Stop Crying and Start Clicking

Hello my Feral Little Focus Creatures!

We need to talk.

How many of you eat, sleep, and breathe photography - but rarely go out and, like, actually take photos?

*raises hand

I'm here to personally tell you that if book, YouTube, Facebook, and ChatGPT knowledge denoted actual skill, I'd blow you all straight out of the frame with my unmatched photography prowess.

But it doesn't.

Apparently the Secret to Better Photos Is… Taking More Photos.

Who Knew?

I did a dark light photography shoot with my partner (she's the practiced perfectionist and I'm a bit more.. unhinged) and I hated it. I hated it because I sucked. Oh, sure, I got a few decent shots out of the situation, but I have no idea how I got them because I sucked. Truth. While she's over there plucking photos like pink cotton candy from the dark shadows, I'm ready to sling my camera into the gaping maw of the void.

Now, us? She'd be the golden light groupie to my back alley shadow cryptid. Therefore you can imagine the imbalance going on in my brain when HER dark light photos outshine MINE.

*sigh. Seriously. I put my camera equipment away and vowed never to touch it again.

Stay in your lane, Sister of the Sunlight.

No more, I say!

Do you know what I did, my Fellowship of the Flash (that's you, dear reader)?!

I took this cursed camera contraption, and I...

went out and practiced?? What the actual eff. Insanity.

But you know what? I figured it out. I dug out my closeted tripod that was collecting dust, freed my remote shutter that I purchased but never opened, apologized to my camera for the harsh mistreatment and headed outside to try to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. I asked ChatGPT for some help with my camera settings and.. it... worked. Kinda. I still had some blur, BUT I could see the colors, and the stars, and well, that made me giddy. I tried the next night with minor adjustments. No pretty lights, but I did get pretty - and clear - stars. I was onto something.

Another evening, my Lens Cap Carrier (husband) and I went out for a drive and I photographed everything remotely interesting I could find.

What do you mean this is a photography website and you came here to see photos and not read me rant? I'm trying to be motivating here!

Well, ok, then.. here are some from that (day-into-) evening.

I saw her once, then spent 20 minutes looking for her again!

Since, every time I've left the house I've taken my camera. I've been photographing cemeteries again. I took my camera out today, but got rained out before I even got started.

Remember, progress not perfection.

Stay tuned. I'll be back atcha before you blink ;)