I have, thanks to my sweet husband, a ridiculously nice camera. :o) Sadly, I have never really done much other than the auto settings. I have many excuses, I mean, reasons for this. I could detail them all for you but would probably bore you to tears, so I will move on to the good stuff. The other day I went out with my camera, while baby was napping, to try and capture the flowers in the kids’ “gardens”. I was very excited to be out with my camera but the lighting wasn’t very good and, within a short period of time, I became so frustrated I wanted to throw a screaming tantrum. I managed, barely, to refrain from this because I didn’t want to explain to the kids why it was ok for me but not for them. I knew I couldn’t fool them! ;o) The pics looked like this: 
Over exposed and crummy. I came in the house and plopped down in front of the puter to pout when a random idea came to mind. I decided, once again, to read THIS great series on making the jump to manual settings. I read and re-read the series and then went back out. I decided to start the process slowly and just use the Aperture priority setting on my camera. The results were not what I had hoped for
STILL over exposed! I was sorely tempted to give up and just figure that noon on a bright sunny day was impossible but I persevered and decided to try Manual. The very word strikes fear in my heart, makes my palms sweaty, and my stomach churn. I decided a long time ago that I was too stupid to learn it and really didn’t want to prove it to myself that day. My first attempt was not as over exposed, but the depth of field was off because my aperture setting was wrong
So I tried the opposite extreme and it was, no surprise, under exposed
I then fiddled with some middle of the road settings and got these:
and my favorite
None are perfect but they are better than I thought I could possibly do, so I am pleased. I am also encouraged to keep on trying to learn manual settings. :o) My friend Abbi O. is spurring me on also. Maybe, before I am completely old and gray, I will have it figured out! ;o)
*All pics in this post are SOOC*
This evolution of pictures is fantastic! I love seeing your process, and how you kept going and trying. That is how I have been feeling lately with this writing class I am taking. At first I hate my work and want to throw it out! But there is my instructor expecting my work, so I try and try and try until finally I feel okay about it. Its hard to do what I tell the kids to do all the time. Stick to it B. You have the eye for these things! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletemamagriffith
Umm...I liked them all :) The last was best, though. Did the hydrangea pics. turn out?
ReplyDeleteThey look wonderful to me! I'm a full-fledged auto photographer and you're efforts with a camera are so impressive.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love seeing the progression. I admit the manual settings on my camera scare me too, but you've inspired me to try. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed Bep! Those are beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteLKS