Hello flickr friends!

 

I've been taking pictures since I was in high school. I guess since I was a little kid, actually.....I just didn't take any decent photos until I was a teenager. LOL And actually, I've put some of those here. I scanned and posted some of my earlier work from high school and college. You'll see a lot of scanned 35mm pics towards the end of my photostream.

 

I did some photography in early college but for many years after that, it kind of went by the wayside. I purchased my first digital SLR camera in about 2007 (it was an Olympus E-510) and got back into it again. In Dec. of 2011, I made the switch to Nikon (D 7000), and it's like learning a whole new language! I don't have a lot of technical knowledge (especially with the digital cameras!) I just kind of follow my eye, really. I take pictures very much the way a musician "plays by ear". But over the past five years, I've been learning more and more. In the summer of 2011, I took several classes at the International Center of Photography in NYC (located next to Times Square). I had the opportunity to study under some really amazing and accomplished photographers. It was an amazing experience.

 

Photogging, for me, is a very meditative experience. I find when I'm looking through the lens, the rest of the world just fades away. I kind of "Zen out". And, I think in many ways, it's even a spiritual experience. Some people connect with The Universe by going to church. Some by running 5 miles. Some (such as myself) connect by communing with nature, in the middle of the woods, or down the shore. Taking pictures of those things is a way to bring that feeling home with me.

 

I'm not big on altering images. Mainly because I'm not good at using editing software. Maybe it's because I'm an "old person" now, but I've been finding that very difficult. This is something I'd love to learn more about. I'd also like to learn more about video and video editing. The most image manipulation I've done is using filters, and changing a color image to B&W or sepia tone. Maybe amp up the contrast or saturation a bit or reduce some noise.

 

I often shoot with a telephoto lens and sometimes a macro lens.

 

Some background about me: I live in Northern New Jersey, about 10 miles from NYC. I'm an 8th grade science teacher in the same area.

 

My photography focuses mainly on nature, but I like to expand my horizons and shoot other things as well (statuary/cemetery, amusement rides, still life, etc.). I have a penchant for mushrooms. I'm not sure why....the only answer I have is that it's an "Alice" thing (as in Wonderland). Alice is very near and dear to my heart, hence my buddy icon.

 

Because I'm a teacher, and because I generally like to photograph outdoors (and I REALLY dislike the cold), you will probably notice I post a lot more during the summer, fall, and spring, and a lot less during the winter months. One of my goals is to try to look at things a little differently in the indoor universe during those winter months, to perhaps break that dry spell. It's always a challenge for me.

 

I recently created my own website, which you will find a link to on this page. (It's a work in progress.) Please visit! While you are there, you can find a link to my Facebook fan page! Like and follow me on Facebook! If you'd rather just do a FB search, you can find me under Carrie Hittel Photography. This is a public FB page and I invite my students to enjoy my images there, as well.

 

I've already met a lot of really great people here, from my little corner of the world, as well as all over the world (which I JUST LOVE!) I make a concerted effort to comment on and fave other people's pictures as much as I possibly can. Cuz, ya know...we all want good flickr karma!!! :o)

 

Ok.....so I guess I'll see you out in the flickrverse! Happy photogging!

 

Here are some links to my social media.

 

www.facebook.com/carrie.hittel/

 

www.facebook.com/CarrieHittelPhotography/