photography 101: lesson 1

One of my long term goals is to have a better comprehension of good photography so that I can use the camera as a tool of creativity.  A big belief of mine is that we are all creative, whether we choose to believe it or not.  If you doubt this, recall that we were made by the biggest, most amazing artist in all the universe.  And reminder:  He created us in His image.  So by default, we are creative.  Get over yourself if you think you're not.

YOU ARE.

Embrace it!  Celebrate it!  Deny it NO MORE!

I have a nice camera but I'm embarrassed to admit that I know hardly anything on the ins and outs of it.  So here we go...by blogging it, (hopefully) I'll be more accountable about following through with learning it.

Lesson #1:
Aperture (f-settings):  one aspect that controls the amount of light that enters the camera when a picture is snapped.  The larger the aperture, the more light that will enter and vice versa.

Aperture settings on the camera are called F-stops.  Confusing part of the f-stops are the higher the number, the smaller the aperture (opening).
f22 = small opening
f1.4 = large opening

A maybe easier way of understanding is low number = large opening

The aperture selected can be because of the depth of field you are trying to achieve.

Very shallow depth of field = the main subject is in focus but the surroundings are blurry (low f number)
*The following 2 pictures have a low f-stop, and a shallow depth of field

Very larger depth of field = all ares of the photo are in focus (large f number)
*The following 2 pictures have a high f-stop, and a large depth of field

So go ahead, I dare ya, find the f-stop on your camera and go crazy!

June Goals

For the sake of intentional living, I have committed to monthly goals and they really seem to boost me along.
Even if I don't complete them all, at least I'm making progress.  I have to be careful I'm finding that I do not allow achieving my goals an idol.  Goals are there to push me to live a life of worship.  I do not want to worship achievement.

My June goals were:

Scripture to memorize: You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.  ~Isaiah 26:3

Write 2 love letters to Jason

100 Pushups/week: I made it to 100 one week but the other weeks I averaged 85-90, still not bad. Oh and these were a combo of modified pushups and real pushups.

Run 1 morning/week

Read 1 Homeschool Book

Ask about mentoring: Will have to include on my July goals.

Reading:

Complete The Ragamuffin Gospel

Begin A Thomas Jefferson Education

Begin Grace for the Good Girl

dance like no one's watching

whole: mind body soul

Something I'm passionate about is having a holistically healthy mind, body and soul.  It saddens my heart to see so many Christians living unhealthy lives.  A lot of times, we can think that our bodies don't even matter.  We're going to heaven, right, so who cares if we die early.  I think that is wrong thinking.  I think we can potentially miss out on a whole lot of our calling if our bodies cannot keep up with our soul and what God is leading us to.  So I think it is right to care for the bodies God has blessed us with.  

I disagree with the obsession of our bodies.  I workout not to have a perfect body (because no one ever achieves that).  I workout so that I can do the things I need to do in my daily life.  Also I'm simply a happier, more focused person.   

Like I've said before I discovered Fit2B and I love it.  

Just yesterday I was reading a blog about another resource that centers their workouts around God.  I did one of their workouts this morning and I loved it.  I worked up a sweat all while having attention on God.  How awesome is that!  

Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyways?  

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians 10:31

So check out this post that has some free workouts from Revelation Wellness.  And just move and thank God that you have a body that can!  I promise you'll be happier because of it!

don't hold back

I am a big fan of Dr. Ben Carson, not because he's in the spotlight lately but because he has been a childhood hero for me.  And when we heard him recently he reminded us to not be politically correct.  To say the things on your heart, from your heart.

A Facebook friend had recently shared her opinion on a controversial Supreme Court decision.  I disagreed with her because of core beliefs.  I struggled whether or not I should say anything.  But I decided to.  Because there are so many out there who generalize people.  Liberal vs conservative.  Christian vs non-Christian.  And honestly I am sick of it.

If we are going to get anywhere in this country, we have to stop getting on our sides and start reaching out to have true conversations.  Jesus sure didn't shy away from those who disagreed with him.

I follow that though with a heart of love.  We are going to get nowhere if we look at life as a competition.  We are all brothers and sisters because we are all made in God's image.  We have to stop separating ourselves from people who are different from us.

Speak out IN LOVE.