Friday, 10 April 2015

How NOT to take a photo!!!

As I like to record the different coloured varieties of Dahlias that we have growing each year and as most of the plants have almost finished flowering this season, when I saw some beautiful late bloomers in the front garden late in the afternoon yesterday I quickly grabbed the camera before it got too dark.


While trying to get a good shot of them I knelt down on what I thought was Lemon Balm but...BIG MISTAKE...
 

...unfortunately it was Stinging Nettle! Ouch!!! So I won't forget taking that photo for a long, long time.


Still I did end up getting a few photos despite the stinging pain in my knee.


Once the Dahlias have all finished flowering I can then compare the photos with those taken last year to find out what colours didn't 'appear' this year.

 

However, I am hoping to improve the quality of my photos with this little beauty which arrived today. When I was at the coast last November my brother drove down from his home further up the coast to visit us and when I said I was thinking about saving up for a DSLR camera in order to take better photos, he offered me his hardly used camera which he would give me the next time he visited us. I was very excited and immediately booked in for an online course which was on special at the time and have been anxiously waiting for the arrival of my new camera. Well...today was the day! I have no idea how to use it at the moment. However, between an online course and the book of instructions I hope to be able to at least find out how to turn it on in the coming week. :-)

I also have no idea what online courses are like but if my photos start looking like Kelly's from Kelly Casanova I will be very happy. Kelly is currently doing an online photography course. Aren't her photos fabulous? So if anyone is looking for me over the weekend you just know I will have my face in the instruction book for a Nikon D3100.

Have a relaxing weekend everyone!




18 comments:

  1. What a fancy camera - I just use my $50 aim-and-giggle job.....I guess that's why your blog always looks so great ! I will never get sick of your beautiful flower shots

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    1. Phil, I haven't used the new camera yet. I have been using my little point and shoot Canon. It takes nice photos of flowers when set on the Macro setting. Good for close ups.

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  2. Your poor knees. On the bright side beautiful photos! Awesome camera!

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    1. Chrissy, my knees have recovered from the stinging thankfully.

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  3. I admit I am still using my phone camera, which is pretty stupid when I do have a much nicer camera - somewhere in a room which probably hasn't been used since we moved! It's nowhere near as fancy as your new one but I think it is time to take more professional photos..... Good luck with your course and instructions book!

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  4. I know the iPhones take good photos and my Android isn't too bad but the little Canon camera I use is so handy and the Macro setting works well. The only problem is that it doesn't capture true red colours very well but it is much more convenient to use and so light that I will probably now use both cameras once I learn how to actually use the Nikon.

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  5. Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful flowers. Enjoy your new camera.

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    1. I will Krystal...when I can understand the instructions!!!

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  6. Congratulations on the amazing camera!
    My dream is to have a camera I could take photos of birds with especially the little tiny blue wrens at the farm. I looked into it and the zoom and speed etc all means bird photographers spend thousands on their cameras. So I am sticking to my Murray Magpies that will now eat out of my hand as at least I don't need a zoom lens for them. Like the seagulls and Pelicans at Tumby Bay.
    You will have great fun learning the ins and outs of your camera. I look to brandy at the prudent homemaker... Her photography just is gorgeous. I think it is part talent and part camera. What a wonderful gift from your brother! Xxx

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    1. Yes it will be nice to zoom in and take photos of birds, Annabel. That will be a long time away for me though as it took me ages to work out how to just take a simple photo yesterday. LOL!

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  7. Well, I am hanging my head in shame because I have my camera set to "intelligent auto" rather than change the settings to suit the photo I am taking. I really want to learn how to use the video function on my camera when I find that little bit of free time. Good luck with learning all about your new camera.

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    1. Well Sherri, I am presuming mine is set to 'auto'. :-) It is all a bit of a mystery to me at present.

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  8. Nanna Chel, spectacular dahlias. Stunning photos. Sorry about the stinging nettle....ouch! The Macro setting is great for taking shots of flowers I find. Have fun playing! Mimi xxx

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    1. I will stick to my old Canon for the moment as the Macro setting works well with the flowers. Eventually I will learn to use the new Nikon as I started the online course today. I think the course will be clearer than the instruction booklet which came with the camera. LOL!

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  9. Having brushed, rubbed and knelt on stinging nettle at some point in my life - you have my sympathy, and really I just can't see myself eating them although I read about it all the time! You will enjoy your camera, have fun!

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    1. Kathy, the CEO thought he had gotten rid of the stinging nettle but it has sprung up in another garden. It is right next to the Aloe Vera so I should have just rubbed some of that onto my knee. Thankfully I had long pants on so it wasn't as painful as it could have been if I had shorts on. It is very good for you though apparently.

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  10. what a beauty...you always take great photos as it is so I am looking forward to seeing what come next.
    I love the new banner too btw.
    When I was about 8yrs old I fell into a dry creek bed full of nettles and couldn't move, I screamed blue murder and neighbour brought out a blanket and rescued me and carried me home, It hurt.
    Love from SoupySue

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  11. Ouch Sue, falling into a creek bed full of nettles would have been extremely painful...especially for a young child. It is not a pleasant sensation at all.

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