So…you’re interested in Photography?

So many people ask me “what camera and lens do you use?” or “What settings did you use on that photo?”.   I’m always happy to tell everyone I use a Nikon D610 full frame camera and my everyday lens is a 28-300, but telling people what you use is like a carpenter telling someone I used a stanley hammer and nails.   The equipment doesn’t get you very far if you don’t hone your craft.   A carpenter becomes a craftsman after absorbing and practicing as much as he can about the art of carpentry.    Same goes for Photography.  Whether you want to take up photography as a business or just as a “photo hobbyist ” (as I like to call myself), you need to put the time in behind the camera until everything about that camera becomes second nature to you.   When I got my first camera I stopped at Hunts in Melrose at their annual camera show and spoke to a very enthusiastic Don Toothaker.  Don and Robert Ring of New England Photo Workshops run some awesome Photography Workshops all over New England.  If you want to hone your skills of photography, they are the guys to do it with.   I’ve had some great experiences with Bob and Don, visiting places around New England that I probably wouldn’t venture to on my own.   They love what they do and willing to share their vast experience, whether you’ve just taken the camera out of the box or have been shooting for years, they have a wealth of knowledge for all skill levels.   The above photo was taken on Cape Ann a few years back on Half Moon Beach in Gloucester at on one of their Workshops.  Why would I take a Workshop on Cape Ann since I live here?  You’d be surprised what you aren’t “seeing” when you look through a lens.   I used to just look at the beach as a whole…now I look at the flow of the water, the shadows of the sand, the uniqueness of the scene.   That’s something you can’t get with buying the best equipment.   Bob and Don at NEPW happen to be running another one-day Cape Ann Workshop next month and have many other awesome Workshops lined up this year, so check them out if you are looking to hone your craft!