WA: Understanding Exposure *Read p. 1-33 + Take 1 & Study 1 Picture*

Welcome to Monday, the day I dread.  The day most people dread.

Not my sister.  She loves Mondays.  Feels all refreshed after the weekend and ready to get things done.  I don't feel motivated to get things done until Friday after having put it off all week.

To make Mondays better, I've decided to post the weekly assignment on Mondays.  (Sense the sarcasm.)

Assignments can be done anytime during the week, as long as they are done by Sunday at Midnight.  Don't really know why I'm telling you this.  You can do them (or more likely, not do them) whenever you please.

Have I mentioned that I'm an external processor - I have to talk (or type) things out to really get it.

There is required reading for these assignments.  Most books are available at your local library, although I like to write in mine (awful, I know) and I like to be able to refer back to it later.  The current required reading is featured in the top left corner of this blog if anyone is interested in following along with their own book.

The first book we will be going through is Understanding Exposure:  How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Upated Edition) by Bryan Peterson.

I chose this book for two reasons.  The first is that I rented it from the library and made it about half way through before I had to return it.  Then I had to wait for Christmas to receive my own copy.  Now I'm back to reading it again.

The second, and more important reason that I chose this book is that I think it is a good place to start.  No picture is good without the correct exposure.  This book covers a lot of basics and is an excellent way to lay the groundwork for more advanced photography.

This week's task, should you choose to accept it:  

* Read the Introduction and first section titled Defining Exposure (p. 1- 33)

* Take a picture.  You get five chances to take one great shot.
*Study someone else's picture

Taking a picture in this way will occur every week.  It can be of anything.  As I mentioned before, the thought of taking a picture every day is completely overwhelming to me.  I think I can manage a picture a week.  When I take pictures, I tend to take a lot trying to get the composition and settings just right.  By limiting myself to five attempts for THE shot, I'm forcing myself to take the time to check the settings and composition ahead of time.  I'm also trying to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed with a large number of unnecessary images.  I'm just too much of a scardy cat to limit myself to getting it right with only one shot.

The picture to study can be any picture.  On a billboard, in a card, in the current reading, on the web...you get the idea.  The simple act of looking at someone else's photography makes you a better photographer.  A great way to do this is to subscribe to receive Better Photo's Photo of the Day.  I have been doing this for a couple years now.  You get a different picture every day sent to your inbox.  It helps me branch out since the pictures are always of something different.  (Not all nature or landscape or kids.)  And you don't even have to go looking for it - the photo comes to you!

I'll post a Weekly Report (WR) with my picture and any thoughts about the chapter sometime this week.   I do not plan to discuss the picture I viewed unless there was something particularly striking about it.  I see a lot of pictures and it is sometimes difficult for me to put my thoughts into coherent words when it comes to analyzing them.  Also, in order for it to be helpful to you, you'd need to be able to see the picture as well!

I'm not predictable enough to guarantee the WR on a certain day, but it'll be here before Sunday at midnight.