What do these pictures have in common?

 

What do these pictures have in common (other than the fact they were all taken by me)?  These pictures were all taken with an inexpensive point and shoot camera.  All have minimal photoshop editing ie. contrast, curves, and minor color correction.  I will admit I am a little irritated by people assuming I take great photos because I have invested in a nice camera. -With that being said yes, my camera gives me full control over the exposure and focus which are qualities that are important to a successful image.

I am not the first photographer to be annoyed with the attitudes that a "nice" camera is the reason for good imagery.  -You can have the best camera in the world and still take horrible imagery.  -What makes a photo successful? -Composition  -Exposure  -Perspective  -Timing  -Framing and more.  -Your camera does not decide what/when to take pictures;You do. The camera does not decide how to look at something; You do.

-I will not tell you that a more sophisticated camera won't be capable of more than the cheaper ones; but what you do with your camera, framing, composition, timing, and exposure is up to you.

 

 

 

Infrared-Dark Skies, Peaceful Waters

This was shot sometime over the summer.  For some reason I overlooked it until recently.  I think it is one of my favorite infrared shots.  -Shooting infrared usually means long exposures and shooting in very hot, humid conditions... not always the most fun- but I love the results!  I really love to see things the way the human eye can't. Maybe in the future I will be able to purchase a used camera and convert the sensor to infrared.  But in the meantime, I love my R72 filter.  :)

2011 and what it has in store!

2011 has a lot of new things in store for me this year.  -I am not all sure what but I am taking it by the horns! I don't consider myself the type of person to make new year's resolutions, because I know I won't keep them if I have to wait to make them. For a long time it has been my goal to run a half marathon. In 2010 I really started training pretty seriously. -Due to some injuries training was put on hold. -If things continue to go well I should be running my first in May!

-In addition to the half-marathon I want to bike with the Muddy Angels, also in May. -From my understanding they bike 88 miles a day (I think) for a week. Muddy Angels is a National EMS Memorial Bike Ride that honors EMT's that have been killed or hurt in the line of Duty.  -January 31st, 2009, my cousin, an EMT was killed in the line of duty responding to a patient. -This is something I want to do in honor of my cousin, Mark Davis.  I am not sure I will ride the whole week just because I have never trained in biking. 

 Last year, 2 men biked the 88 miles in Colorado with Mark's dog tags.  -88 miles through hills, weather, fatigue, hunger, and on an uncomfortable bike seat. -Turns out the two men were brothers and didn't know they both had Mark's tags.  -After their journey they came to my Aunt (Mark's Mom) and gave her the tags that they wore around their necks.  -They told us the fact they were riding for someone helped them to keep going, and I would like to do that for someone else, as well as in honor of Mark. 


In all honesty, I am not sure I can train for both a half marathon and biking in the amount of time that I have (none the less how I am going to pay for all of this).  -Where there is a will, there is a way.....but just in case I am going to see a trainer to see if this is possible. -If anyone has any experience with this or advice it would be greatly appreciated!

First 2 Days of 2011!

New Year's Day we ventured out to Bieber's Mill/Carpenter's Mill in Delaware Ohio.  Here is a link to some more information Carpenter's Mill-Forgotten Ohio. This building was really neat, it is obvious people go there (like us) even though it is restricted.  Despite the fact the floors and roof is gone and has been abandoned for quite some time it has minimal graffiti and trash.  Overall, a must see for anyone who wants to do some "innocent" trespassing.

Today, January 2nd we went to a few different areas in Southern Ohio.  I just want to start off by saying, yes, we do trespass, but we don't break and enter....we only enter.  We still respect the buildings and want others to be able to see what we did without the destruction of other humans.  Overall, it was another great day! Got to see new parts of Ohio I have never seen before and I took pictures to share.