If you read Happy Valentine’s Day Week then you might recall me mentioning the class my boyfriend and I took this past January.  I’ve always been fond of creating new memories….of creating opportunities to start off the conversation with ‘Remember when we…’.  While I know that he loves the watch I got him for Christmas, it might not bring him the same warm feeling of closing his eyes and bringing forth the images of seeing me with a camera around my neck, smiling back at him. He is a photographer; he has this way with the camera, and that always AWEs me.  It seems to come naturally for him, so effortless.  It couldn’t just be any class to pick for him.  I wanted to give him someone’s perspective, that wasn’t his.

Tomorrow we’ll get to see his favorite shots, during another of his installments for Story Time Saturday.  For today though we’ll get to experience together what I took from the class.

Judith Farber, the photographer from Sundays In New York, taught the class how to adjust ISO and WHITE BALANCE.  While most cameras have the feature to change the ISO and White Balance settings based on the lighting situation of your subject automatically, it is good to know how to do this manually.

 

To be totally honest, I had no idea what any of that stuff meant at first.  I remembered hearing the terms from when I took a class back in high school but that has been many moons ago.  For the short time we were at Grand Central Station I quickly guessed which way to go for more light, or less light.  It really takes time to devote to learning it to truly get that skill down.  Daniel seemed to have no problem with this and I secretly wanted to trip him for being the teacher’s pet.  What I did walk away with was a new way of looking at things in general.  Judith taught us to see the beauty in everything our eyes laid upon.  The woman who leaned across the wall of yellow phones, the intricate design of a metal mesh wall, or the fast paced swish that a New Yorker left behind them as they walked across the room; they all possessed a beauty to them. 

Photos don’t only have to be about capturing happy moments but be about exposing all of life’s beauty.

 

 

 

If you happen to live in the NYC area, this class is definitely worth the travel.  I got this deal on Daily Candy for Sundays In New York It’s no longer available.  There was two offerings, 1.) Two Hour Photography Workshop and 2.) One Hour Private Photo Critiquing Session. Either would be a great gift for yourself or a loved one!

May You see the BEAUTY around you!

How do you capture it?

Until then,

To read a writing piece by Judith Farber visit the OpenCenter.org!