A Butterfly in the Sun

It's been a little over two months since my husband retired and we moved north from coastal Georgia. Talk about opposite ends of the earth, huh? 


Our house in New York has been rented out since the early 90s.  Needless to say, it needs a lot of TLC.  Of course, renovation means one thing - chaos.

In order to keep myself sane, I decided to do something I've wanted to do for ages - enroll in an online photography course.  Every so often, Tammy Strobel who writes at Rowdy Kittens offers one.

I've always loved Tammy's photography.  When she began to offer photography courses, I would tell myself  'maybe next time'.  No more.  I decided now's the time.  Taking the plunge gave me a sense of normalcy, not to mention help build my confidence in my photography.


Self-Discipline

Having weekly lessons and a group to share our photos with does wonders for keeping me motivated.  I find myself looking forward to each day.  I love seeing photos that others post and reading the comments.  Adding to the old saying of "every picture tells a story," I'm more inclined to write everyday.  It also helps me to stay focused (pun intended) and not to be scattered like my house.


Observation

I'm becoming more keen of my surroundings.  I was at the library the other day when half a dozen delightful butterfly mobiles caught my eye.  My first inclination was to just stand and admire them. Then, I remembered this week's lesson about shooting into the sun.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect opportunity.  

Patience and Experience

I realize that it takes patience. What I see through the lens isn't always the finished product.  For instance, a vibrant evening sky isn't necessarily as vibrant when I'm done.

Everything is a learning process, especially when it comes to light.  It has so many different effects which create a variety of moods.  Last night, I went out just before sunset.  The sky was overcast and made it difficult for me to capture what I intended.  I was rather disappointed, but I posted them, anyway.

After considering some of the comments my peers made, I realized the mood created by the overcast was rather interesting: dreamlike and soft. It wasn't as bad as I first thought.

None of this would be happening if I hadn't taken the plunge.  For so long, I put something off that I really wanted, badly.  Unfortunately, the timing wasn't right.  But, now that I have,

I feel as free as a butterfly in the sun.