I’m an amateur photographer, and I may not have time to take photography classes, but I’m a firm believer in “practice makes perfect”. That’s the beauty of digital photography because this past weekend while at my cousin’s resort, I was able to pick a scene that appealed to me and sit in one spot and just snap shot after shot, experimenting with portrait and landscape and different perspectives to see how I could truly capture the wonders of nature around me.
On the second morning, we awoke early to a lake shrouded in fog, so I quickly grabbed my camera and ran outside. The fog was very thick at first, and my photos were dark, blue tinged, and grainy looking, but as the fog began to lift a magical world emerged with mist dancing across the surface of the water. I worked my camera overtime that morning, and it was really difficult to pick just a few photos to share with you, but I finally decided on these as my favourites. I have shot these same scenes now in fog, rain, clouds, and sunshine, but I would have to say that these misty conditions were the most rewarding to me.
photos from the loonybin 
Beautiful. Number 5 is my fave
Thanks :). I wish I was still there taking more instead of getting ready for work. It was so peaceful there!
I can’t choose a fav out of these I love them all… I’m so like you, I will take 300 photos of the same scene changing settings and experimenting, and probably only keep 30… but when it comes to bird and animal photography I always shoot in multiple shot mode… 3 per second and probably an average of 6 photos a time. Why? cause one always seems to take the shot either too early or too late for the actual shot you were looking for… this way there’s a 2 second window to capture the shot… consequently I can take 600 – 700 shots in a day and end up discarding most and keeping about 10 % of them… but it is digital that has put us in the position to teach ourselves… went to a lesson once and walked out half way, couldn’t understand the man at all… I’m not even sure he was talking about cameras…
Yes, I have been really experimenting with settings too. Even though I have a DSLR, a year ago I never took it off automatic mode, but I shoot pretty much everything in Manual now, changing settings here and there to see what effect it has on the result. My cousin’s husband is an expert with cameras, and he actually taught me about a few settings on the weekend that I didn’t even know existed. There are still many things I need to learn about my camera :).
very atmospheric Cindy
I know right – kind of spooky even :).
beautiful scenes
Thanks :). It’s the kind of place where you are surrounded by beautiful scenes 24/7.
These are all gorgeous Cindy. Great job.
Thanks Edith :). It was great to have the free time to relax and experiment with my camera. I took 100’s of shots over the four days!!
LOVE these!!! Great shots Cindy!!!! 😀 **
Aww, thank you :). I know how much you enjoy the outdoors – you would have LOVED it there!!
It really looks like the best place to unwind & relax!!!!
It was 🙂
Oooh I love it, absolutely love it! It looks like an army of smoke monsters of smoke imps descending (if only such things existed). So atmospheric, it makes me want to go there!
Smoke monsters and smoke imps – that’s awesome!! Don’t the photos make you feel like you are inside a fantasy novel?? If only I could snap my fingers when you are all stressed out from school and teleport you there – it would relax you in seconds. I didn’t want to leave!! 🙂
Hehee, they do indeed and I love that feeling where reality and fiction feel as if they are colliding. I like any sort of Celtic stuff of scenic woods, mountains, rivers etc because as you say it feels as if it is from a novel. 🙂 I wish you could teleport me too!
I will work on my teleporting skills just for you :).
you call yourself an amateur? wow! These are amazing!
Ok, you just officially made my day perfect :). I am learning, but trust me, I still don’t know what half the buttons on my camera do LOL!! Thanks for visiting and leaving such a wonderful comment.
Like water colour paintings… fantastic.
It’s funny you should say that because I never considered myself an artistic person at all. I could never draw or paint, and I struggled in art class in school, but photography is art too isn’t it? So, maybe I am artistic after all :). Thanks for the wonderful comment!
A wonderful series, Cindy. My fave is the third from the bottom. Now you need to write a mystery story about it.
Thank you :). I love that one too! It does look like a mystery story waiting to happen doesn’t it? Or, even a fantasy! I can just see some mythical water creature rising from the mist to pass some amazing power on to a girl sitting by the shore. Ooooohhhh :).
They all look perfect to me! Are there loons on that lake? That would be perfect for the loonybin book of gorgeous photos too. 🙂
Aren’t you sweet :). I thought I responded to this comment the other day, but it seems to have disappeared. Yes, there were loons on the lake, and I love their call. I tried to take pictures, but they were always too far away :(.
Don’t see where the amateur is in the photo.
Thank you for making my day :). A great deal of practice is helping me to improve every day.
Wise — and rewarding.
🙂
very beautiful photos, Magic atmosphere.
Thank you so much :). I’m glad you enjoyed them.