Shoot in Manual

I’ve got a list of resolutions/goals that I’ve been working on. I’m trying to make them as detailed as possible. Ensuring that I set plans and make outlines that will help me achieve them by the end of the year. I’m also diving them in sections and possibly color-coding them… that may or may not be my OCD kicking in.

However, the one thing I know will be one of my major goals this year is improving my photography. My Christmas gifts were all related to photography, which made me realize how much support I have from my husband, parents, in-laws, siblings and friends.

One of the first things I started doing and have done for the past 7 days has been to take a photo a day as part of my Project 366. I think there were a great number of bloggers and people who did Project 365 last year, and I thought it was a great way to document a year in our lives. I might just continue to do it for every year. Every Sunday, I’ll post the pictures from the previous week, with short descriptions.

Within this umbrella of improving my photography skills is also the need to learn more about my camera and it’s manual settings. While I already shoot in manual and without the built in flash, there is so much to learn about photography. This is where shoot in manual comes in.

This is really simple, I’ve taken a pledge to only shoot in manual for the year of 2012 and learn all I can about my camera. When you sign up you get tips and tricks from Mark Cafiero (my boss, professional wedding photographer and founder of Chimpsy) on how to step out of the little green box and go manual!

I’m not doing this as part of my job, as my job doesn’t really require me to take photos, I’m doing it because I believe that I have a great deal to learn about this art form, and I know for a fact that shooting in manual has already improved my photography a great deal!!!

So, if you feel so inclined, I invite you to join me in the Project 366 as well as shoot in manual!

Hope you all are having a great start to your 2012! I’ll be back tomorrow with photos of the week and Monday with my list of resolutions.

A Day of Chimping

I once again, fell of the face of earth. This time was due to being sick. All I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and sleep for a decade or so. In fact, I still want to crawl under a rock and sleep for a few weeks, but I’m definitely on the mend.

If you’ve been a long time reader of this little bloggy of mine, you’ll know that I’ve been working for a company called Chimpsy, we teach people how to better utilize their cameras, as well as offer a ton of other services that will be announced by the end of the year.

One of the new and exciting things we are working on is an Aspiring Pro Workshop. Our first 6 hour class took place last weekend, on Sunday, and it was a blast. We had a great group of students, a fantastic day and an awesome instructor. I got to tag along and took the opportunity to learn a thing or two… or three.

I wanted to share a few of the shots I took from Sunday, that really make me admire the field of photography, and really reaffirm my desire to create more with my camera. NOT to mention that these photos are definitely going into the file “proof that Zara needs a new DSLR.”

This is Mark Cafiero, he’s one of the founders of Chimpsy, as well as the lead instructor. 

This may be my favorite shot of the day. A bridge in Downtown Denver crossing over Cherry Creek river. I also love how the black and white turned out.

I love old brick buildings. I love anything brick really. This is a small piece of the brick building that houses the Chimpsy Market Street studio, and where most of the Denver classes meet. The colors are beautiful, the lighting was perfect (no flash) and the bricks have a story to tell.

Every single one of these shots was taken with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens on a Canon Rebel XS (not a full frame camera). NO flash, all natural light. Also, all photos have been photoshoped and adjusted for contrast, saturation, and a few other tweeks here and there.

Which one’s your favorite? I need to go on more outings with my DSLR.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

 

It’s Wednesday, and that means that I’m link up with beautiful Jamie over at This Kind of Love.

Wednesdays have come to be one of my favorite days of the week. I love that they mark the end of Monday and Tuesday. They are a day before I get to have drinks and girl talk with two of my favorite women in the world. They include Yoga in the park with another one of my favorite women, and I get to work from home. How can you not love working from home.

This Wednesday I’m loving a few more things other then just Wednesday. First and foremost, I’m loving my handsome man, who surprised me with a new laptop that is much more capable of photo editing and has much better features then my old laptop.

Yup. I love him.

And the new laptop.

I’m also loving my new job. I am working for a company that is helping people get the best out of their cameras, and honestly, if you have a Chimpsy field trip in your area, you should defiantly consider taking a class. Especially, when we offer awesome GroupOn deals and the classes turn out to be $49.00. The job is great, and I’m learning so much more about it every day! Not only that, but I work with some great people who I respect and look up to.

Now I get to be one of those annoying happy people who loves her job. I think it’s about time, since I’ve pretty much hated almost every job I have ever had. Working for my grandfather at the bookstore was perfect, and that’s about it.

I’m also loving, that I am back to working out again, and hopefully I will stick to eat more. I am NOT loving the fact that my arms are getting a little fat. BOO. So it’s time to really kick it up a bit and work on these suckers.

I am loving that today is nice and cool here in Denver, and is only suppose to get up to the 80s. I feel bad for all of you out there in the 100+ heat. I know I’m dreading moving to a state that has had over a 100 degrees for the past several days. I just don’t do well in the heat.

Finally, I LOVE every single one of you. When I first started blogging, I didn’t think anything would come out of it. I was simply blogging away to have a record of my daily life, and keep myself accountable to exercising and being healthy. However, I’ve met some of the most amazing people through this little bloggy and I can honestly say that I’ve made some great friends here. So thank you, for being awesome.

Happy Wednesday!

What I’m Loving Wednesdays

 

It’s Wednesday, and that means that I’m link up with beautiful Jamie over at This Kind of Love.

I am loving that it is hump day, which means the weekend is almost here and that my husband will be home in two days time. I’m still not loving being apart from him though. It seems that no matter how long we’ve known each other being apart is not really an option even if it is just for a few days.

I am loving the new look of my blog. I still want to make a few minor changes here and there, but in general I like the clean look, and the colors make me happy.

Absolutely loving that I will be starting my new job with Chimpsy Photo Field Trips on Monday. So, so excited for a new opportunity in a field that I love with people who are laid back and generally awesome. Not only that, but my new bosses are some of the coolest people I know, and have no problem with me working from home (part time) and also traveling with Husband when he goes to cool places … such as Boston.

LOVING that I am finally getting to cleaning out my closet, and dresser and such. NOT LOVING that my bedroom is a mess with clothing absolutely everywhere! It’s a little hectic in our household right now. BUT I will be picking out the paint for the bedroom today… I think.

I am loving yoga. Seriously, I went to my first class two Wednesdays ago and it was one of the best and most relaxing experiences of my life. So thankful for my beautiful friend Leslie who took me along and introduced me to my first class. I am actually heading out today to buy a thicker Yoga mat!

I am loving that I made a dress yesterday. YUP! I’ll be posting about that later today or this coming week.

Oh and I am absolutely loving the fact that tomorrow is Thursday which means I get to have Girls Night with my favorite girls!

Hope you all are having a fantastic Wednesday!

What are you loving?!