Thursday, April 3, 2014

A-Z Challenge C is for Smile! Say Cheese! Look This Way!

It’s time to participate in the April A-Z Blog Challenge.  I will be blogging every day in April, with Sunday’s off. 
The topic for each day will begin with the designated letter of the alphabet.
Today’s letter is C.

Until recently, I spent a lot of time looking down and only noticing what was a few paces beyond the front of my feet.   
Because I am a worrier, my mind was cluttered with what ifs instead of focusing on what is. 

Then a couple of years ago, I received a Christmas present.  A camera.  A Canon Power Shot SX200IS camera with a zoom lens.  A 12 X optical zoom lens.

Suddenly, I was interested in what was across the pond, down the beach, up in the trees and in the sky. 
I began to notice long shadows cast by a lemon yellow sun.  I gazed upon drifting white cottony puffs and imagined dinosaurs and angels.  
I became energized by  dark gray brooding thunder clouds.  



I wondered at rainbow raindrops, and sparkling aurora borealis snow flakes.  

My canon not only sharpened my vision, it heightened my sense of sounds. 
I now realize that all birds don’t sound alike.  Their chirps and calls are as individual their plumes. 



My camera encourages me to want stop to smell the roses and stay in the moment.  It allows me  to capture the moment so that I may savor it forever. 




A few weeks ago I read that since it is now commonplace for everyone to have a camera with them at all times,  people quickly want to snap a picture so that they can immediately share it with their social media congregation.   For that reason, a person does not grasp or appreciate what is actually occurring. 

I disagree with that theory.  Or I should say personally,  for me it has been quite the opposite.  

Last year I got another Christmas present.  A new Canon Power Shot SX40HS with 35X





Smile!









14 comments:

  1. Great pictures! With the group of bird pictures, is that a hawk spreading its wings? Glad you discovered the joys of taking pictures!

    betty

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    1. Thanks, Betty. That creature spreading its wings is actually a turkey vulture. They are scavengers and pretty creepy looking.

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  2. Great pictures...and I'm envious of your new camera! Lately I've just been using my phone to take pictures. I think I need to upgrade my phone so I get better photos.

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    1. I know it’s probably old fashioned to carry a regular camera around. My husband takes pretty good photos with his phone. But I feel that I have more options with my Canon.

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  3. C is also for 'camera' and 'Canon'! :) Beautiful shots! I'm so glad you discovered the gift of photography and learned to better observe the world around you. You might enjoy reading 'The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe' by Mary Simses, a fictional account (and romance novel) of a lawyer/photographer.

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  4. Thanks Susan.
    I will check out your book suggestion!

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  5. I love your pictures, especially the birds! I also got a new camera for Christmas. I must learn how to use it a bit better before we leave for vacation on April 11th.

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    1. Thank you! We got another camera for Christmas called the GOPRO. It’s the one that you attach to yourself to record an activity. The video shows a bird’s eye point of view. I have found it pretty difficult to learn. So far it has not come out of the box too often.

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  6. I love the weaving of words and pictures. And the role of the camera as a light out of the worry tunnel well is thought-provoking. I'll have to try that myself. Great post. Happy A to Z challenge.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by Sabrina. Intently focusing on trying to get the perfect shot definitely forces me to stay in the present.

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  7. I have a cannon power shot as well, it's a great camera. Your pictures are wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Jen. What I like about the Canon is that it can be as simple or complicated as I like.

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  8. Love your photos, as always. I've really missed them!

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