Back where I started

OK...now that rant season is over, I'll try to get back to the reason I started this little endeavour.  Well, really, there were two reasons.  First, I needed/wanted an outlet to share my learning adventure as I rediscover photography and I didn't want to do that on Farcebook (that's a typo that's staying!).  

The second reason is I wanted to learn more about blogging.  

In the past year, I've started and discontinued a 365-project.  Maybe once I'm retired, I'll take another stab at it!  I was a bit of purist (and a lot naive) to think that anyone with a full time job and a 2 hour commute could shot a new photo everyday, process it and post it...all while learning the ins and outs of a new way of taking photographs.

Although I didn't limit my last few posts to my photographic journey (sorry)...I have found that attempting to post about once a week is not so bad.   So, this is where I get back to where I started and I'll be sharing my little photographic adventure with you...whoever you are.  It helps me to think I have an interested audience, so in my mind there are more of you out there than just my husband!

Last September (2009), I joined a photo club.  I was a little hesitant at first, but what a fantastic group of people...some have been involved in photography for over 50 years!  Others are completely new to the concept of images created by light (and shadow).  Others like myself, were quite familiar with film cameras, put it aside for awhile, and have rediscovered photography all over again with a digital camera.

I didn't get out to all of our sessions (or outings) this year, but when I did, I learned so much...the best session was a very spontaneous Q & A session regarding shooting in RAW.  As much as I was captivated by the almost instant gratification of using a digital camera, I was completely baffled by some of the new terminology, concepts.

RAW was one of them...anyway, one of the club members was able to provide a very basic non-techy answer that was not at all condescending (that's a talent!)  I had tried shooting in RAW a few times, but was always frustrated in the processing end.  As it turns out...I was skipping the "conversion" step...and without that, you can't do much with your image!

I was able to go from this:

To this:

 ...and then to this:

That's it folks...have a good night!