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Leaf in Park
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Finally, an update. The late nature of this post isn’t due to a lack of things going on in my life: rather, because I’ve found myself busy, I haven’t had time to make a post. Although, I suppose one could argue I had time, just that I didn’t set aside any for this project.

So we did the Christmas thing again this year, wherein the closest family members all gathered together at my grandparent’s house and spent the day together. It was a very strange feeling Christmas: it didn’t actually feel like Christmas, really. The weather was strange, for one thing. There wasn’t a flake of snow on the ground, nor was the weather all that bad. Things didn’t feel as nostalgic as they had in previous years (perhaps because of the weather). Also, instead of following the rest of my cousins my age to another house as I have done in previous years, I instead chose to stay back at the grandparent’s house all day. I must say, it’s quite a difference. I’m not sure if it’s a difference I prefer, but, it was certainly different.

I received some great gifts, as well. I won’t describe them, as I know I’ll somehow miss one and alienate that person. It is sufficient to say that I am thankful for the gifts I received.

I was very pleased to see the end of the Santa photographs at work. The stress level has decreased dramatically at work, so things are much more comfortable now. Unfortunately, this means there is less work to do. These days the staff has been sent home early due to lack of customers: while this is great for getting things done on that day, it doesn’t work well for the paycheck. And, because we are no longer allowed overtime, my hours have greatly decreased. Those two issues combined have shown themselves in the amount of money I receive now. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how one considers it), my pay has raised due to the minimum wage increase. I’m looking for a new job, but haven’t found anything yet.

Other than work, I’ve been keeping myself busy with side projects. I took some Christmas card photos for a customer and her family. I was also able to design a prayer card for a cousin of mine: if you’re related to him or me, you might very well be receiving one of them sometime (or perhaps you already have). I designed a website header for a Team Fortress Classic league (an example is available here [flagmandesign.com], with their prototype version here). [tfleague.com] I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but my basic point is that I’ve kept myself busy.

If I was a serious news blogger, I would also comment on a variety of stories that interested me, and would have done them as they happened. Saddam’s hanging, Internet Explorer being vulnerable two hundred eighty four days [blog.washingtonpost.com] last year, that Microsoft Vista could be a disaster for HD content users [cs.auckland.ac.nz] (additional information here [twit.tv] and here [twit.tv]), or the announcement of the Apple iPhone all could have been posted here, as they happened. Then I realized neither I nor anyone reading this blog would really care what I had to say about the things. Instead, I suggest one just visit my digg profile [digg.com] and check out what I’ve dugg.

One story that I did “cover” was the recent ice storm in Michigan. How fortunate that I live in that state.

I feel that I’m growing as a photographer. In my photography infancy, I never strayed from Auto on my 35mm SLR. Once I purchased the 30D, I felt that the Program (P) mode was enough of a stretch for me. Then, eventually, I moved to Aperture Priority (Av) mode, and learned how that worked. Finally, as I hoped digital would help me do, I moved to Manual (M) mode for most of my photography. The ice photos were shot entirely in Manual mode. Manual mode has made me think about the design of the photo, as much as the composition itself. I no longer press the shutter and hope I got the shot right, but rather use all the camera’s tools to aid in me in getting the shot right the first time. Granted, I still do a bit of chimping now and then, but its not with the same trepidation as before. I’m not the best, and I’m still learning, but I’m having fun and enjoying the results.

Oh yeah, and the “Today’s Image” was taken last year, before Christmas. It’s in a local civic park. I didn’t have any recent photos I felt like posting, and I didn’t want to take an ice photo out of the list to put it up top. So instead, I just went into my archives and grabbed something. It’s still posted with love, just stale, slightly moldy love.

Until next month (or so it would seem, considering my previous update times)!

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 20th, 2007 at 12:39 am and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.