Picture Taking & Big Deal Things

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When I met up with my friend Amber over the weekend, I brought along my old Sony point and shoot.  I  hadn’t used the P & S since I got my DSLR.

Sony Cyber-shot camera

It may be 4 years old and beat up, but it took nearly 20,00o pictures (my iPhoto numbers don’t lie).  Everything from Skylar’s babyhood and toddlerhood to Aruba trips to food pictures.  I took more closeups of lettuce and chocolate with this camera than should be legal.

Backside of camera

It seems so tiny compared to my DSLR!

For example…

Here’s the DSLR in my new camera bag

New DSLR in camera bag

DSLR and lens in camera bag

Versus…

The Sony point and shoot in old pink case I found on the Best Buy clearance rack for 9.99 years ago.  And it fits in the palm of my hand.

Pink case for Sony camera

Side view of pink camera case with carrying strap

I remember when I first started blogging, I was not a person who took that many pictures.

But, I started taking  more pictures around my house.

I worked my way up into (remembering) and actually bringing my camera out in public more, even though my point and shoot seemed “huge” to me when I was toting it.

And when I was using it to take pictures, I felt like the whole world was staring at me wondering why I was taking pictures of a smoothie menu or similar very “ordinary” things.

Now, it seems like a toy camera compared to my massive DSLR.

I still haven’t worked up the courage to lug that one out for meetups with friends, or to sushi restaurants or out in public when I am with others.  It just seems so huge and I can’t imagine whipping it out, tableside.

From my last post about our Valentine’s Day Recap, glad you enjoyed the pictures.  And thanks for filling me in on your arts and crafts projects that you liked to do as a kid.  Or like to do now.

And thanks to everyone who had sweet comments about Skylar’s hair.  I wish I had her hair, too!

Snack: “Spicy Doritos” Cheezy Dip

"Spicy Doritos" Cheezy Dip

Use with chips, on veggies, as a salad dressing, or anyplace you’d use hummus, you can use this dip.

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Vegan Kale Chip
Close up of Kale Chips

Using your oven is fine if you don’t have a dehydrator.

And now for something sweet, Butterscotch Rice Krispy Treats with Vegan Chocolate Frosting

No bake and easy

Butterscotch Rice Krispy Treats with Vegan Chocolate Frosting

Close up of Butterscotch Rice Krispy Treats with Vegan Chocolate Frosting

Questions:

1. Do you feel comfortable taking pictures of things that others may not necessarily deem photo-worthy?  Do you ever feel self-conscious taking pictures all the time?

As I said in the body of the post, I went through a metamorphosis of sorts with picture taking from not taking many, to taking more and more, to pretty much not caring about looking a bit ridiculous when I’m out.

I have gotten really quick about it if I am in a restaurant or out in public.  I don’t care about angles or lighting, I just grab a fast shot, one take only, whatever I capture, I capture.

I never want to turn into what I’d call “a tourist” in my regular life.  Walking around with a camera around my neck totally oblivious to the rest of the world as I stand on the sidewalk and block the way for passerby’s just so I can get “my shot”.  Shoot me if I turn into that.

2. Does it matter if you have a P & S vs. a DSLR in terms of how self-conscious you are?

Yes, I admit, I have not brought my DSLR out to restaurants, yet.

It’s so big and I would feel awful if food or drink was spilled on it.  The fear of damaging it is just as much of a reason why I don’t bring it as it’s size.

3. Is there anything in your life that at the time seemed like a big deal but looking back, you realize, wasn’t a big deal?

Not a big deal = a point and shoot camera.  It’s a small deal.  And it’s compact.

And taking pictures of random things?  No one probably notices, remembers, or cares.

Other things (for me) that seemed like a big deal at the time but aren’t upon further reflection:

The source of an argument with your spouse/partner.  Likely you won’t remember what or why you were fighting when you look back in a week, a month, or a year.

Whether or not you washed your hair, put on makeup, or shaved

What you ate that day

Whether or not you worked out

What a boy (or girl) thought of you when you were in 7th grade

What strangers think of you now.  Everyone has an opinion but their opinions houldn’t change you or how you feel about yourself. Easier said than done but unless they are close to you, I try not to let their opinions be a big deal to me.

The grade you got on a test

The color of bridesmaids dresses you chose for your wedding

Whether you eat Irish or steelcut oatmeal.  Try telling this to the blogosphere, though!  haha!

In the great scheme of life, many things we feel like are such big deals at the time, when you look back on them years later, or even just a few months later, turn out to be very not big.  To the point you probably can’t even remember all the things you were stressing about at one point in your life.  Or if you can, you almost feel silly that you were as concerned as you were at the time.  I know I have plenty of those!

What are your things that seemed like a big deal at the time, but aren’t now?

 

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Comments

  1. Averie, I love surfing through your old posts. It’s like talking to an old friend, who you haven’t seen in a while and catching up on all things life… :) How cool is that!?

  2. I used to feel really self conscious taking pictures all the time of what I eat … but I got over that :-)

  3. hahah im totally nervous about taking pictures in public I try to act casual and turn the flash off but I should be proud to be a blogger :)

  4. I love my DLSR but I really wish I stilll had a little camera to take out with me – there are certain places I’d rather not lug the huge thing around! But in general I feel pretty comfortable takeing pictures of anything…it’s what they’re for that I get a little uncomfortable about. lol

  5. Very interesting post! I’ve always been a big picture taker (esp. when I travel!) and now I find myself taking even *more* pictures now that I’ve started my blog! I love it, though… what better way to capture neat things in my life than by taking pictures?!

  6. My uncle gave me his old DSLR for a birthday present last week and I’ve yet to figure out how to use it – I’m intimidated! Maybe I can bring it to the beach this weekend to take some test shots. I would say caring about what people think, is my biggest big deal issue. In hindsight, people are always too wrapped up in their own stuff or it’s really all in my head. :)

  7. Hi, Averie! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. :) My molehill-turned-mountain that leaps to mind happened on the day of my wedding, when I nearly had a nervous breakdown largely fueled by the fact that my skin had broken out far worse than it ever had in then-recent years in the 36 hours leading up to the big moment, and I let it stress me out to the point of tears (though, in fairness to me, I guess, there are other stressful aspects to pulling off a wedding!). Of course, when I look back at the pictures, I looked fine — the magic of professionally-applied makeup fixed everything for purpose of posterity.

    Love your ‘blog.

    1. glad your day turned out but yes, weddings are sooo stressful for most people/women.

      thanks for delurking!

  8. Hey, your hair is beautiful too! Skylar’s is stunning, for sure.

    Love your list of things that seemed like a big deal at the time. The one that really resonates for me is the source of an argument with your partner. If I can remind myself, as an argument starts, that tomorrow or even later today, it’s not going to feel like such a big deal at all, I can often completely avoid having an argument at all, which feels so good.

    I used to be so hung up on 100% raw, couldn’t eat something unless I was sure that it was: now that seems just as insane and off point as back in my hopeless days when I used to not be able to eat anything unless I’d weighed it first… Good to be free of those things!

    I feel a little self-conscious sometimes taking random photos for the blog, especially of food/restaurant things, but I let it go pretty quick. I’m so non-visual that I’m just trying to convey the basic impression–am not much of a photographer. It’s so cool that that has become something you really enjoy and are skilled at doing. Good you still have the p&s too though.
    love
    Ela

    1. this part is soooooo true:
      “used to be so hung up on 100% raw, couldn’t eat something unless I was sure that it was: now that seems just as insane and off point as back in my hopeless days ….”

      It’s why i wont read most true raw purist blogs anymore. They get so hung up on the raw-ness factor, they forget that food is beautiful, a gift, and even if it’s not raw…who cares?! At least i dont :) Which is why I cant read those types of blogs much anymore.

      I am glad you have moved past those types of hangups! :)

  9. I am not a blogger who takes pictures of everything she eats so I don’t bring my camera to take pictures of my restaurant food. I would definitely feel awkward doing that. I just take lots o’ pictures at home. :-)

  10. One of the main reasons I haven’t been serious about a DSLR (whatever the letters are) camera is due to size. i can’t carry heavy stuff like that around due to my back.

    I do carry my point and shoot if I know I am going to do a restaurant review. I just tell the people I am with that I am doing a review and usually they get in on it and help play the food critic with me. I don’t force them to pose and they don’t mind.

  11. Ahhh! I keep reading your blog and my mouth is watering for your delicious treats–but I’m doing 30 days no processed carbs (bread, rice, pasta), no diary, and no sugar. You’re putting me through hell with the chocolate and peanut butter photos! (But I love looking and dreaming).