The Some things to Capture

Several years ago when I was still homeschooling my children, a neighbor and dear friend had asked if I would watch her 4 year old daughter and help her get ready for kindergarten.  I gladly said yes and Monday - Friday, Alyssa would come to my house and spend the day with us while her siblings went to school and her parents went to work.  Each morning, I would have Alyssa look out of the front window and ask her what she saw.  In the beginning her response was an immediate, "I see nothing."  "Nothing?" I would counter.  "Do you see the trees?'  "Yes."  "Do you see the houses?"  "Yes."  "Do you see the cars?"  "Yes."  "Okay, Alyssa, what do you see?"  "I see nothing."

Eventually, when I would stand with Alyssa by the window and ask her what she saw, she would tell me countless things she saw: the trees, the soccer ball, the pink flower on the bush, the silver car, the clouds, the leaves, a bird on the branch, etc.  Alyssa's nothings, things she saw everyday and just ignored, became some things to behold and marvel.  Because of Digital Photography 1 (dp1, from now on) I have been reminded of those times with Alyssa.  Kate would often say in class, "Get your cameras out; have them ready to take pictures. Go out and shoot." and I would walk with my camera close at hand and say, "Shoot what?  I see nothing, well nothing worth shooting."

Surfing the web, reading photographers' blogs, examining photographs, and seeing a myriad of shots of various objects, I am starting to understand that my nothings worthy of a camera shot can be quite the some things to behold and capture.  This morning, on a cloudy, rainy day, I grabbed the dog's leash, an umbrella, and my camera.  While Antonio, the dog, sniffed the grass, marked a tree or two and leisurely walked up the street, I pressed the shutter button (checking the meter and adjusting as needed); held my breath (didn't have my tripod) and clicked at the somethings I see when escorting Antonio around the block.

Now it's off to read my Lightroom 4 book to learn how to correct,.... I mean enhance the photographs.