April Photo Challenge

Whenever people ask me if I have one tip or something that they can do that would help them become a better photographer, I can only think of one thing to say:

Take photos. 

Being a good photographer isn't merely about having expensive equipment or a thorough knowledge of all the composition rules. It's not about having creative 'genes' (though that helps) or even about all the photography courses you've been to (that helps, too). 

It's about experience. 

So if you were to ask me right now for my greatest 'secret to success' (not that I am a success story by any means! I seriously still have so much to learn!), I'd have to say that it's actually just getting out there and taking your camera with you. After I did a week-long photography course in 2009, for a while I took hundreds of pictures of anything and everything I could find to photograph. Believe me, my family were thoroughly bored of having to wait every five minutes each time we went for a walk so I could take a picture of that interesting little bush on the side of the road. :D

But the more photos I took, the harder I critiqued myself and the better my photos became. 

So this photo challenge is about just that - merely taking photos. You don't have to be super creative, or own a DSLR or even have been to a photography course. All you need is a willingness to take photos and a desire to improve! The challenge I'm hosting is going to be taking a photo a day for one month of a different subject and then either posting it on your own blog or alternatively sending it to me to post on this blog (and I'm even willing to critique it, too). It's going to be so exciting seeing you all become incredible photographers in just one month! :-)

And now that you've made it this far reading my long boring monologue, I'm going to reward you with a little preview of something I got up to over the long weekend...

{More on that to come!}

11/11/11

Happy eleventh of the eleventh of two thousand and eleven!

{Because it's nice weather, and because today is a nice day, and because I'm a nice person (kidding on this one!) I thought I'd give you a nice happy photo of the day! :) Isn't she cute?}

(post script: aaaand yes, I'm still trying to fix those photos - thanks for bearing with me!}

Life lately

Life lately has been filled with things that I'd probably categorize in the above right circle. But while most experiences have been crazy, stretching and also in most cases, tiring - some have also been fun. Like the CI's taught, concert's performed and many, many visitors from interstate staying with us!

But those things will fill another post for another day! For the moment, have a look at my blog award below.  

{Post Script: I also created some watermarks for my photography, so in the next post you are going to help me decide which one is best!}

WA: fun times...

{preface: this will probably be the last post in the "WA" series because I'm sure you're all getting bored of it by now!}

While in WA, we did a lot of *fun* things with our hospitable hosts, the D. family! Things like...

{...picniking in the bush}

{mini-golfing}

{and more mini-golfing!}

{sailing}

{Emmie & I}

{Walking with friends}

{...and taking lots of photos!}

{...having fun with cameras and phones}

We also did maany other things like shooting, bowling, 4WDing, horse riding - but sadly, that's all I have time for now! Overall, it was one very incredible trip!