Little Triumphs...

Little Triumph #1: I purchased a used digital lens. Taking photo gold now, if I do say myself...

Little Triumph #2: I officially have a P.O. Box and captivatebyerica.com domain. Next on the agenda, business cards!

Little Triumph #3: I went to take pictures this evening as the sun was setting. I found a marshy pond with a thin layer of fog that was being illuminated by the remaining light in the sky. As I was walking towards the pond I heard a dog bark and the barking turned into a howl, which turned into multiple howls. As I was adjusting the exposure, it occurred to me that those howls were coyotes and they were getting louder and closer. I grabbed onto my camera, fished my car keys out of my hoody pocket, and ran for my life to my car. I didn't get the shot, but what a fantastic adrenaline rush.

Photo Gold:

2 Week Review...

It is almost comical; well I think it is comical verses pitiful, that I have the silliest odds and ends of photography equipment. I have a respectable SLR that is over 10 years old with a nice simple lens and a fancy zoom lens. I have a basic DSLR that I use the simple and fancy lenses with. It is always a surprise how the pictures come out, sometimes spectacular and sometimes God-awful. It is like Russian roulette. I have a digital point and shoot that is 8 years old, the 3 megapixels is once again comical. However, I have acquired a rather lovely digital point and shoot with 12 megapixels and an appreciable zoom. Oh, and my beloved smartphone, it is just too handy.

So in conclusion, I am in need of some upgrades. First, I will hunt down an appropriate lens for my DSLR. I think that will discourage this risky Russian roulette business.

Aspiration: Someday I will look back at this post and admire how far I have come.  

Russian roulette:

 

 

The First Day of the Rest of my Life...

It has been a week and three days since I have lost my job. The thought of working in a cubicle and staring at a computer screen day after day gives me an undying energy that drives me to succeed on my own. I have forced myself to comply with "the real world" long enough. It is exhausting to throw on a smile day after day, not anymore. I don't need some big corporation that doesn't understand me and that I don't understand. I am not just a GIS analyst with a MA in Geography. I am a photographer, I am an artist.

I have acquired many skills over the years. I believe that if there is a desire, one can do anything. The possibilities are endless as long as you reach and strive. This is my challenge. This is all on me. I have an eye for a picture, I can draw, paint, design, and mold things out of clay. I can create beauty. I can conjure aesthetics. I can captivate and that is exactly what I am going to do.

Step One: