Brunette Stripped Bare

Yeah, yeah… I know, posts on here have dried up again. Life takes over, then you lose momentum, and you can’t get back into it. I know I don’t have to explain what it’s like to you guys - you get it.

So, lately there have been NO changes to my daily existence, but I do feel like a shift is occurring inside my mind. It feels like, without sounding like an incredible cliche, that I’m coming into my own. It feels like I’m spending alot more time thinking what I want, what I need, in order to lead a fulfilling life. There’s been no significant turning point that I can identify, but I’ve begun thinking of doing things that I want to do and caring less about what people might think of me if I decide to do them.

I’ve always been told by others that I should be doing something creative. I just wasn’t feeling it, to be honest. I can string together a sentence coherently, but I knew my writing wasn’t anything particularly special. I can carry a tune, but not well enough to sing in front of an audience. I don’t write music either, never learnt an instrument. I like music well enough, but it’s not an addiction… so I didn’t feel music was the ‘way’ either. But photography is something that fascinates me. I love gorgeous photos, particularly of landscapes but also portraits, as long as I get some emotion out of it. I want to be able to do that myself.

So, I’ve bitten the bullet. Bought a Digital SLR, a couple of lenses then switched it on auto and had a go. Results were… ordinary. Better than my point-and-shoot digital camera but nothing amazing. I was kinda disappointed - I wanted this talent to just jump out at me and slap me in the face! I want to just be naturally good at something! My darling husband pointed out that noone becomes a professional at anything overnight… and jokingly said that I better be one after a fortnight, or he’s taking the camera back to the shop! Anyway, despite my initial disappointment, I have done a short course and learnt how to manipulative the camera’s Manual Mode in theory, now I just have to put it into practice. The photos are still pretty ordinary, but I am really having alot of fun and for once my attention span hasn’t fizzled. For once, I’ve found something I want to persevere with.

I find it hard to be impartial when I look at the photos - I really don’t know what looks good and what doesn’t because I’m too emotionally ‘in it’ to decide. So, although I don’t want this blog to become just about photos, I do want you guys to be my guinea pigs. And yes, I want BRUTAL honesty. You know I’ve asked for it before, and I mean it.