DSLR Photography Forum

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
- John Lennon / Paul McCartney

The last assignment, "Light", happened to be posted exactly one year after assignment #11, "Beginning". Twenty-six assignments later, this series has generated six hundred and thirty messages and over thirty-two thousand views. I've learned a tremendous amount from working on them, and I'd like to thank all of the people who have made them so worthwhile. If you're reading this, that's you. I've also made an effort to take new photos for most of the assignments, and I've learned and experimented with every one. If you're been playing along, and taking new photos, you've probably advanced a lot in the past year as well.

The assignment that best encapsulates this past year is one that is unique to each individual. It's some of the best practical advice I've received, and I'd like to acknowledge KeithAlanK's insight in providing it.

For assignment #38, go back to where you were this time last year. Look at the photos that worked, and look at the ones that didn't. What were you doing this time last year? What were you interested in? Where was the light the best? What had just begun? What events were happening? How was the weather? What can you learn from what you were doing at this time last year, and how can you do it better now?

The results of this assignment are going to be unique for each individual. Take what you can from it, and come back here to share the changes, what you've learned, what worked and what hasn't. For this assignment, pictures themselves aren't necessary. While I would love to see them, and hope to share some, this is about thinking and learning as much as acting. I'd like to hear stories, thoughts, and reflections on the year that has passed. After all, it's always someone's birthday.

This time last year I was having a lot of fun with photography.
It was the one-year anniversary of getting my camera, and I was really starting to get a handle on photography.
I had just won my second monthly Challenge in a row at the now-defunct SonyCams forum, whose contests were administered by a fellow named Matthew Robertson.

A now-discontinued weekly meme called the Brookston Photoblog Scavenger Hunt took up a lot of my time, but the competition was fun and I met some nice people. I also won the 13 week hunt that was happening a year ago. This model train photo was taken in November for the hunt, after trying some others and being dissatisfied I had finally learned to use a tripod and stop my aperture all the way down for more DOF.
The model engine is an N-Scale (1:160) Atlas RS3, about 4 inches long. I built a diorama with weathered track and some scenery to complete the scene.

[Image: kaktex.modeltrain.jpg]

I took this photo on Nov 17th 2005 in downtown San Antonio, having returned on a day with better weather and light to improve on a shot from a few months before.
This is the Texas Theater, built nearly 100 years ago and recently restored.
I really enjoyed researching it's history for an entry to my photoblog.

[Image: kaktex.sbc2.jpg]

On the same day I got lucky and stumbled upon this historic and newly restored caboose being loaded onto a flatcar for a trip to Louisiana to become part of a bed and breakfast.
While researching my blog entry I discovered that there was great interest in the railroad it was from, an obscure West Texas shortline, as well as all survivng cabooses.
Since they began to be phased out of service in the early 1980s, cabeese are a rarely seen icon of railroad history. By shooting these photos I was unwittingly adding to the databases of several websites, one of which published these shots marking the first time that my work had been featured on someone else's site. I was very excited about it, too, knowing that model railroaders and railfans in general would be seeing my tiny contribution to railroad history for years to come.

[Image: kaktex.rsp1.jpg]

To sum up, one year ago I was starting to reap the rewards of my first year's hard work as a novice photographer. Everything I was learning was starting to work well for me, and the recognition I was suddenly receiving gave me confidence that I was on the right track and should continue.
As Matthew mentioned, going into the archives to see what worked or didn't work, and what the light was like at a particular time of year had just begun to pay off.
Now, in 2006, the growth is much slower but my love of photography is every bit as intense as it was then.

Interesting topic/assignment Matthew..........you made me go back through my past year........:/

Keith, your thoughts on your past year struck a cord with me and I am sure with others too. thanks for sharing

Having had my DSLR for about 18months I feel I am getting a much better handle on my photography now. Having said that I still have a lots to learn.........this is a good thing it keeps my interest strong!

Looking back on my past year I would say I tried lots of different forms of photography with moderate success.......this is because I tend to try things once and move on with out really mastering any one part.

So to sum up I would say this past year has moved me along the path of learning in terms of both taking the shot and pp...........to all the members of ST thanks for your part in that Cool

This next year I hope to learn more and maybe get a little closer to more consistent results, who knows maybe master (used loosely) one thing Rolleyes

narrrr

I went back to my photos and see that at this time last year, photography was the very last thing on my mind..I was in the middle of a major kitchen reno, and was eating out of cereal boxes in the living room.

Last year...

[Image: PICT1565.jpg]

This year...

[Image: Kitchen1.jpg]

I've spent a few hours - actually, days - reviewing where I've been, and found a lot of similarities despite everything that has changed. Without a doubt, this is the hardest assignment I've faced.

#1 - one year ago: Square

[Image: chair.jpg]

It was about a year ago that I found my favourite photo location, and started taking images of what I've found there. The one above, with the single red chair, foreshadows a number of other images of chairs and walls. I've come to see stark subjects and very strict geometry as being part of my own style, and this is an early example of it.

#2 - recent: Trinity Square at Night

[Image: 21570-E114-Edit.jpg]

This image won a ribbon at my camera club, either my third or fourth -- I took two in the same night, which was awesome. It took me all of last year to win my first two, so I was really pleased. (The other winning image from that night was the red wheelbarrow locked to a post, which was also taken in this same location.)

#3 - one year ago: Orange

[Image: Orange-5641.jpg]

I do enjoy being able to go out in the rain and get images with great colour and a nice even tonal range. I still try to wait for someone to walk into the frame.

#4 - recent: Chinatown on Election Night

[Image: 24042-chinatown-election.jpg]

And, I have to say that I haven't overcome a number of bad habits, either. None of these shots were taken with tripods. Since I have five of them, of various sizes, you'd think I'd actually use them once in a while.... but another similarity is that most of my photography is done on my way to or from somewhere else.

#5 - one year ago: Pretty

[Image: pretty-5686.jpg]

This was taken in the fall of 2005. It's not my usual subject, but my mother and I had gone on a road trip to see if we could find some good autumnal foliage. This was the best tree we found. She and I had not had much in common for many, many years, but photography was a bridge that we were building. My first memory of a camera was of her Canon AE that she used as a photographer for a community paper. About 18 months ago, she decided to take the hobby up again, and bought an Olympus E-300 digital SLR. I was slowly teaching her how to use it, and learning myself how much had changed.

#6 - four months ago: Waiting

[Image: waiting-room-1335.jpg]

This summer, the condo that my wife and I had been waiting years for would finally be ready. And, after many years together, we came to the mutual decision that I wouldn't be joining her in it. It was going to be a busy summer, with the need to sell the townhouse, split the household, fix up the condo, and find somewhere for me to call home as well.

As we were organizing our lives, my father-in-law got sick and was confined to the hospital. Shortly after, my mother had an emergency that kept her in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks. She remained in hospital for another seven weeks before passing away, beating all of the doctor's predictions, and we had may good days together. My father-in-law passed away less than two weeks later.

#7 - recent: Haida Paddles

[Image: 22147-paddles.jpg]

My mother and I used to meet for lunch about once a month, and our conversation would often include photos she had liked, had difficulty with, or was still to take. In the spring she had taken a trip to the Canadian Canoe Museum, but was disappointed with the photos. We talked a lot about the boats and the difficulty of getting good images in dim and challenging conditions, and made plans to go together for that summer. It was a trip that we continued to plan while she was in the hospital, and ultimately I made it alone.

#8 - recent: Doorway

[Image: 23364-doorway.jpg]

I work in the same going-nowhere job that I had last year, and so I still walk the same streets and go to the same places. It's getting boring, but I still like to wander back alleys, looking for interesting things. I also continue to have mixed feelings about photographing graffiti. It's someone else's expression, not mine, so I need to find something unique that I can bring to it. Otherwise, it's simply plagiarism with a camera.

#9 - recent: Chess

[Image: 24492-chess.jpg]

I've realized that many of the photos that I enjoy feature very stark, geometric composition, and the best have a suggestion of movement or some dynamic element included. I'm looking more at architectural photography, and photography as architecture and form in its own right.

#10 - recent: Nocturnal

[Image: 24668-noise-at-night-one.jpg]

I'm still not afraid of noise, and I've become more willing to experiment both with composition and post-processing. I'm also using fully manual camera controls occasionally, which is a very recent change. I also find that I'm taking far fewer photos, but that the number of 'keepers' hasn't gone down much. And finally, I find that my desire to show my photography has gone down. I post very few images on photo forums, rarely look for critiques, and didn't care when my blog dropped from the top result when searching my name with google. Photography has become much more personal, and I'm working for a much smaller audience than I did before.

...and I like to think that I've gotten better at it.

So, that's my year in pictures.

Wow! What a year you all have had....

This time last year I did not have a camera. My husband gave me a Kodak C340 point & shoot camera for Christmas, and that started me on an amazing journey, where am I going? I don't know but I am enjoying myself.
In July my husband bought me a Canon 350D, this is the first real camera I've owned. I've never even used an SLR before, so the learning curve has been steep.
I have just completed a six week photography course for beginners, and tonight I start the 4 week follow up course. I will also be doing a night photography workshop and a portrait/studio workshop, all before Christmas.
So this has been an amazing year of growth for me, photography wise. I have learned a lot from the course and from sites like Shuttertalk, and another that I am a member of.

Thanks for taking time to read this...
Sharon

Matthew, I'm very impressed at how you've really taken these assignments and have brought them to a new level. I can't believe it's already been a year! I'm sure everyone would gladly join in with me to express our thanks at a job very well done!

Hip hop hooray! Big Grin

matthew

Keith Alan

Russt

Toad

matthew

ABree

shuttertalk