Depth of Field

  I had an interesting learning experience the other day. I was at a friend's house for a cookout, and he and his wife have been an inspiration to me since the day we met. They are just good-natured, down-to-earth people, and I absolutely love them! They both are never depleting fountains of knowledge, and they are always willing to share new information and old experiences. They both are great mentors to me. Anyway, he is a Vietnam vet, and as I have recently discovered, he was a photographer during the war. As we started to talk a little shop, he brings out this really old 35mm camera, and begins to show me the different scales on the lens. He showed me what dials adjusted for exposure, and which one controlled depth of field and how to measure that. Wow, what a useful tool! Why did manufacturers quit doing that? I am now on lookout for an older lens that will work with my DSLR. It is definitely on my wish list. I have been struggling with combining different concepts to get the depth of field that is desirable for different effects in different shots. After he showed me the dials, all the explanations began to click. Now, I think I have got it, and I am off to practice!

What type of music do you like?

  This post is kind of off topic for photography, but is as relevant as genre is to any art. 
  "What type of music do you like?" I love hearing this question. The answer you get is usually along the lines of "Oh, I really like this type and that type. Stuff by so-and-so. Anything except type X." We just watched a movie about this, and it got me thinking. This is what I came up with.
  Music, like any art form, is an expression of the soul. Why would you limit that to a genre? Whether you are the artist, or the one who just enjoys the art, there is a deep emotion there that should never have limits placed on it. Music, photographs, paintings, sculptures, even the written word are all instruments used to convey emotion in the form of something beautiful.
  Many of you are thinking "But, I just hate X type of music!" I realize that there is a style issue at stake here. What is that type of music saying about me when I listen to it? Nothing. It wasn't written about you. It was written for your enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that every song written is to be enjoyed by every person out there, but you can't tell me that out of the multitude of choices within a particular genre that not even a handful of songs strike a chord with you.
  When I was a teenager, I had the same mindset. "Oh, I like any kind of music except country." Then I realized that I didn't even know what opera was, or why classical music was so technical, or why country musicians always seemed to have a tear in their beer. Then, as I developed as an adult a little more, I realized that all types of music speak to different parts of me.
  Hip-hop and pop speak to the dancer I never became, country and R&B speak to the romantic in me, Jazz and Classical speak to the educated musician within, 80s hairbands speak to wild child in my closet, lullabies speak to the mother I became, Bluegrass and gospel speak to my roots, and opera, though a tough one, speaks to the Queen Elizabeth that would have been.
  So while most people have a general music category that sums up who they are for the most part, limiting ourselves to just that also limits our opportunities for expression of our souls.

New backdrops!

   I received my backdrops and a new reflector in the mail the other day, and I am so excited! I can't wait for an opportunity to test them out. I knew I was going to need a reason to play with them, so I set up a random drawing for the folks on my Facebook page. The lady who won the free mini-session is looking forward to her shoot as much as I am.
  The backdrops are really fun. I chose five, and all of them have a marbled mix of colors. The reflector, I was so happy to see arrive. I have been needing one in the worst way. The best part about it is that it folds up neat and small so I can always have it with me.
  I have never used a backdrop, or a reflector, before, so I am looking forward to the learning process. I can't wait to see my images move to the next level. I love to experiment with new things, especially in my photography, and this is going to be a great experience!

Hi, my name is...

  I am Leona Davis, and I am a photographer. I am trying to go pro. Today is my first official day as a blogger. I have decided to start a blog as a way to document and reference my beginnings as an artist. I am located in central West Virginia, so I hope to expand my destination shoots to include places like Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. I am trying to get my photography business off the ground, and it has already been such an experience! A long, hard road, for sure.
  I am very technically challenged in my craft, so I have also decided to go to school so I can learn the technical garble much faster. I have been self-teaching for a while, but let's face it...if I want to start making money, and I do, I have to be faster. And smarter. So, I am now college bound. It should prove to be interesting, anyway.
  Along the technical lines, my gear list is growing at about half the rate of my wish list. For every item that I can finally afford, I find two more things I HAVE to have. How does that happen? The biggest, or most important thing anyway, on my wish list right now is off-camera lighting. I would like to get some speed lights. At least two would be perfect. Until that happens, I am using reflectors most of the time.
  On the business end, I have met several goals recently that I am proud of, and such a load off my mind now! First, I have finally decided on a name. Very big deal. This has been holding me back for weeks, and after studying vocabulary, fonts, and sounds, I finally found one that works. I will be announcing this name as soon as it becomes official. Second, I have learned how to build a business model, and not a moment too soon! The hardest thing about this business has been figuring how how to sell it. Now, I know. Third, I have discovered branding. This one will be an ongoing part of my venture for some time, until I figure out who I want to serve, and how. I'm on it, but I have some things I need to put into practice. Fourth, I am looking for a mentor. You can't buy experience, wisdom, and generosity. And finally, again with constantly learning. There are many aspects outside my craft that I didn't realize I needed to hone some skills.
  To wrap things up, thanks for following my progress as I grow, and I will keep posting updates as I change things, add things, and learn new things.