CHRISTMAS 2012

All images were shot with a AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G lens.

One of my first pictures.  I was changing the shutter speed but the aperture and film speed was still on auto.  I didn't realize it until the next day!  It's fuzzy, but we'll get there!

ISO 3200 35mm f/5 1/20

Our tree

ISO 800 22mm f/4 1/40

JJ playing, Dada looking on

ISO 1600 22mm f/4 1/30

Clara and her new purse

ISO 900 24mm f/4 1/30

Pretty girl

ISO 2000 38mm f/5 1/30

Dada lookin' good!

ISO 2000 38mm f/5 1/30

As I was taking a picture of the baby climbing the stairs, she fell.  This is me accidentally snapping a picture while I catch her!

ISO 3200 18mm f/3.5 1/20

Experimenting with outdoor, night photography.  JJ was catching snow on his tongue.  I realized that a lot of my settings were still on automatic at this point, but had not yet figured out how to change them all.  That's why my ISO is set at 100.

ISO 100 28mm f/4.5 5.0

The first picture where I manually changed the aperture and film speed.  Notice the depth of field!  

ISO 400 55mm f/5.6 1/4

THE BIG IDEA

I've loved taking pictures all my life.  I took three semesters of Black and White Photography in college, thinking I would change my major from graphic design.  I loved developing film and spending time in the darkroom, watching my images magically appear and editing by hand.  My dream, of course, was to travel the world taking pictures for National Geographic.  Then, practicality set in.  I would have to be the best of the best to get a good paying job, oh, and National Geographic only hires freelancers from an extremely select group of people.  I stuck with graphic design.

Fast forward eleven years later.  I am married with two kids and a good job as an animator for television.  I love my life but something is missing.  Most of the pictures taken are with my phone.  Film is virtually nonexistent.  Finding a place to develop and print is close to impossible.  I miss taking real pictures.  I've missed it for a while but never had the means to buy a decent camera.  I asked for one for Christmas and my husband and parents pitched in to make it happen.

It is a midlevel digital, but I guess I have to move on from film.  It's been a while since I've taken pictures, taking into consideration aperture, shutter speed and depth of field.  This blog is my journey from day one, learning and experimenting with my camera.  You are welcome to watch me grow!