Field of Depth

I recently began taking photography classes. I've always loved taking pictures, and I love it even more when those pictures turn out awesome.

A few years ago, I bought myself a nice DSLR camera. Pretty exciting, right? Then I proceeded to shoot my camera with all the bells and whistles on full 'auto'.  Lame. It was basically a giant, overpriced point and shoot in my incapable hands.

I tried teaching myself about apeture settings and field of depth via the internet... Bad idea. I ended up messing up me camera's settings so badly that even in 'Auto' it wouldn't shoot very nice photos. Ugh.  Serious *head/desk* moment for me.

Fast forward to January 28th and so began my first photography class. It was necessary in order to get my camera back into shooting shape. I'd really messed it up!

I've now got 4 classes under my belt and I'm a lot more comfortable moving dials and pressing buttons, without fearing that I am going to completely mess everything up again. I was sitting in my truck on my lunch break yesterday, and I managed to do some things that I hadn't been able to do before.

I've always wanted to learn how to make the background of a photo blurry, with the subject in focus.
Well, bam!  Learned how.

 

 

Then I wanted to figure out how to shoot past something to focus on something else behind it.
Double bam!  Learned it.

Lastly, my ultimate test was to make the forefront and the background blurred out, while focusing on something in between. Whoop! BAM! Done.
(it's the turn signal thats the in-between... in case that wasn't obvious. Hey, there weren't a lot of things to shoot within the confines of my parked vehicle!)

 

That brown thing is my boot, by the way. And the blue stuff is my jeans. Sometimes I like to relax and I put my foot up on the dash while I read.  Cuz you wanted to know that, right?

I know, they aren't the most impressive photographs. But they give me hope that one day I can take some great photographs on purpose, and not just by sheer luck.

Baby steps.


48 Things You Never Wanted to Know About Me.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

That's an excellent question. No, I don't think so.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Last night. I'm reading the 3rd book of the Fifty Shades series. I can't tell you what happens without spoiling some of the book for those who haven't read it, but there is a part where she uses the safeword and the surrounding situation actually made me cry.
For those of you who think it's just a kinky sex book, you'd be wrong. Mostly.

3 DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Most of the time, yes. I have this odd habit of writing in all caps, so it sometimes looks a bit erratic.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Cotto Salami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Human, no. Furry, yes.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Yes.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Yup

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yup

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Hell no

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

That's a tough question, because I LOOOVE cereal. Umm... Fruity Pebbles probably.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Nope

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Sometimes.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Shit! This is almost as tough as the cereal question! 
Cookies n Cream. No, Cookie Dough. Wait, I really like Mint Chocolate Chip... Hagendaaz Coffee?

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

My comfort level towards them. Most people fall into a comfort category with me within a few seconds.

15. RED OR PINK?

Yellow.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

My body image. I'm fat.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

I miss a lot of people. My Grandpa moved across the country so I never see him. I miss him.

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?

People skills. I'm sorely lacking in that department.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Saddle Brown Boots

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant from BK. Yum

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

The printer cooling fan.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

I'd be one of those awesome crayons that is made up of thousands of bits of various colored crayons.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Lilac Flowers. The way the house smells when I open the windows for the first time in the spring.

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?

Not very. I disagree with everybody usually, so I stopped listening. It just made me frustrated.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?

Mountain Hideaway

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Disc Doggin

27. HAIR COLOR?

Blonde.
Oh my natural hair color?  Dirty-dishwater Blonde.

28. EYE COLOR?

Dark Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

No

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

Casey's Pepperoni Pizza.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Happy Endings.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

 Warm Bodies.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Navy Blue

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Spring-Fall

35. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Cheesecake. 

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?

Crossfit, baby. A little bit of everything!

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?

Computer all day long, TV all night long.

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Fifty Shades of Freed

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

It's black 

40. FAVORITE SOUND?

The sound made right as a new episode of Pit Bulls & Parolees begins

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?

Country

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Florida. The pan-handle, not the fun part of FL.

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

No

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Minneapolis, MN

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?

Blooming Prairie, MN

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?

Tan with white trim & stone

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?

Navy Blue

48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?

Sure!

**Stolen from Furry Bottoms**

I figured that since we've already established that while I was once a pretty consistant blogger, I've obviously lost that talent. I thought I'd answer all of these questions so that you could catch up with me.

I'd say that I'd see you tomorrow. But it will probably be 6 months from now. That seems to be the running tally lately...

Happy Monday, folks!
Emily