To kick off the blog here at Efcubed, I want to state the obvious – we haven’t got this thing totally figured out, yet. We need to work out all the kinks in this blog thing, but it was time to get started, so the little things like how to order the menu will get figured out along the way. The intent is, for at least one of us, to blog daily, generally taking turns, but we’ll see how that works out. We intend to discuss Efcubed activities; opinions on current photography topics, products, and news; and provide occasional tips and tutorials. We’ll try to keep to a loose schedule of topics to cover as much as we can. Readers will quickly learn our different interests and techniques. We encourage readers to send feedback, ideas, and criticism.
Saturday was the 2nd Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. Last year, there were about 1,700 photographers in more than 200 cities around the world that walked. This year, things went off the chart with more than 30,000 registered photographers in 914 cities around the world! There are lots of prizes for winning photos and a charity connection to Kelby’s favorite charity, Springs of Hope, in Kenya. Mark and I walked in Culpeper, Va, with about 26 other photographers, including some of our Viewfinder photo friends from Warrenton. The weather and company were fine, and we had a great walk through the streets of Culpeper. The locals stared at all the out-of-towners pointing their cameras at all sorts of strange things. Fun, fun, fun.
So I decided that the first blog from me should be on the topic of having fun with your photography. Years ago, I became a photographer in the Army as a secondary MOS (military term for job – we can’t use regular terms or the terrorists win). I was also trying to make a few bucks to afford top-line equipment. But photography quickly became something I did for fun. Living in Bavaria, Cathy and I would travel around with the kids to various German towns for a 10-20 kilometer volksmarch several weekends a month. I was toting at least two cameras, a bag of lenses, and film of various makes and speeds wherever I could stuff it. Usually, with a baby or toddler on my back (I was a lot younger then).
When I moved to digital cameras, a few years ago, it was the fun that motivated me to do my usual over-the-top, head-long dive. I can talk about photography all day long; I visit about 30 photography web sites regularly; I am in photography groups, participating in monthly themes; I teach classes; and, occasionally, I put the camera to my eye and push the shutter release.
Before we get into all the techniques, gear talk, and digital darkroom topics, I want to make sure you keep the fun in your photography. Go out on your own photowalk to a place you have never been. Exotic travel is always fun, but don’t overlook a new park or the next town or neighborhood over. Give yourself an assignment and shoot only round, red objects. Mark did the photowalk this weekend with only one lens. Sit around and look at someone else’s photos; listen to their stories about how they got the shot. Swap photography books to read at the pool. Or heck, start a blog about photography. Just have fun!
We hope you enjoy this blog and visit regularly. Send us a comment. Tell a friend.
Oh, yeah, here’s a shot from this weekend. Check the links on the menu for more photos from Mark and me. I usually add one or two a day; Mark puts up bunches in spurts of activity.
Inbound Train, Outbound Daughter