to go to new places and do new things 🙂
Best of luck developing your photography skills, birds are very hard to photograph, not at all cooperative!
Thanks Louise! It can take a lot of patience just to get one picture of a bird so I’m hoping I can find places like the local bird sanctuary where I’ll see enough birds to get in a lot of practice 🙂
I admire your ability to use a “fancy” camera at all. I take awful pictures with a 10 year old Kodak digital. Not very rewarding . Good luck and I’ll bet you improve your skills a great deal in the coming months.
Thanks Judy. It’s taken some getting used to and I’m sure there’s still a lot more I can learn, but I very much enjoy the cases where I can get it to do exactly what I want 🙂
Love the photos. Great job!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Saturday Snapshot
Thank you 🙂
I think the love of photography will keep you headed toward improvement! If you’re happy with your photos, that’s really all that’s important. The fact that you want to improve and learn more about your camera and camera techniques, will only help you take more interesting and fun snapshots! Go for it!
Thanks Susan 🙂 I’m really excited to read more about ways to take better pictures and I’d love to make more time for photography than I currently do, so I think I’ll enjoy trying to get better.
You do fancier stuff with your camera than I do, and it shows in your pictures! The bird pictures are beautiful. As long as you’re happy with your pictures, what others say doesn’t matter!
Thanks Julie! I am pretty happy with them, but I would also enjoy getting better. I’m going to try and keep an eye on myself and make sure I don’t stress out about it though 🙂
Your photos are lovely, and it is so difficult to photograph wildlife. So long as you are enjoying learning that is the main thing.
Thanks Ginny 🙂 I’m excited to start making more time for photography and trying to get better!
Great photos!
Thanks Pat 🙂
Birds are very challenging since they are usually in motion and never want to wait for us to get ready for the shot. I use shutter priority on a lot of my bird shots. If I have enough light I’ll set it as fast as I can. Then if the bird sticks around I’ll switch to aperture priority.
A bird sanctuary and 18 waterfalls sounds lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing some of those photos.
It’s true! I think shutter priority for birds sounds like a great idea and I’ll have to try it 🙂
This week I’m trying to get out and scout a few of the waterfalls so I can figure out when the light will be best to get pictures, I’m very excited to get some more planned pictures!
I’m looking forward to Snapshot Saturdays, I always like seeing your photos you took! 🙂
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
Thanks Alice! I’m excited to start taking some more thoughtful photos 🙂
Great shots!
Thanks Peggy 🙂