Thursday, April 2, 2009

Look what Mama got !!!

No.......not this little piece of cr......p (oops, did I say that?).
This little.................is responible for so much frustration, lost moments in time, fuzzy memories (and frankly....I don't need any added help there ;) and, did I mention FRUSTRATION?
The shutter speed (or lag) is so ssslllllllllllloooooooooowwwwwwww that said subject was bound to move, thus rendering any settings moot. Now, to be fair, perhaps dropping this little..........may have caused some of the problem but returning it to Sony only drew blanks as they said it was in perfect order. Yeah, right! My little Kodak Easyshare (before this one) took lovely pictures but I could hardly see what I was taking with a, what seemed to be, 2 cm screen so I upgraded to lots of pixels (useless) and a 3 in LCD screen. Ahh...bliss - now I can see my crappy pictures SO much clearer.
So, what's a girl to do? Pull out my hair, whine and plead for an early b-day present (really early as I just had a birthday) or just go out and buy one myself?
So.........that's what I did. And.......I didn't mess around either!
Voila!

Mama's new toy!
Now, all I have to do is.........learn how to use it. Easy peasy, right?
So, last week I went to LLLoseau for a 4 hour course on "learning the body of a D300". Now the workshop had only about 5 men and me - all with the same camera but not necessarily on the same playing field. When the intructor began to talk about aperatures I quickly (ever eager to learn a new word) asked "what's an aperature?", the audible groan emitted from my fellow workshoppers confirmed to me just how steep this learning curve would be. But, I plugged on. During a break, a kindly gentleman (actually looked a little like Santa Clause - said he was a pro but just couldn't be bothered to read the manual) gently touched my arm and said, and I quote - "You're very charming (this was the set-up) BUT, what are you doing with a camera like this? - you could take as good a picture with a point and shoot" (WHAAAATT?)

Need I elaborate on what I WOULD have liked to have said to him? I just smiled somewhat sweetly (I was raised properly after all) and turned around and steeled my resolve to learn this thing if it kills me!!!!!! (Don't say I CAN'T do something - oh yeah, just watch me!)

So, I have a plan.

Susan (from our journey to mei mei) was sweet enough to link me to an on-line company who give all sorts of photography courses (she's taken them and it really shows in her work) and I begin a 4 week course next week with Tony Sweet. It's through betterphotos.com and I'm quite pumped.

First, I have to really learn how this baby works and then I can get a little creative. I'm really looking forward to seeing the tiny little hairs on my darling Dahlia's upper lip as well as finally re-doing by art pictures (which are pathetically poor, I know, you don't have to tell me, I have eyes :) And of course, getting some great shots of baby sister...........very soon!

So.........wish me luck!

PS. Ummm.....er.....I just read over this latest post and the thought "spoiled brat" came quickly to mind (and I wasn't thinking about Dahlia). It's mama who needs the time-out here. Let me just say that I am grateful for any camera and the time and opportunities to take pictures - period. Anything over and above that is bonus.
OK, so I'm getting off the naughty mat now ;)

9 comments:

Snowflowers Mum said...

I'm sort of in the same spot as you...although I'm just hoping to upgrade from my XT to a 50D. I still need MANY lessons and am inspired by so many fellow bloggers to take better photos.

I signed up to a pixel fairy princess workshop, I wonder if there is one in your area.

http://pixelfairyprincess.com/

Snowflowers Mum said...

oops..

http://pixelfairyprincessphotography.com/

Wanda said...

Hey Snowflowers Mum - thanks for commenting but I can't get into your site. You need to enable it.

I've been checking out the pixelfairy site. Looks great but we're no where near there. Oh well. Thanks

Donna said...

Woo Hoo! Now you're cookin!

:)

Donna
Our blog: Double Happiness!

4D said...

Drool....

Keep smilin!

3 Countries 1 Love said...

Oh, I have to check out the link to the online courses. I took a class here through our university's continuing ed dept. but it was a waste of my time!

Our family said...

You are amazing! I come from the land of take a pic through the window while in motion and have been heard to say many times, "Good enough" while doing so.....

You rock! You are an inspiration!!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!

Jennifer

vince1919 said...

geeeez, nikon 300d? hmmmmmm ....... why not the Panasonic ZYTGoodEnuffForWandaProPictureShooter?
I hear it's the camera that Scorcese and Spielberg like best. Guess we all settle. HA!

Vince

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Gorgeous camera... I am finding I need a 12 Step Program when it comes to photography... I am SO addicted... I have a Canon XSi, Canon S3IS and a Canon Powershot SD1200 IS... do you have a Flickr site?
Take care...

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Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!) We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home. This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God. My (growing) family. Hangin' out with my girlies. My wonderful friends (you know who you are!). To laugh (out loud and a lot!). Music. Painting. Hugs. Long chats with my buds. My garden. To read (ha...when I can!). Sunshine. Spring, Spring and more Spring. Building things. Cooking. Decorating. Parties (ahem). The internet. Life. Movies. A.I. Dancing with the stars. So you think you can dance. Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off. Oh Gee...everything actually!!
the long road
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