Photography Class

GrandDad (Tom) told us that he would like to buy us something for the baby, when we were pregnant with Gigi, but he knew we didn't need much since she was our 4th daughter and to let him know if we could figure out something. Audrey was playing softball at the time and I borrowed a camera from a fellow parent the first day that she was pitching and was just astonished at how I could point and shoot and actually capture the action. Not knowing much about photography, but wanting to be able to take pictures of the kids as they did sports and such, we asked if he would buy us a DSLR camera.  "It will benefit you too!"  ☺ (Thank you, as always, Tom for being so generous!)

We got it a few days before Gigi was born and broke it out at the hospital.  Bad idea.  We didn't have it on "auto focus" and many pictures of those first few days are blurred.  Luckily, we forgot to bring it for the actual birth and bought a disposable one at the hospital gift shop so it wasn't a complete tragedy!  We quickly learned the magic of auto (focus)/auto shooting mode and have not left the comfort of the "green box" since.

Here in Iwakuni, we are fortunate to have several professional photographers living amongst us. Laurie was my first Iwakuni friend on Facebook and took the Kintai Bridge pictures for us that were on our Christmas card and letter. I have also asked if she will come to Gigi's 1st (well, 15 month and 3 week) birthday party.  I think Laurie's photojournalism skills are amazing!  ☺

Claire is so CLAIRE in both of these pictures!  ☺

Not much for listening to directions, that girl!  ☺

Danielle is another fabulous photographer.  Before coming to Iwakuni, she primarily did underwater photography and did frequent work for National Geographic as well as the Discovery Channel! When she was blessed with her little girl, Maricela "LaLa", she started doing portrait photography. We are going to have her take the girls' photos sometime this spring or summer too.  She does a "Mini-Model" shoot and while I doubt we will get the girls into modeling, I thought it would be nice to have individuals of the girls, rather than always trying to get four strong-willed little creatures to smile at the camera at the same time.  ☺

However, why I'm writing is I just finished Danielle's first 4 week photography class to try and learn how to get my camera out of the green box!

I am terribly remedial and it still doesn't "click" for me (HA!), but Danielle is so patient and knowledgeable and I really enjoy the fellow Marine wife company.  Here are my favorite shots I took yesterday when we went "on location" to some gardens and a temple behind the Kintai Bridge.

Slow shutter speed for running water.

Rule of thirds?  Or is it my scenery, wide-angle, framed by an object?  I don't know.  I just liked it!

"Macro" photography, which is focusing in on something small.  Aiming to get the blurred background and "depth of field."

Depth of field?  Again, not sure what I was doing here, but I was having fun focusing on the different prayer cards and trying to get the lighting right.  This one was my favorite!

After class yesterday she proposed that we continue to meet weekly and I quickly bowed out because a. I'm not a good photographer and b. I have very, VERY limited time with the kids and my job.  But then she posted this on her Facebook page today.

First this:

Danielle Caceres Photography

Ok some very exiting news to share with everyone interested in photography learning and sharing through the ILC... a super fun adventure group will be starting soon, we will go to off base locations to shoot once a week for two hours with a once a month in classroom critique and tips session! ....let me know if you are interested in signing up or want more info!! :)

I should have NEVER clicked to read the rest of the comments because look what else she wrote.

Danielle Caceres Photography

No you wouldn't need to have attended a class or finished a class. I will try and work one and one with everyone for part of the shoot and we will have monthly in class tips etc. It is more of a formal adventure group to discover new places... to shoot in Iwakuni and the surrounding areas. This is a perfect setting to learn off other like minded budding photographers, and of course leave Japan with beautiful memories through YOUR work! I would like in future to arrange more off the beaten path places and also days away shootings too. There will be a sign up fee and then a fee each time you attend but I will try to keep this low. Payment will be made to the ILC. Hope you girls can make it, I think it is going to be a BLAST!!! :)

And it got worse!

Danielle Caceres Photography Next week is just a social and idea gathering, that afternoon I will then make a special facebook page just for us and will post the places for each month. I would also like to do some theme ones too like getting a Japanese lady traditionally dressed and shoot in and outside of a temple... cherry blossom would be a nice time to do this one I think! But yes we won't be going to the typical tourists spots... we are looking for adventure where no "Gaijin" have been before!! LOL!!

I'm sunk.  Who in their right mind wouldn't come as often as humanly possible to this class?  ☺ 

THANK YOU DANIELLE!!!!!! I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY!