The clock says 5:38 am. I roll over, then my eyes pop open and I
As I drive down the road, I'm hoping for fog lying across the land. Alas, it's been too hot and dry the past few days. I find one low field with a soft blanket of white and stop for a few minutes.
I head to the beach. I'm just in time to join the geese, gulls and ducks waiting for the sun.
Here comes that bright orb, barely peeking above the horizon at first, then rushing upwards in a blaze of red and gold.
Light bathes the landscape. I walk and stop and admire and give thanks to God for this most amazing day.
Yep. I have a new camera. As soon as the battery charged I looked around for something to photograph - these tomatoes looked like a good subject.
It's a Panasonic GX7, one of the new breed of mirrorless camera systems that allow interchangeable lenses without the bulk of a full DSLR. I'm so grateful to Donna, photographer par excellence at Cottage Days and Journeys for her expert advice on how to choose a camera. I have a 14-42 mm lens that I used to take the above photos, and a 45-200 mm lens that I haven't even taken out of the box yet. Fun learning ahead.
Here's a question for you - are you the kind of person who reads the entire manual from cover to cover and explores all the buttons before trying out a new gadget/appliance/tool, or do you first figure out how to turn something on and start using it, figuring it out as you go?
Oh, wow! Amazing pictures!! I feel wonderful whenever I visit your blog. I should come often!:). Those tomatoes are picture perfect and the sunrise is just mind blowing!! :)I try to read the manual,though not fully :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I was up at the same time this morning unable to go back to sleep but our weather was nothing like yours! I rarely read more than the basic instructions and then I wonder why I don't understand how to get the best out of things!
ReplyDeleteThe new camera takes good photos! I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal and fool around with a new camera, using the manual as a last resort when I can't figure something out. That being said, I know I don't use my camera to its full potential.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the mirror- less cameras are going to make mine obsolete in time.
Good luck with your new camera. the images look good.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful morning sunrise shots, Lorrie. Congratulations on your new camera. I've not heard of that type before. It looks like it takes great photos and I'm sure you will enjoy it. Have a great afternoon.
ReplyDelete1. Congrats on your new camera.
ReplyDelete2. Fabulous photos
3. I start playing before I read the manual.
Figure as I go...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new camera! The pictures are beautiful!
Scary to my Dear but I'm a learn as you go. He's a read the whole manual type...
ReplyDeleteLovely early morning scenes!
Great snaps. I never read the manual or instructions that is why I always have screws over when I put flat pack furniture together.
ReplyDeleteOh my, these are lovely, lovely! Congrats on getting your new camera.
ReplyDeleteI read enough of the manual so that it doesn't blow up when I press too many wrong buttons. I always intend to read the whole manual, but I never do.
What fun you must be having....
a blessing to enjoy to the max!
I'm glad you got a new camera and I know Donna is so knowledgeable about anything related to photos. My hubby reads every manual...to everything...all the way through. I rely on him! lol Have fun with your new camera! Photos look great! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI have been hearing about the mirror less camera. Curious how the photos do blown up to say 24"x36".
ReplyDeleteFirst shots with a new camera are a bit like the first kiss. Exciting!
I skim through the manual enough to catch any warnings of thing to avoid and to get a general sense of things. Later when something isn't working like I want it too (lighting for example) my brain chirps up that manual said *something* about that so I refer to it then. I keep my manual into camera case and it has saved me when traveling and a setting locked me out of my camera! I had no idea my camera could do that.
Oh a new camera, what fun, and your images are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSo many of them have that White Rock feel that I had to look twice to be sure that you weren't visiting there.
Jen
I love that shot of the Queen Ann's Lace. So pretty :)
ReplyDeleteLovely pic's with your new camera! Have fun with it.
ReplyDeleteI read the basics and then start to play. It seems I rarely get beyond the basics though!
You live in such a beautiful place!! And you got some great early morning shots. Good for you for getting up so early . . . I always think it's a good idea but never really manage!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm too impatient to read the instructions -- I just start playing, and read if I get stuck. Enjoy your new camera!
Lovely photos! The fog is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI usually read the basics and then try it out.
Deanna
Fabulous shots with your new camera, looks like you picked a winner! I'm a grab it and go type of gal, I have to play with something and learn as I go. When I get stuck, out comes the manual. Have fun Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteYou will know, from my photos, that I am a 'grab the camera and go' user. I've never read the manual and it shows!
ReplyDeleteYIPPEE + congrats on your new 'baby'! Lovely morning colors and yummy looking tomatoes! It's been hot and dry here too; I would LOVE to see some fog on our mountains. Yep, I really would.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Aimee
PS: I do a mixture of both with most technical gadgets, but with some I just figure it out by playing with them. I LIKE challenges:)
Lovely post, love the Queen Anne's Lace and congratulations Lorrie on the new camera...yea, such fun these cameras are, AND look at all of the friends we have made, because of them ;) ~
ReplyDeleteThese early morning shots are breathtaking :)
ReplyDeleteReading a manual is not high on my list so I am one of the turn it on see what happens sort of people :)
Oh to have a nice camera and your photographer's eye. I would love both of them because I can't think of anything much more enjoyable than an early morning trek to "somewhere" to take early morning pictures of the day beginning. Yours are beautiful. The tomatoes are pretty wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a new camera!! ::happy squeals:: And you've already put it to good use, I see. I particularly love the sunrise photograph.
ReplyDeleteThe book? My camera has a book? ;)
Wonderful photos! I'm going to do a bit of research of this new breed of camera -- sounds like something I'd love for travel.
ReplyDeleteI do read quite a bit of the instruction manual at first. My problem recently has been finding the time to get back to it and figure it out. And I hate getting a DVD or link to video online, as I much prefer reading at my own speed.
Yay for new toys! I like to learn something new the hands on way, but usually end up reading most of the manual in fits and starts when I can't figure specific things out.
ReplyDeleteThe nodding grasses are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe light in the next photos is WOW Lorrie, I've been longing to get shots just like yours!
Maybe you actually read the manual ha ha!
I'm the "when all else fails - read the manual" type of person.
Haowever, I've just got my first iphone after having a Samsung for a long time.
The iphone came in a sleek white box - with not a manual in sight - I was disappointed and have struggled with the new technology!
A new camera - fabulous photos - I know the feeling, hurry and get those new photos. Your camera sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI am a learn by experimentation as I go kind of photographer. I probably miss some great things I'd learn if I read the manual right through to the end - but I probably won't change at this stage of my life. Besides it is fun to make a new discovery about what my camera can do.
Really beautiful pictures, I love how you have captured the atmosphere of early morning. I am not keen on reading a manual cover to cover....I read the bit I need at the time and apply it, and the rest of the time I just experiment!
ReplyDeleteHelen xox
What a beautiful morning you captured. Congrats on that new camera. I tend to be a learn as you go person as most manuals all sound "Greek" to me.
ReplyDeleteI admire people who can read a manual and understand it. I can tell you read it, understand it and use it. I get frustrated with new gadgets, but the good thing about a camera is that there is an auto setting. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm arriving a bit late for this post, since I have been icing down my right eye and resting from surgery on Tuesday. I am ecstatic for you, and very tickled that I could help steer you in the right direction for your and your favorite subject matter. I think I hear some "camera love" in your post! Yes, practice, practice, practice is the key. Your hands need to fly to the controls without nary a thought.
ReplyDeleteI tend to jump in and try the controls first, and then pour into the manual to find out the answers to specific questions I have about operation. There are huge sections in the manuals that I can avoid without any harm, such as the various programmed modes. I never use them, so why bother? I have to refer to the manual to get the electronic preferences set up the way I like to shoot. Of course, I also supplement my new camera training with videos too. lynda.com had training courses for both the Nikon D800 and D7100, and I went through every single chapter!
As I told you several weeks ago, mirrorless cameras are the up-and-coming thing for photography enthusiasts, and there are many professionals that are even making the switch. I can very well see myself buying up a mirrorless system in the next year or two because it is so much lighter for travel. And I'm getting older, so weight is a big deal!
P.S. Here are a series of training videos that you may find helpful - http://www.lumixgexperience.panasonic.co.uk/learn/video-tutorials/#.VADQwksV8l4
ReplyDeleteI do a little bit of both. Learn how to turn it on and snap a few, then sit down with the manual and learn what I want it to do for me.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye August - welcome to the September!
ReplyDelete