In addition to my family, there are several things I love. My hit-and-miss fascination with reading was mentioned in a recent posting, and, obviously, I like to write and tell stories.
Music, computers, and photography are passions as well. And each overlaps and intersects with the others at different times. In my case, technology has been the uniter, because computers help to merge and indulge my likes and make the mechanical more cerebral.
I’ve always felt inept and useless when it comes to handyman work — it doesn’t come naturally and serves as the source of much frustration. For example, I didn’t enjoy writing until I could type, in part because I spent too much time focusing on the mechanics to compensate for my lack of hand-eye coordination. Keyboarding — mercifully one high school semester of "A, S, D, F, J, K, L, semi. Rinse. Repeat" — ultimately is the class I took the most from after graduation.
In the analog, pre-digital days, photography was a source of fascination and a reminder that my lack of mechanical skills would be the bane of my existence.
Working for small newspapers made taking pictures a necessity, and I enjoyed shooting people with the Pentax camera that was a graduation present. But understanding how to get my camera to do what I wanted so I could capture what I saw was more frustrating than fascinating, especially in the days when post-production was spent inhaling chemicals in a pitch dark room.
That has been eliminated thanks to the digital explosion, and enhanced by a chance to pay tribute to my dad and an opportunity to explore that I never thought I'd have.
My dad was a visual artist who could paint, sculpt, or draw anything that came to mind. I can't draw a stick figure, but I've always had his eye for composition, just not the creativity (or sadly, the fine motor skills) to create something out of nothing.
When we came to New York, I thought of my dad often as I was drawn to the visual explosion that is the city. Dad never visited New York, but in so many ways, the stuff I see walking around serves as a constant reminder of his interests, insights, and influence on my life. Also, when in New York, I spend most of my time on foot as opposed to in a car, so I see things differently when I’m there.
On a beautiful spring day last March, I took out my camera, started taking random pictures of the things I saw, and found I have a knack for it. Thanks to Facebook (and now Flickr), I have outlets to show my hobby to the world (or at least several hundred of my closest "friends"). And my hobby has taken me in new directions as well.
Photography has allowed me to make connections I never would have imagined, and several folks from far-flung places have said they too picked up a camera after seeing my random noodlings. I've even started going out on photo shoots with other weekend warriors, many of whom I've learned from and whose talents are greater than mine.
Recently, I've gotten a number of questions on Facebook about my camera, photography, etc. I don't pretend to have any answers, but here is what I know.
- In terms of cameras, I have a Canon 60D, which is on the lowest rung of the pro-level. Yes, you can get great shots with many of the point and shoots that are out there, and the iPhone's camera is really nice (not so with an iPod Touch).
- That said, a good digital SLR gives you flexibility (faster shutter, no delay, broader range, more settings, different feel in your hand). I desperately want to upgrade my camera body -- like any addiction, photography can be an insidious beast -- but am being patient now for the sake of my finances (and my marriage).
- Lenses matter, too, and they are where you start to spend the bucks. Each gives you different abilities/opportunities (sharp foreground/background blur, panoramic view, zoomed in view) and, depending on how much you're willing to spend to make your photos pop, greater clarity.
Think of it this way: Some people play golf and spend $100 every two weeks for greens fees and equipment. I spend my money on cameras and lenses instead, but just every six months to a year instead of every weekend.
It's all a matter of what you want to do, and how much time you're willing to invest. The beauty of digital is that if you don't like it, you can delete it, and it doesn't cost anything. So go out and start taking pictures. Don't be afraid to bend down or look around, and take the same shot from three different angles. Keep the one you like and delete the others.
If you try it, you might find that you like it, and you can start making those connections, too.
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