Flickr: skyecpht

I have three loves in my life -- my husband, food, and photography. I got the man to marry me. I have learned how to cook... I'm very good at it if I do say so myself. And I'm talking about, I have enough confidence to tackle complicated recipes from CIA cookbooks, not just regular Food Network stuff. I'm proud of that accomplishment. The whole reason I learned how to cook was so I could get the man to marry me... and he did... so... now that I've conquered the first two loves, my final project is to perfect my photography. Before I die, so I have the rest of my life at least. ;o)

I've thought about taking classes but I don't have the money. So instead I buy as much film as I can and take as many pictures as I can. I can teach myself, the same way I taught myself how to cook. I don't have a whole lot of subjects. I don't live in a beautiful area. Well, maybe there's beauty here, and I just haven't found it yet. I love landscapes and skies. I love taking pictures of kids. I love black and white, that's primarily what I shoot in. I love to turn my flash off. I hate it actually, so I usually keep it off. I'm dying to find some abandoned buildings or ruins somewhere that I can go take some shots of. I'm not well-versed -- heck, I'm not versed at all -- in photography language. I don't know what F-stop means or ISO means. I should probably read my camera's manual.

I shoot with a year-old Canon Rebel SLR 35mm camera. We also have a Canon digital (non-SLR) in the house that I sometimes use for instant results. But I'm truly in love with my SLR. One day I should be able to afford a digital SLR and then I would be the happiest camper in the world. Maybe if I ever get a bonus, I will treat myself.

I want to experiment with different types of lighting and a new lens. Just need the means to do so.

Anyway I'm just an amateur, I don't measure up to you pro folks. I'll probably always be an amateur but with photography, my aim has always been to produce something I am proud of, and I find I can do that pretty regularly. The things I'm proud of may not be technically or artistically incredible, but it's something I'm proud of and I like that feeling. It's similar to cooking for 3 hours in the kitchen and sitting down to the most succulent meal I've ever eaten. I like those moments, when I am proud of what I've done. I hope to increase them with pictures. No one's ever really complimented me, or told me I am missing my calling in life and should be a photographer, and that's ok, but I think the proudest I have ever been is when I gave my sister some of the best pictures I took of her kids and she cried. I definitely take tears as compliments.

Please share your thoughts with me and comment on my pictures, a girl could always use some compliments. :o)