Camera Club

Our Lunch Buddy
(boy did I get lucky...I got the "must have")

I had my first meeting with the camera club tonight and it was fab.  I love when they judge and make comments about the photos entered for competition.  I write down what the judges look at and comment on and the one element they ALL remark on is sharpness.  They look for a crystal clear image and one that is not cropped in too tight.  Mat color is essential to the photograph as well as true colors.  Make your black and whites... true black and true white!  If taking wildlife pictures capture light in the eyes- its a "must have". And do not over process or "shop" the picture, in other words, do not over sharpen, over color, or over saturate your pictures.

Home Again

We spent the day traveling back to Spokane from our trip to Denver.  I spent a good long time reading through the User's Guide that came with my camera. There is so much to learn and I feel like I have a pretty good handle on about one quarter of its features...  Tomorrow is my first nite with the Camera Club and I can't wait!

Drive Back to Denver

Loveland Pass

Sadly enough, every vacation has to end and today we started on our way back home.  We drove over Loveland Pass at the continential divide and forced hiked, yet again, up above the timber line.  I have to admit it was beautiful and the air was thin!  I take my little Camera User Guide everywhere I go and read it while I am in the car or waiting someplace.  It is a great way to fulfill my 30 minutes and know more about the features on my camera

Maroon Bells in the White River National Forest

Maroon Lake at Maroon Bells

Glenwood Vaudeville Revue

Another beautiful day in the mountains of Colorado.  We enjoyed hiking along Maroon Creek (3.2 miles one way) and through the golden Aspen Groves.  I am still working on aperature.  I'll be so happy when I can narrow down my 50 aperature shots down to 3 or 4.  We also took in the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue in the evening, comedy, song, and dance...what a hoot!

Avalanche Trail

Avalanche Trail

I am still working on aperature and it takes a 1 hour hiking trip and turns it into a 4 hour trip.  Everyone was pretty tolerant and just hiked on ahead of me, found a great spot to rest, then waited for the "photog-wanna-be".  But I think I got some great shots and it IS all about me..., isn't it??!!??

Rifle Falls Shoot Out

Today I had a real western shoot out and went head to head with a Nikon Camera.  I have a Canon Rebel and a friend of my sister, Sonny, has a Nikon.  His Nikon out shot my Canon.  We were at Rifle Falls and we stood side by side and took the same shot of the stream in a forested setting.  His Nikon picked up truer colors and my Canon shots were washed out.  I am not discounting the fact that I just don't get aperature settings yet, but we even made our settings the same and his came out more vibrant in color. If I don't "get it" after a year on this project I may want a Nikon and the Canon that I haven't even paid for completely may be up for sale soon....

Lliberty Walk



Independence Rock



Liberty Trail



I worked on aperature again and I still don't get it!  We went to the Colorado National Monument and it was a Two Part Grand Day.  The first part was the setting.  Back in 1911 John Otto worked tirelessly with the towns of Grand Junction and Fruita for the creation and preservation of this park.  It is 32 miles of rugged up and down, brilliantly colored terrain and what a grand spectacle is is!  The second part of this grand day is it was the final day of my Julie/Nancy Exercise project.  My 365th day of  exercising at least 30 minutes everyday for a full year!  What fitting end to take a hike on the Liberty Trail!   Lesley and Bob didn't know it, but they picked the perfect trail.  It was liberty from my unhealthy, over weight, exercise hating life.