Baffled & Dumber than Dumb

Before I started my photography class, I knew that I wasn't very intuitive about electronic devices and different machines (including the computer). I learn by reading and following directions. I'm often afraid to experiment because I've been afraid that I will ruin a program or a file. Since I got my little (adorable) camera, I have been trying a lot of different modes but I didn't know why pictures looked the way they did. I have been learning why in this class. We aren't allowed to take any photos with the automatic mode -- everything has to be manual so we will learn how to use the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings. I cannot change the aperture and shutter speed on my little camera. I can change the ISO.

Adam was gracious enough to lend me his SLR camera and told me that I needed to teach him what I learn in exchange for the use of his camera. Well..... I've been using his camera.....I don't know that I could teach him anything. A week ago I came out of the class completely baffled and realized that I'm dumber than dumb.

The teacher took us out into a barely lighted hallway. He sat on the floor and rolled a basketball towards us and we were supposed to freeze the frame and get the detail of the stipes on the ball. I simply couldn't do it. I was so lost with all the settings that I got really frustrated.

This week we did another exercise and I feel like I'm understanding it better. The pictures below are three I took with my little camera. I got a few with Adam's but not as good because we were in the dark and I am too slow with the settings. I'll get it!!

This is not a great photo but it's fun. The teacher had a light globe in the room. The purpose of this exercise was to show us how to set up a camera to take a picture of lightning. This was in a completely dark room. This is fuzzy - the ends of the lines should be clear and not fuzzy but my little camera doesn't have the capacity to do any better than this. I still like the picture. :) It was a lot of fun to experiment!

This is a picture of a spinning quarter. We had to spin the quarter and then try to freeze the frame. The same application as the basketball, but this was in a regularly lighted room and I could see what I was doing better.

I caught it! Just before it fell over. I was so proud of myself! If you think this is easy, just try it.

I did this with my click and shoot camera -- and I figured out all by myself what setting to use. I think I'm going to figure this one out. Adam can't find the manual for his camera and I need to get one if I'm going to continue to learn once the class is over which next week. Wish me luck.