I say this, because it’s so easy to believe you will blog daily… and then, you learn the horrid truth – your blogging faith, on a scale of one to ten, is about a point oh two… yeah, pretty ugly.
So, like any good soldier, I’m back on my blogging feet, on the trail, and attempting again to walk the walk, and fight the good blog fight.
So it’s no secret that I’m a voracious reader. I’m also another year older, as of this past Saturday. With that being said, birthday Santa brought me several items of interest, one of which I am overjoyed to receive… A nifty little Canon SD800 IS. Why, with has gazads of photo equipment in possession, would one be so desirous of a tiny little gadget? Because one cannot always lug around an SLR, it’s quite frankly, not ALWAYS practical. This little jewel is a wee bit different, in that I have to learn to use it differently than I would my SLR, but OH WHAT FUN!!! Yes, I read the manual.. it’s a book, isn’t it? Albeit a small one, but still a read. Which brings me to one other item – Learning to See Creatively, by Bryan Peterson.
Now, I have to say I have a special place in my heart for Bryan. I believe Bryan is easily one of THE most gifted individuals in the art of education photographers that I have ever ecountered, read, or studied under. Add to this, he’s an absolutely AMAZING shooter – OMG what an eye this man has! I had the pleasure of taking a class online from him a number of years back on betterphoto.com (he’s since gone on to run PPSOP.com and is still going strong in the teaching department). Bryan opened my eyes and mind to the fact you must learn to CREATE a photo, not accept what the camera gives you. His excellent tutelage was wonderful in that I learned more than I could ever write in a lifetime of blogs. I am also a great fan of his books, and read them all, cover to cover, sometimes 2 or more times, as each go-round, I learn/remember/perfect. His re-write of Learning to See Creatively is no disappointment. While I think many things in this book are no-brainers, I also know that sometimes we need a gentle nudge into the “no-brainer” circle… sometimes we have to stumble and FALL into that circle, whereas others seem to be born/thrive all their lives in that circle. His book on the creative view is a fabulous reminder of what we should pay attention to, how we should think. I read it in 2 hours, a quick read, and a great reminder. Its loaded with post it notes as reminders for specific areas, i.e. texture, contrast, form, design…
Right now, I’m busy working on wedding albums. <sigh> These books are so much work, and I do adore their preparation; however, they are an immense amount of work, done with love, for each of the brides with whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.
I’m off to Philadelphia at the end of the week. Saturday night, I’ll be on a haunted Philly tour… maybe I’ll get a shot of a ghost, eh? Hopefully, my little Canon and I will return with many fun images.
I’d totally forgotten I had an AUDIBLE.COM account, until my spouse nagged me over my 22.95 a month on the credit card. When I bought my Creative Labs Zen Vision W, I signed up. 22.95 a month, and 2 credits. Every month I get two credits, and I can spend them on (yes!) audio books… Well, i have twelve credits, so I had a great time. Here’s what I got (BTW – only get the unabridged, otherwise, it’s like getting cheated out of book!)
Clapton (Biography)
Positively 4th Street (Book about the influence of muscians about Dylan, Baez, etc…)
The Four Hour Work Week (hey, it’s free… sorta…though I do not believe I will agree with the premise of this book, I will listen and see what the buzz is about)
You Can Read Anyone (about reading actions/body language/etc…)
Think Big and Kick ASS in Business and in Life (Trump – I don’t care what anyone says… the man is brilliant, painfully blunt, and I think he’s amazing and has much to teach!)
Book of the Dead (Cornwall murder novel… delish!)
Bob Dylan (bio)
Black Swan Green (British story… there are SOOOO many great British books we miss out on… It took Brick Lane and Curious Incident in the Night with the Dog FOREVER go get here)
Wonderful Tonight (About Patty Boyd, Clapton, Harrison,etc…)
Chronicles, Volume I (By Bob Dylan)
If Democrats had any Sense, They’d be Republicans (hey, we all have to read something controversial now and again!)
Age of Turbulence (Alan Greenspan)
Love My Rifle More than You (book about a chick in the military…)
OK, I don’t expect to need to acquire reading material for a LONG time… well, audible, anyway… Not until my NEXT birthday!
Ahhh, last but not least – Movies to NOT see: Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller, and The Comebacks. Ok – I laughed a few times in The Comebacks, but I laughed once, barely, in Stiller’s movie. I found it horribly tedious and boring. Painfully so. I pride myself on appreciating fifth grade humor to it’s fullest, and this time, Stiller was a PAINFUL disappointment.
