Giving it a shot...: self portrait

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Stuck inside this same old tune...

OK... today was experimental day. I admit - the guitar caught my eye - it was sitting by the window, and the late afternoon sun was casting some great reflections off its shiny body. (Perhaps some of you planted the seed on me over the past few days; you know who you are - Andrew, Steve.. :) somehow the music/guitar inspired theme stuck with my thoughts today (thanks guys). And there it was. Fun with light, shadows, and reflections - using a tripod of course, and experimental settings and a goofy self-portrait. I admit, a full day of treatment, pretty doped up and feeling silly - sitting in front of the window with tripod and guitar seemed to maintain my amusement for at least an hour while the sun went down ;) Now if you guys can get out of my head, maybe I can get out of this guitar!

*This reflection is inspired by Weekend Reflections thanks to James at Newtown Area Photo. Click on the link to see other wonderful reflection shots!

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A new nifty fifty

My hubby gave me this sweet 50mm 1.4 lens - among other very cool accessories, AND a tripod... finally... a tripod. Oh, I think I am going to have some fun with this lens. It is a very new experience to use a 50mm - the 1.4 f-stop on this makes for some very nice effects and allows for seriously shallow DoF - also makes shooting indoors much more possible without flash! It takes some getting used to - not having a zoom. Forces you to get in and around your subject via foot. I think this will help with my composition. I shot this through a dirty cloudy mirror, so it does not show off the tack sharp results you get with this lens, but I just wanted to show my new toy in a goofy self-portrait. Now it's time to get my Christmas graze on. Eat, drink, and be merry!

A New Year

Back in November, 2009, I promised myself that I would give this a shot until the first of the new year. Here it is a new decade. I was hoping to improve my skills by having a photo daily. Looking back over the past few months, I believe that this journal has helped me in more ways than I can describe.

One of the days missing - December 4th - was the day that I was diagnosed with cancer. If you've been reading, you may have read a few references to my illness in some posts. I plan to continue my project, cancer or not. I may even talk about it a bit more here. I don't want to change the "tone" in my photography (or this blog), but I am here to tell a story through my eyes, my feelings, my emotions. I will be running the gamut of them.... some days fear, sadness, anger, indifference, gratitude and love. I'm hoping it has some impact.

My journey to recovery has begun - I am in the midst of a rigorous treatment plan consisting of radiation and chemo therapies. I still have several weeks to go, and have my good days and bad. There may be some days I may not feel up to taking photos or writing, but I'm working on finding my balance. I can tell you that I still find peace and therapy in what I'm doing with my camera and this journal. In some regards this may be one of the things to help me through. I don't want to be defined by this illness, or my journey to overcome this illness.

Even more than my contribution to this space, I take pleasure and inspiration by viewing and supporting fellow bloggers with passion for photography. Please have a look at these sites and spaces and see the talent that has sparked my interest in sharing my work and thoughts.

So whatever comes of this page, or me... I am giving it a shot as best as I can. It's a journey, and I am pretty tough. So come on the journey with me, and hang out with me while I take my shots :)

Giving it a shot...

January 28, 2010

December 25, 2009

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