Photography has been in my life since receiving my first camera at age 8 -- a little "toy" Roy Rogers camera. Later, as a marketing professional I took my Nikon to trade shows and used the film they provided to document the shows. As I began writing professionaly I provided the photos and graphics via computer.

Fast forward: I have been taking UCSD Extension Classes in their Certificate program and learned how little I really knew ... even if I got some of it right by instinct.

After all this and taking more workshops with Julia Dean Photo Workshops in Hollywood, and reflecting on my work experience working with professional photographers in studios, I'm realizing it's hard work to get those "pro" images for advertising collateral, PR, and other commercial use.

I often look in awe at those images in Museum of Modern Modern Art, the Getty, or MOPA (Museum of Photograph Arts -San Diego ).

I'm learning it's not about the camera, it's about the person behind the lens. Slowly,, I'm getting into an exhibit here, an on line gallery there .. It's an amazing and enriching learning experience discovering what's inside my head that works or can be trained to create good images.

There is an amazing amount of beauty to explore and create great phots with. It's worth wandering for, or going after deliberately. There is much to learn from the masters but not by copying, but understanding how they found and excersided their unique vision.