The Pnebleu Blog

Someone recently told me they didn’t get into photography because they didn’t have a good camera.  That took me aback.  Yes, a good DSLR takes great pictures, but it is more about the person behind the camera than the camera itself.  From 2002 until 2009, I was using the lower end Kodak snap and shoot cameras for all of my pictures.  I have so many great pictures from those years.  The quality of the photo (grain, resolution, focus, exposure, etc.) may not be superb, but for most of the pictures it doesn’t have to be.

This picture, for example, isn’t of the greatest quality, but it conveys a feeling, an emotion.  The photo’s job is done. Photography is the art of conveying a story, feeling, emotion, or event to others visually and empathetically.

Another thing she said was that she didn’t have the artistic skill to take good photos.  That may be, she might not be the next Ansel Adams, but you don’t have to be.  With the abundance of digital photography, most people taking pictures aren’t going to be great photographers.  But the pictures you take have meaning to you and the people you are with.  That is what’s important. Does your picture remind you of the emotion of the moment?

The picture below is probably my favorite picture I’ve taken recently.  It’s not that great a picture, but when I look at it, I’m flooded with memories of my Dad and the opportunities we have to share going forward.

So, no matter your skill or camera, get out there and take some pictures!  Because they are for you and your loved ones, it doesn’t matter how good they are!

I’ve never really been interested in printing my photos.  But recently, I’ve been looking at the price of getting large prints to mount on my walls.  They are not out of my price range.  I’m going through all of my photos to pick out the best of the best to print.  I’m going to make a few large prints (20×30 and larger) and quite a few normal sized prints to put on my refrigerator.  I have a few panoramas I want to make into long mounted prints from my roadtrip through 12 of the western states and Yellowstone.  When I get them mounted, I’ll post a few pictures of how they look in my apartment.