I have always been a bit of a 'point and shoot photographer' but I never studied or did anything with it. I am retired now and find that I have a lot more time to study and learn about it. I just finished my first class and know how to use the camera but I am now on a journey to discover how to take quality photos and to find my voice and my niche. I am excited to be in this place at this time since I feel I have a lot to say and want to say it through photography.

It has been about a year since I started my photography journey with more commitment than I have ever put into it. It is paying off in a few ways. One is that I feel like I am improving, but it is more like a gradual process than it is a major shift. That, I suppose, is to be expected, but I am very glad to feel that way. The other benefit I am getting from photography is the way it transports me out of this world to a place where I can (and do) forget, for a brief time, about the world with all of its problems. While I feel like there are factions that are trying to tear down everything in sight, with photography, I can create and build something of myself into it, even if no one likes it but me. I likely will never achieve the kind of popularity that some photographers have, but that isn't my goal anyway. If there is something that people like, well good. If not, I will not have lost anything and I will have had a great time in the process.

Gear:

Canon 90D

Canon lenses EF-S 18–55mm f/4–5.6 IS STM

Sigma lenses: 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 DC HS, 24-70mm 1:2.8 DG OS HSM Art, 100-400mm 1:5-6.3 DG OS HSM

Promaster Tripod with a SPH36P head