John Denver...or maybe not

On our way back towards Spokane, on the last day or our trip, we stopped for the second time in Packwood Washington, on the west side of Stevens Pass, where they put on a big Flea Market twice a year. The first on is on Memorial Weekend, and the second one comes up over Labor day. We started out trying to go there on the friday before, but ran out of time, so we made time on the way back, even though we were already really behind on our schedule. As we were getting ready to go check things out, I saw a man on a stage in front of one of a restaurant there in town. Being a "huge" John Denver fan, the first thing that came to mind when I saw this man was the leather vest he was wearing and how much it reminded me of John Denver. I knew before I even got a look at his face that this was who he was impersonating, but until i got a look at him, I didn't know just how much he was really like John Denver. I froze in my steps as soon as I got up close to him....He had the long hair, the round "John Lennon" glasses, the vest....everything. It was so cool...And he just kept on singing John Denver hits, one after another. I could have sat there all day, just listening to this guy. I took several photos of him, and then gave Tyler money to put in his tip jar to show him my appreciation at not only is music, but allowing me to take photo's of him. If you didn't know much about John Denver, you would have never known that this person was not him....Only a true follower of his music would know he passed away years ago in a plane crash. What an experience this was listening to this guy.

learning to use my new camera

I thought I was doing pretty good with my new camera, and was thinking my pictures had pretty good quality to them. Even when I looked at them on my new lap top, they still looked pretty good. Well, I put them on a regular computer to see the quality, and the things a lap top doesn't expose showed up once I looked at them on a clear screen. They were very cloudy looking, like there was a lot of shaking in the camera. I was very frustrated, because I had taken a lot of great pictures, and now I saw they weren't clear enough to use. I'm not sure if it's something I did, or didn't do, because the camera is new to me, or if its something else. The cool thing is I can see what the set up is to each picture when I look at them online. I just need to figure out what I did or didn't do and try to match it up with the photo's I took.

I really need time to just go out and play with it, one photo at a time, to see if I can make it do what I need, and not what the camera thinks I need. Once I know that, I think it will make a difference in how my photos look.

I've decided after seeing my photos over the last year that I have a lot to learn about taking pictures when there is limited light, shade, shadows, etc, or when the object is moving. My picture quality really drops when those issues come into play. (frown) Anyways, its all a learning process, so I need to find time to learn it. My problem is not having the time. I have so many project I am working on right now, and not one of them is finished. They all seem to have an early start at them, and then I get busy doing something else and I put one aside and start another.....On and On I go, and nothing gets done completely. The only thing I seem to notice is I am always busy, but never have time to do anything... Go figure.

MY NEW FLYER

I have been a work in progress, trying to put stuff together so I can start showing some of my photography. Trying to find time to edit my existing pictures, putting together a flyer, deciding on formats etc....There is just so much to do and no time to do it.

"I think" I finally have a flyer that looks and feels like the right one. It has taken me a while to put it together, but I have been blessed to have Mel (http://pursuingholiness.blogspot.com/) give me her opinion as I move this along. Plus she has been such a blessing by using my photos on her website; what a wonderful way to be able to show my work. Thanks Mel....You're a blessing to all who know you. (If you double click on the picture it should open up and you can view it full size.)

I should have a lap top by the end of the day, as I feel God opened a door for me to have one that's just right for me. A college student put his up for sale on Craig's List because he no longer needs it after graduation, and I was the first to call on it, so I met with him last night to view the laptop and go over the inside to see if its what I need. I could see right away it was going to be just perfect for me, as he is leaving programs in the computer that will benefit my photo work right now, and allow me to do things on my time, which is sometimes late into the night.

Having the right tools will make my job so much easier and faster, and I look forward to seeing what I can do once I get lap top tonight. We are taking a trip to the coast this weekend and I look forward to being able to work on stuff as I have it and not months afterwards.

I purchased a zoom lens at the beginning of the week and paid the cost of overnighting it so that I could have it before we started our travels this weekend. I'm excited to finally get a "real" chance to use my new camera. I've had it for quite some time now, and have only used it a few times. It's a little intimidating learning to use it, but I think once I get going. it will be good. I just need to learn how to use a more advanced model and learn how to operate it "correctly" so that my pictures look better over all.

I have learned so much in the last month or so, while putting together my flyer. There are so many things I don't know how to do on my computer, but I do know that I need to be able to learn how to make certain things work in order to publish, edit, format etc. I put together the whole flyer all by learning how to format the page the right way. Then I had to make changes, and what do you know, more learning. Yesterday I figured out all on my own how to move one "blog" to another one, so that I could re-do this one. It took me a while to think it through, but once I got it, I was very proud of myself. And today....well, I had to figure out how to make my "text document" into a "photo" so I could put it on my web page here. TaDa....see, I made it work all on my own. I didn't know I could use my brain this much and actually feel like I have accomplished so much is such a little amount of time........

I know the main reason I feel so empowered with this whole thing, and that is because it belongs to God, and not me. When He is allowed to control the situation, so much more can happen. By being able to bless Him through my work, He is blessing me, by giving me the tools I need to make it work. I would have never been able to figure this out on my own, and yet, here I am, much further along than I ever could have imagined. "Our God is such an AWESOME God!!

Once I have a few more minutes, I will write about my photos and my flyer, and how both have been tools to open up conversations about God with total strangers. And to think God is using me, the one time shy, head down, scared in my corner lady, to go out and do things I would have never thought possible.

UP AND COMING CHANGES TO MY BLOG

I am moving things, around so if you stop by and things look a little strange, it will only be a temporary thing. Once I get my other blog situated, I will pass the information along. I'm changing this page to work only with my photo's and everything else will be on another blog.

****IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE MY FLYER, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS PAGE AND IT WILL LEAD YOU TO MY PHOTO PAGE******

Thanks for stopping by........God Bless....Kat