Andrea Trotter's Creative Space

Unconditional Love - Gentlemen Without Weapons

2010-10-26T08:19:00.001-07:00

I bought this CD when I was about 16 :)

stuff I'm getting much clarity on...

2010-10-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

And the tribe grows.
We have been together many times, each time gathering information, working to a state of enlightenment. This time, it’s different. We will collect in small communities and network all over the world to form one light tribe of Earth.

We are called.
That feeling that there is someone you need to meet, somewhere you need to go is important. Listen to it. You are being led. You will meet and resonate with the ones you need to work with.

There will be challenges.
Our time here is a game of sorts, and definitely a test. Your role and interactions shape your experience, and when adversity strikes, you only have control over how you react to it. Each experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. Jump in without fear.

Let go of all attachments.
In order to freely love, you must release all of the stories of need, and ownership. Nothing and nobody belongs to you, and you belong to no one. The stuff of the human world isn’t the focus of the reality.

There are two human emotions, fear, and love.
Live in love, and fear dissolves. Live in light and dark dissolves. We are shown the other side for contrast, but do not need to dwell there. We are of the light, and we live in love.

Our survival depends on supporting each other.
Each given gifts, we work together to be a strong community. Empowering others as we shine in our own strengths.

Be the change…
It’s time to wake up. Synchronicity is everywhere when you allow it. Release your old ways, and reduce the interactions with people that don’t now serve your highest good. We cannot help anyone but ourselves, and in doing so; we shine a beacon that inspires others to find their own light.

beautiful...

2010-09-12T08:22:00.001-07:00

Bottling vs. Releasing

2010-08-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, just got clarity from a 2 year old... Pay attention to what's going on around you, there are lessons everywhere!

I know that holding in tension, stress, sadness, and anger isn't productive. We are given the ability to FEEL so we can fully experience being human. Scream out your anger, cry out your sadness, and sing out your happiness, and dance out pure joy...

Watch a kid. Closely. What do they do that we can learn from? While we aren't stifling their desire to BE fully in the space of expression and creativity, when we ALLOW them to BE, what do they do?

Feeling weird, as usual :)

2010-04-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

The gift of an ordinary day...

2010-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

Watching this made me realize that my photography isn't just for "special occasions", because every moment is a special occasion. Life is a series of moments we can fully experience, or let pass by. Which do you choose?

"Why are Professional Photographers so Expensive?!"

2009-12-09T19:28:00.001-08:00

Putting a price on art is always a tricky thing. Art is valued mostly by the people who appreciate it, and the amount of time, effort, and talent going into different types of art varies vastly.

I was flipping through Professional Photographer magazine and came across this article by Shawn Richter of Caught on Film Photography, in San Diego.

"WHY ARE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS SO EXPENSIVE?"

My first thought was... "Am I?"
After reading this article, I am completely comfortable with the rate I have decided on.

My intentions are to keep my prices low enough that my clients can get photos often, and offer prints at a price that gets most of, or all of their images in their hands.

I also am a dedicated work from home mom with two young kids that I will be home schooling. I am happy to work alone, and keep the amount of hours I work low.

The point is that we all have a place, and a talent that we can share with the world. I'm just one person, doing what I love, and I happen to get paid for it. I am thrilled to be in this place, and to be able to share what I can do with you...

What's your talent?

Hee hee hee!

2009-12-02T22:37:00.001-08:00

I can't watch this too much.

2009-10-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Top Line Foods

2009-10-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

As a stay at home mom, I cook 3 meals a day most of the week. Recently I was browsing Natural AZ and found a company called Top Line Foods. They boast organic, free range, grass fed, hormone free, wild caught... DELIVERED! You know, all the things that are desirable the more we find out about how our food is handled and raised.

The ad said something about a free sample box. I set up an appointment and am SO GLAD I DID!

The first rep that I spoke with was helpful, and friendly, answering the few questions I had. The day before our appointment, I got a call from Tom Gundrum, one of the 3 owners of the company. Apparently the other guy wasn't able to make it, so he was filling in.

The next day, he visited my home, bringing a sample box with steak, salmon, chicken, and burgers. It was nice to see how they packaged their food. Vacuum sealed, and mostly individually wrapped. We went over all of the items they offer, and came up with a menu that would work for our family.

After discussing everything with my husband, and sampling the meats, we decided to give it a try. Tom was flexible with the plans they offer to suit our needs, and we got our first 3 months of food delivered about 2 weeks later.

The fist thing I have to say about their products is the convenience is fantastic. Go to the freezer, grab a meat, and a veggie. The way the meats are frozen allows them to that in about 15 minutes in cold water. THIS IS SUPER COOL! I don't like what microwaves do to meat when thawing, and I rarely plan dinner more than an hour before I want to be eating it.

The second thing is the flavor...
When we sample the meats, we added no salt, or seasonings. Grass fed free range beef... Fantastic. The salmon converted my sister too. She had tried salmon numerous times and never liked the flavor. She was happy to eat this salmon, even without butter, lemon, or salt.

Tonight we had Chicken Tandoori Makhani and green beans with cashews and ginger. 3 chicken breasts from the freezer, and a bag of green beans, I found the Makhani sauce at Big Lots. They often have unusual exotic foods. 30 minutes later, we're eating a fantastic meal that measured up to many restaurants at a fraction of the cost. There was even enough leftover for Jason to take for lunch tomorrow.

Here's a couple of things to know, or consider if you want to try out Top Line Foods.
~ You will still need to go to the grocery store. They do not provide everything an average family eats, mainly not dairy, breads and cereals, and fresh produce. HOWEVER, your grocery bill will probably be reduced because of the elimination of many impulse buys. Another thing to consider is the QUALITY of the food you are getting.

~ You can customize your menu based on what your family eats. You start by crossing off foods you wouldn't want. Then the value of these foods, measured in points, can be applied to other items you want more of.

I'm very happy with it so far. If this sounds like something you might like to try out, give them a call, and enjoy a visit and a sampler of some top line foods.

Wow, I sound like a commercial, and they aren't even paying me :)

Signed,
Andrea, the satisfied customer

yes.

2009-09-01T08:21:00.001-07:00

ART! It's ART!!!

2009-08-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

This is almost creepy, but so cool!

2009-08-10T00:59:00.000-07:00

A Ca Pella - The best home videos are here

Whoa...

2009-08-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

earth album is a simpler, slicker Flickr mash-up that allows you to explore some of the most stunning photos in the world courtesy of Google maps and Flickr. To begin your journey, just click somewhere on the map, e.g. "India". Note-- since the top Flickr images are used, the images change every few weeks; bookmark this site and check back for a different experience in a month!

http://www.earthalbum.com/

and another amazing site...

http://breathingearth.net/

Juice.

2009-08-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

Holiday Photo Session Package

2009-08-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's August, and the stores already have the holiday stuff out. I know, I know, you don't want to hear this, but it's time to get a jump start on your holiday cards, and I have an awesome deal for you!

Go here to see.

You'll be glad you did!

Amador Family

2009-08-09T22:04:00.001-07:00

It was a very warm morning when I met this beautiful family at Falcon Hill Park. Until the sprinklers came on, and everyone cooled off a bit.

It's long, but so true... Take the time to listen.

2009-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Kelly Family

2009-07-29T15:14:00.001-07:00

My kiddos...

2009-07-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

I seem to be taking more photos of other people's kids than my own, so here's a handful of a joyous water playtime they had a couple weeks ago. It's so hot here, you can't be outside without the water...

Incredible how technology can push people apart...

2009-06-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

and bring them together...

Tolerance?

2009-06-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

A friend recently said something about the concept of tolerance vs. acceptance.
It struck a chord with me.

As I grow, and explore my role and relation to other people, and the universe I am faced with people and things that I can decide how to interact with. How to respond to.

To simply tolerate these things and people seems empty, pointless, and cold. To accept, embrace, learn from, and love them feels so much better.
We need more love in the world.

To anyone reading this, here is my message to you.

You are beautiful. As you are.
Your true self is simply perfect, and I want to know you.
You can believe whatever you want, and I may not believe the same things, and I accept you.
You can love whoever and however feels right to you. I hope you love everyone you meet. I love you.

Go say this to yourself in the mirror...

I am beautiful. As I am.
My true self is simply perfect, and I want to know me.
I can believe whatever I want, and others may not believe the same things, but I accept me.
I can love whoever and however feels right to me. I love everyone I meet. I love me.

Now go say it to someone else...

Comparisons

2009-05-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

I try not to blog random ramblings. If I wrote every day, or even every week, you'd be bored to tears with the randomness of my mind. This topic has been kicking around in there for a while.

I often notice people really focusing on who is "better", and comparing their qualities, abilities, possessions, and other attributes to others to see how they stack up. This often comes into play with small business owners, and unfortunately often turns into putting down your competition.

Here's a thought.

I know, this is crazy, but think about it.

Compare yourself...

Only...
To...

Yourself!

The best version of yourself that has, does, thinks, and possesses everything they want.

Everyone has something to offer, so how about this?

Let's balance, and compliment each other!

So maybe now, the question comes up... Where is this coming from?
The answer is this:
I've been working on building my photography business. I've been updating my website, assembling portfolios and samples, and meeting some fantastic people that you will see in my portfolios. I've been to a couple of seminars recently, and chatted with other photographers.

The first seminar, was presented by Sandy "Sam" Puc of Expressions Photography. I went with a friend, Miki DeVivo, of Pure Child Photography. It was so wonderful to listen to Sam, and learn from her. Her energy is contagious. She's candid, silly, and very real. Her devotion to giving back to the world is also heart melting.

The second seminar I went to was by wedding and event photographer David Ziser.

In a room of 300 people eagerly absorbing information from the veteran photographer in the front of the room, there seemed to be a little tension... Like racehorses in the starting gates, chomping at the bit. Who gets to use these new ideas first? Who gets that new client before their "competition"?

I sat back and watched.

...and listened.

This is what I heard the man at the front of the room say. My take away from the seminar was one concept.

"Focus on your differences."

In a world where anyone can go buy a really nice camera and print a handful of business cards and call himself a photographer, the key is doing something to make yourself stand apart from the crowd.

Yeah.

I like that.

So last night I was browsing my bookmarked photographer's sites, appreciating each one for the things that made them different. It's wonderful that clients have a choice! I had Kathryn Smith do maternity and newborn photos for both of my babies. Actually, the photo above the "blog" link is a photo of my kids! Her work is amazing, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for that style.

Another local photographer I spent some time browsing last night is Treasure the Time Photography by Sandi Bradshaw. Go see her work. Make sure you're sitting down. It's mind blowing. I was especially teary, (yes seriously) over her blog images with the girl and her horses on April 23rd.

I read recently that fine art photography is that which creates an emotional response in the viewer. Yeah, Sandi, Miki and Kathryn (among others!) all do that. Do I consider them to be my competition? Nope. I consider them to be sister artists that want to do the same thing that I'm doing. We express ourselves differently, we may attract different clients, but we want that emotional response.

So now that I have this down, I can return to my regularly scheduled pile of things to do, and get my pricing schedule compiled!

Updating again!

2009-05-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'm really enjoying me new software, and just created a banner for my website to showcase some of my recent photography.
At this exact moment, I'm seriously ready to go to bed...
Go see, and lemme know what you think!

Really Enjoying this!!

2009-04-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, and true... Take some time to read and reflect on this one!

2009-03-31T15:58:00.001-07:00

Here I am again.

2009-02-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

Reprioritizing. My spell checker put a red line under that one, but I think it's a word.

I was spending a lot of time working on assignment 8 of 10 in my writing course from the Institute for Children's Literature when I stopped and asked myself, "What am I doing?"

I was stressing about turning in this article when I realized, with great clarity, that I really didn't have any good reason to be spending my time that way.

Instead of finishing my assignment, I wrote a letter to my instructor and said I was withdrawing from the course. It was so liberating. It may seem silly, but I guess I wasn't considering that taking the course was my decision, and so ending it could be too.

So here I am, I've found out that I love photography, design, and helping people build their small businesses. I'll be working on a secret book project with a friend, and will post all about it after it is published. For now, color me busy, happily busy... and contact me if I can help you out!

Don't laugh...

2009-01-12T14:07:00.001-08:00

Red Bubble

2008-12-24T00:13:00.001-08:00

Another place to find my art laying around...

That song keeps popping into me head...

2008-12-03T22:49:00.001-08:00

But it's not why I made this one...

Life is a dance.

Stop...
Listen...
Love...
Dance...

Go.

People Portraits

2008-12-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

I took photos for some friends this weekend. The
De Lano family didn't even think twice when I asked them to sit on the edge of the concrete under the park bench and look up so I could take an upside-down photo of them! I guess they already know I'm a bit out of the box.

At Freestone Park, in Gilbert, Arizona, there were easily a dozen photographers with their clients on Sunday. I was there at Noon, and again at 4PM. The park is attractive to photographers with its rolling hills, boulders, ponds, and fountains. We just had a few days of rain as well, so everything was bright and green.

The Siegels are very good friends of ours. It's not hard to capture the happiness that they share, especially the joy of a new addition coming very soon!

We spent some time at the park, and took a train ride. It was a beautiful day.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

2008-12-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

I've lived in Arizona for almost 8 years now. Sometimes, I think I might be missing the winter of the Midwest. In those moments, I take a trip outside and remind myself why I live here.

I took the kids and my camera to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum yesterday. It's about 30 minutes east of us. I'm not sure why we don't go more often, that must be remedied...

We spent a few hours there. Ollie free to run and explore, and I enjoyed taking some photos. Brandy examined the outside world from the stroller, then napped for a while. The air was cool, the sun was warm, the sky was clear blue. We were surrounded by the sounds of bugs, birds, water, breezes in the trees, and most of all, silence. Sitting in the Eucalyptus forest under towering trees, we enjoyed everything there. Ollie made friends with some rocks, and laid down in the dirt at one point. We watched bees buzz from flower to flower, and found the goldfish hiding in the pond.

So I ask myself... Why on earth would I ever go to the mall again when I can go there?

Portrait Session

2008-11-20T00:04:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I set up a backdrop in the boutique of the Apache Junction laundromat boutique and took some photos. It started when I was renting an appliance dolly from their U-Haul portion of the business. I spoke with the owner, Julie, and she found out I was a photographer. One thing led to another and there I was. I was also able to use it as a fund raiser for a friend. She is taking a trip to Europe as a student ambassador next summer. Here are some of the results of my first "on-site" portraits! I learned a few things, and overall it was a good experience.

This is Danie, the student ambassador friend of mine!

Karen McLain - Oil Painter

FallWinterSpring is here!

2008-11-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

It's November and the weather finally warrants wearing two layers, and spending time outside without dying of heat exhaustion.
I took the kids to the park yesterday. It was sunny and about 68 in the late morning. We watched the ducks for a while, and Ollie played on the playground. I sat in the grass with Brandy, enjoying the fresh air. This is why I love living here.
Though the summer is insanely hot, from November until about April it is absolutely lovely.
I don't mind snow, in fact I like it quite a bit, but the sub zero temperatures simply don't sit well with me. If I want to see snow, I can drive a couple of hours and do that, even go skiing! I will admit that the holiday season is a bit strange without snow. People DO put lights on their cacti. Seriously.

I'd rather deal with 115 heat here, because after all, "IT'S A DRY HEAT!" There, I said it... Though the residents of the desert have significantly increased the humidity levels here with golf courses, grass, pools, fountains, and non-native plants that require more water, the average is still under 40%. It sort of equates to walking into a convection oven. During the hottest part of the summer it is simply impossible to spend much time outside. Your body can't absorb enough to keep up with the rate of loss. That sounds crazy, but it's true. In the summer, we hibernate in our air conditioning, paying ridiculously high bills to keep cool.

I love our proximity to everything and nothing. From my house, it's 30 minutes to downtown Phoenix, but in the other direction it's also 30 minutes to Tortilla Flat (population 6). It only takes a few minutes to be in the mountains and feel like you are alone in the world. Once in a while, I get in the car and go out to the mountains just to remember how pretty it is. On that note, I'm heading out to spend some time with my horse. He is growing a shaggy winter coat since the nights have become quite cool...

new canvases

2008-11-04T15:47:00.001-08:00

Lesson learned.
When your 2 year old
is saying, "Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot.",
look over and see what he is doing.

In tune.

2008-11-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

Through recent interactions and encounters with many types of people and animals, I can honestly say that I get what being "In Tune" is.

It's like if you are listening to a radio that's just a little bit off. There is static. It's irritating until you can get it tuned just right, then the irritating feeling disappears and your mind says, "Yeah, that's it!"

I first experienced it while riding my instructor's horse. I'm learning to ride, the horse is teaching me, my instructor is teaching me. I'm doing my best to turn OFF my brain. To stop thinking and start feeling. The horse is looking for me to do a very specific thing to explain what I want from her.

It's not verbal.

I have to figure out what it feels like, so I listen to my trainer, process what she says, then ask the horse. Usually the first time it doesn't work, there is static. The second and third times I get a better feel for what I'm asking for, and how to ask for it. I ask again, and it comes in nice and clear. At that moment, we're in tune with each other.

The photo I attached to this blog reminded me of this concept. I took it at Via Colori, in Scottsdale. It is part of a larger work that can be viewed here. I liked this piece because it was one of the few done in black and white. The woman drawn is blindfolded, she quiets all of the outside voices, and ignores noisy thoughts to obtain peace and be in tune with the universe.

Some of my Art on Red Bubble

2008-10-29T16:07:00.001-07:00

Sounds about right...

2008-10-27T17:52:00.001-07:00

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Non-conformist, Visionary, and Independent

10 Abstract, -17 Islamic, -4 Ukiyo-e, 8 Cubist, -15 Impressionist and -16 Renaissance!

Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of what may appear to others as visual realities. Western had been underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. It allowed the progressive thinking artists to show a different side to the world around them. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a 'new kind of art' which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. Abstract artists created art that was diverse and reflected the social and intellectual turmoil in all areas of Western culture.

People that chose abstract art as their preferred artform tend to be visionsaries. They see things in the world around them and in people that others may miss because they look beyond what is visual only with the eye. They rely on their inner thoughts and feelings in dealing with the world around them instead of on what they are told they should think and feel. They feel freed from the tendancy to be bound by traditional thought and experiences. They look more toward their own ideas and experiences than what they are told by their religious upbringing or from scientific evidence. They tend to like to prove theories themselves instead of relying on the insight or ideas of others. They are not bound by common and mundane, but like to travel and have new experiences. They value intelligence, but they also enjoy a challenge. They can be rather argumentative when they are being forced or feel as if they are being forced to conform.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Weirdness.

2008-10-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

weird - of strange or extraordinary character

I like weird. I like weird people, and weird things.
To be able to step outside of what is expected and do something different is, to me, is the mark of someone who is comfortable with himself.

This guy, is definitely weird. He's a photographer of a different sort, and has created something amazingly unique. I'd say he's extraordinary! How cool is this...

Photoshop tutorials, self teaching, home schooling....

2008-10-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking lately about teaching, learning, and home schooling. If I had to decide from my own experience with school, I would definitely go with home schooling for my kids. Here's why.
Everyone learns in different ways, and expecting kids to fit in a cookie cutter curriculum seems wrong.
When I was in school, I was very quiet. If I was in a classroom and didn't understand something, I was not the type to raise my hand and interrupt the class. So, I often fell behind in the class, and didn't learn as much as I could have, sometimes nearly failing. I did really well in art, music, and English, but math, history, and science didn't agree with me.
In high school I had a tutor for biology for a short time. The one-on-one attention helped, but after he was gone I struggled again.

My two year old is learning every day. We don't have a TV on. I spend time with him enjoying piles of books and toys. We go places, and I teach him in every situation we are in. Whether it's the types and colors of fruits in the grocery store, or picking letters out on signs and packages, I talk to him, and he absorbs it.
Sometimes I'm talking to him in the grocery store, and will get a weird look from a stranger. It's as if they don't get that I am talking to my child like he is a real person!

So I've figured out that I'm good at learning things that I am interested in, and that are interactive. I've become a fan of Photoshop tutorials. I can learn one thing at a time, step by step, and I can refer back if it is confusing. I found an effect that I've always liked and tried it on one of my photos. It's my first attempt, but I thought it came out pretty well.

If you are interested in learning how to create this effect, I used this resource.

Education is power, but only if you learn something!

Looking forward to seeing Ani this Wednesday...

2008-09-22T12:34:00.001-07:00

Ani DiFranco talks about her home birth...

Ani DiFranco Interview with Mindful Mama Magazine from Mindful Mama Magazine on Vimeo.

A Happy Moment

2008-09-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

I love horses, and have all my life. When I was a little girl, I went to girl scout horseback riding camp. Everyone changed their clothes after we went on our rides at the dude ranch, except me. I loved the smell of horses, and leather and intended to keep it with me for the rest of the day.

A magnificent black and white paint horse appeared in my dreams regularly. There was something about tobiano paints that I adored. I even adopted a black and white dog and called him "Tobiano".

When I was 29 I declared that I needed to own a horse by the time I was 30, or I would throw a fit that would be heard on the other side of the world. (Arguably not the most effective way to accomplish a goal, but it renewed my desire to make it happen.)

I was 29 1/2 when I bought my horse, a black and white, tobiano yearling stud colt. My wonderful husband nodded and smiled as I showed him pictures of the muddy baby horse I had just fallen love with. I named him Mojo. Most horse people would think what I did was a questionable move for a first horse. It could have been, but I was sure it was the right thing to do. It was. The horse from my dreams now lives in my back yard!

We spent the first two years of our relationship getting to know and trust each other. I called him my "biggest dog". He now deals with and accepts just about anything. Just before he turned four I found a wonderful trainer that teaches natural horsemanship. We started from the ground up, and after about 10 months (during which I was pregnant, so we went took things nice and slow), we have him quite happily under saddle. Only my trainer has been on him so far, except a few minutes I was on him the other night. This brings me back to the point of this blog...

Now, we're training me. While some people that have been on trail rides say they know how to ride a horse, actually doing it on a horse that isn't trained to simply walk in a straight line from point A to point B and back is a different game.

Today I had my first lesson with my trainer's gray Andalusian mare. We started with some groundwork. The difference between working with my horse, and this one was immediately evident. She tested me, challenged me, and asked me if I meant it. I stuck with it, and applied what I knew. It worked! I earned her respect and we saddled and bridled her.

My trainer had her by a lead and coached me from the ground. This was no pony ride! Knowing she was there was like an insurance plan. It allowed me to figure out what I was doing without worrying. What an amazing feeling to ride a horse that won't do what you ask unless you ask right.

Needless to say, it went really well, and will now be a weekly thing to keep my learning curve in line with Mojo's.

What makes a photographer?

2008-09-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am often asked if I am a photographer. My answer is, well, I have a few cameras, and take a lot of pictures, so, yes!
What makes a person a photographer?
What I know is that being a "photographer" takes really only 2 things.
1. A camera.
2. A subject.
Obviously this doesn't make you a professional, or even an artist by default, but it's a start. The bottom line is that it's an art form, and in many ways, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

The picture here was taken by me, yesterday. My daughter was on her changing table, and the light from the window was so right, and she looked up at me. Snap. There it is. A little Photoshop color editing for a nice soft sepia, a sweet frame (tutorial courtesy of Helen Bradley as a guest blogger on Digital Photography School), and I have what I think is a beautiful little work of art, and I'm not just talking about my daughter!
Not bad right?

So, am I a photographer? Sure I am! I get compliments on my work all the time. I love sharing and seeing other people's work. I've been using different digital cameras for over 10 years, and have only recently purchased a nice digital SLR. Some of my best photos have been taken with point and shoot cameras!

So, are YOU a photographer?

Here are some of my tips for exploring your inner shutterbug:
1. DO take lots of pictures, especially if you're shooting digital, because it's FREE. Even fantastic photographers take a lot of shots to get the real gems.
2. Experiment, experiment, experiment! Try several different settings of the same shot, find out what makes you smile when you see the result.
3. DO sharpen your skills. Just like the frame I made above was an online tutorial (did I mention FREE?), there are bunches of simple tutorials to help you turn your snapshots into works of art. Everyone has different taste, so find what feels right for your style.
4. DO share your work, and be ready to get critiqued. Put on some tough skin, and learn from it! Join a local hobbyist photography club.
5. DON'T compare yourself to others. There are many amazingly talented photographers out there. I could name off a dozen right now. Remember that it is an art form, and everyone has a unique perspective on what looks good.
6. DON'T worry about how the camera works just yet. There are many people with amazing technical photography skills producing mediocre shots, and some with a simple point and shoot that just have that eye for what looks good. Things like focal length, f-stop, EXIF, ISO, or even "megapixel" may sound like another language to someone who has just picked up a camera. It's okay to not understand how your camera works right away. Focus on using it for now, and the technical stuff will come later..
7. DO keep your camera nearby! Take it with you to make sure when that perfect opportunity presents itself, you'll be ready!

Tiptoe... tiptoe...

2008-09-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hi there... ere... ere...
Wow, there's a bit of an echo in here. ere... ere...

Better fill up this space with all kinds of creative stuff.

So, here's my first post, just a few words to get rid of that echo.

That's better.

Be back soon.