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| Logo stolen from the World Photo Day website |
What is World Photo Day?
"From everyday life to incredible landscapes, our global gallery is an evolving mosaic of images captured by photographers of all skills levels living in a diverse range of countries and cultures.
No matter who you are, where you are or what equipment and skills you have, World Photo Day can help open your eyes to the possibilities of photography, and enable you show us the world as you see it."
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| This photo appeared January 7, 2015 |
When I was a new blogger, (and sometimes even now), I would find myself feeling intimidated that I didn't have some fancy, over-the-top-expensive equipment to make my photos the best that they could be. I would find myself apologizing for photos that might be somewhat inferior in the aspect of their technical professionalism. What I often fail to acknowledge, (and I have a feeling that YOU are the same, is that often it isn't the technique that is the most important aspect of a photo, it is the EMOTION that is evoked from a MOMENT that has been captured. A moment that will NEVER happen again), to me, that is what matters most.)
From Days Of The Year:
"the medium is never as important as the memory or moment caught"
Many of us, including ME, need to focus (pun intended), on that thought. STOP feeling intimidated by others who take photos that you feel are superior to yours. STOP being ashamed that you take photos with your phone, (that is why there are a plethora of photo sites that have been created that can help you take your photos to a whole other level! My all time favorite and most-used, because in my opinion it is the most user-friendly and easiest to figure out for those who are less technologically gifted, as I am, is Ribbet. But there are those that swear by picmonkey and pizap just to name a couple more.). STOP APOLOGIZING FOR YOUR PHOTOS!!! KEEP LEARNING! KEEP STRIVING TO IMPROVE!!
In that spirit, I would first like to share with you some of my favorite photos that I have taken that have appeared on Instagram, some are pet-related some are not, what is important is that I have posted things that interest me and that I LOVE! (TIP: Contrary to popular belief, I do not think that your Instagram account or your Pinterest account have to be just about pets, even if you are a pet blogger. I know I do not follow the popular belief, but to me, I prefer following people with a bevy of interests rather than those who post just one thing.....just sayin' You will see the same thing reflected in my own favorite Instagram photos below. With 6.1k followers on Pinterest, I think I know what I am talking about!)
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| Follow me on Instagram!! |
Tip for Photographing Pets
Believe me, even after having come a heck of a long way with my photographic "skills", I often seek out tips from others who take photographs that I admire. I recently saw this on My Pawsitively Pets and received some great ideas for items I could use as photo backdrops for photographing my boys!
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| Visit the original post here |
Whether you consider yourself to be a photography professional, armed with enough lenses and cameras to open your own store, or if you are more like me, a "grab-my-phone-take-50-of-the-same-photo-and-pray-you-get-one-good-one" kind of a person, who then dashes off to their favorite photo editing site praying they can edit it into something usable, the main thing is to STOP beating yourself over your photo quality (or the lack thereof), and HAVE FUN!!!! (Yes, that was a run-on sentence, and I apologize, but I feel strongly about this!! I am tired of feeling as if my photos are inferior and many of YOU should be tired of feeling that way as well!!!) I have seen many, many photos that I view as being superb from those who think they have the photographic skills of a flea and some truly "meh" photos from those who tout their expertise to anyone and everyone who will listen!!!! Just HAVE FUN!!!
Hoping you enjoy this compilation of some of my favorite photos that have appeared on our blog.
Are they superior photo quality images? No. Is an emotion evoked when you look at a number of these photos? I would have to say yes.....I might be biased, but I feel that most of you will find even just one that strikes an emotional chord. Which one is it? Let me know below, then go and take some pawesome photos of your pets, your food, YOUR LIFE and have a blast doing it!!
Happy Photography/World Photo Day!!
My human works hard on the photography for my blog... but some of her favorite photos, and ones she winds up using, are way less than perfect! She recently did invest in a newer, better camera, and it does help for shooting in low light, so she is glad for that.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post and feel guilty for not knowing about the holiday. Ironically, I've been curating from thousands of crowd-sourced images for my book about black cats. Photography is more about training the eye than about equipment or technique. I love Instagram for that reason. I can scroll through anyone's feed and pick out their best shot in a few minutes. It's practice.
ReplyDeleteA great photo is one that captures a moment or a memory. If it makes you smile or feel something, it doesn't matter if it's not technically "perfect." What matters is you'll have that moment captured forever and you can return to it every time you look at the photo, and you can share it with others. Thanks for reminding everyone that photos don't have to be prefect to be awesome!
ReplyDeleteI sooo agree!!!!! You are most welcome and you know my FAVORITE photos of yours are of Pierre!! Hehehe!! Seriously, I love when you do a photo sequence that tells a story, I think your photos are just fabulous! Thanks so much too!
DeleteGreat photos!! I know I'm far from a perfect photographer but I enjoy taking photos of things I like to see and if they entertain someone else, great. I just grab my camera and snap....it's my "moment" and I don't really care if the background or lighting is perfect. Maybe I should work at it more but life's too short!! LOL
ReplyDeleteHugs, Pam
Thank you!!! I agree that life is too short and your photos are FULL of love, and that is what, in my opinion, ultimately matters!!!! xoxo
DeleteLove your photos. I think capturing that moment in time that speaks to your heart is important. It may not always turn out like we'd like it to, but you still have that image to remind you of that feeling. Continue taking wonderful photos, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
thank you!!! I couldn't agree with your philosophy more! Thanks so much!!!
DeleteThose are some nice photos. I think the main objective is to have fun, no matter what other people think. I love photography and enjoy not only taking pictures but also doing the post processing.
ReplyDeleteI do have a relatively good camera, in addition to my phone, but I don't have Photoshop. I just use the Canon software that came with the camera and it works fine.
Thank you Chuck! I agree with you, having fun is super important!!! I need to look into a Canon one day if I ever have money again lmao!
DeleteHappy Photo day to you too. Those are terrific photos. It is fun to see how photos turn out.
ReplyDeleteThank you and to you!! Thanks so much!!
DeleteOh I totally agree, the best photos are snapped from the heart!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Cody.
ReplyDeleteSue B
I love this post, Caren. Such a wonderful message, and with all beautiful photos to go with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteWhat great photos! And yep, I'm one of those who takes a bunch to get one good one to use.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! Yours are also always incredible! Wish I could take photos like you do!
DeleteHappy Photo Day! It's great to see some of your non-pet pics too. While I have a good camera and aspire to take great photos, I really just snap, snap, snap with the phone and hope for a miracle in editing. I am always partial to close-ups of cat faces because...OMC, CAT FACES!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Photo Day back at ya!!!!! Thanks about the non-pet pics, (lately I have been enjoying taking those more lol)....I agree with your thinking, totally!
DeleteI just wish I had photography lovers as blog followers. Or facebook friends. I just shared a cat photo from Calp, Spain from the Traveling Cats blog to facebook. For world photo day. O likes so far. Fun. Not! Oh, well. I'm just glad I have fellow cat lovers as blog followers. Can't win them all.
ReplyDeleteYou have GOT to be kidding! You take some of the most AMAZING photos I have ever seen! I will head over to your page ....people are strange, don't give it a second thought! xoxo
DeleteWhat great shots. I'm a terrible photographer and I know it. I just don't take pictures. I love the photographers that do and many are more than excellent.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. Big hug to you and tons of scritches to Cody. ♥♥♥
Thank you and NO you are not!! (((hugs))) back to you! xoxo
DeleteI think all your photos are amazing - especially that close up in this post!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you! You KNOW I LOVE your photos!!!! xoxo
DeleteWe need a way to remember all the photos we have. You may have guessed, but we are a bit photo obsessed. Love that first one of the kitty face you have!
ReplyDeleteOMG you are the photo QUEEN! I ADORE your photos!!!!! Thanks about the first one, that was a finalist the year before last at BlogPaws!
DeleteLove your photos!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the emotion evoked is far more important than using the latest technology and fancy equipment.
I have always loved photography but never took it seriously until recently. Now I'm obsessed! I've learned a lot over the last 3 years and I know my photos have improved, but I'm still learning and enjoy doing so :)
Thank you!!!!! Your photos are amazing! I always tell you that! But you are right, it's the EMOTION that is most important in my opinion. xoxo
DeleteWhat a great post!!!! WE think all of those photos are very eye catching!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I always love your photos!!!
DeleteI use my phone sometimes, but mostly my small point and shoot camera. I feel that it's important to seize the moment and in order to do that you have to be always looking... paying attention to the beauty around us. I enjoy you photographs on your blog and on instagram!
ReplyDeletexxoo
Maggie
I should get a new point and shoot. I have a small digital camera that I never use, mostly because my phone is always with me and the camera isn't. Plus I find uploading photos from the camera to be way too annoying!!! Thanks so much! I love yours too! xoxo
DeleteI always enjoy your photos, Caren! It's true -- good photos are ones taken from the heart. Also, you just never know when *that* shot will happen, so it's important to always be looking and watching, from all different angles, and to be ready to click. :)
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
DeleteI could NOT agree with you more!!!! I also thank you! I LOVE your photos!!!!!!
DeleteThis is a great post Caren I am capable of taking good pictures when I have a mind to. My Flickr pages have some of my better ones. But when Katie blogs, or Admiral, there are few portrait worthy pics. I take them to capture a second in time of hers or Admiral's life when she was with me, treasured moments to look at many times. I just want to capture the moment, the mood or the expression and never mind a perfect, in focus brilliant picture. They are my fur babies, and I wanna capture their love and antics. I'm never embarrassed and glad you aren't either. I love your photos. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!! I LOVE your photos of Katie! I couldn't agree with you more. I love how you said "they are my fur babies, and I wanna capture their love and antics. I'm never embarrassed" it is the LOVE that matters!!!!! I can ALWAYS feel the love in your photos! xoxoxo back at ya!
Deletedood...de fotoz oh ewe tryin ta take de lid off de cookin pot total lee rocks !! az does de one oh ewe & dakota lookin out de door !!
ReplyDeleteheerz two a ghost pipefish kinda week oh end guyz~~~ ♥♥♥
You think like me! those are my faves too! Sending you much love! xoxo
DeleteGreat posty. Mommy says it does kinda matter da equipment you're usin' cuz when we started we had a really cheap camera and da fotos were really bad. But mommy also says she can never get those 'moments' back again. Specially now dat sis Lexi be gone, she's glad she has them, bad or not. She's gotten better, but doesn't worry 'bout it so much any more cuz she says it's nice fur others to think our fotos are great, but she takes them fur her. So enjoy all your fotos.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Raena
I agree! The equipment doesn't always matter! xoxo
DeleteI like all your photos, my favorite is the one of Cody in the 3rd row 2nd one in.I really like that pose :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!! That is my favorite too!!!!!
DeleteAs much as we hate having our pictures taken over and over again, we know how important it is to have good photos on our blog. The mom has been trying to improve ours...and when we look back at ones taken early on when we started blogging and compare them to some taken now, we'd have to say that she has improved...but still needs to get better and better.
ReplyDeleteYou take lovely photos! The one of Cody above is gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeletethank you so much!!!
DeleteFor YEARS of Bear's life, I gave up on taking pictures because I was so bad at it. When I started blogging 18 months ago, I knew I had to figure something out. It's still a work in progress ... I'm lost on the more artistic points of pictures ... but I have found that taking a lot of pictures usually leads to a handful of ones that I can be proud of :) Thank you for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteyou are welcome!! I think you take some great pictures! (better than I did when I first began blogging), I would LOVE to see you insert the photos BETWEEN the paragraphs of your blog though.........it would make it easier to read for the "old folks" like me who have tired eyes ;)
Deletexoxo
My goal is to improve my photographs, too. I always thought my photos of Sweet Praline were great until I've noticed the eyes were never clear and they weren't quite as focused as I'd like them to be. However, I'm forever thankful I have those photographs.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Cody. As a professional photographer, I always laugh when people compliment an image I took by saying, "You MUST have an expensive camera!" I laugh and think "really?" An eye, a creative bent, and practice make the best photographers. Next time you are in Virginia Cody, I'll let you check out my camera.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! I LOVE THAT! "an eye, a creative bent, and practice make the best photographers"....I LOVE it! Hopefully I will see you in Virginia one day! You take WONDERFUL photos!
DeleteBravo! I've always loved taking photos since I was a kid. I'd borrow our old clunky camera and take it to school. And then they had the disposable cameras. I must say that your food photos on IG always make me hungry! lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking too! I remember that blog post and enjoyed putting it together.
LMAO about my photos making you hungry!!!! You are too funny!!!!! You take wonderful photos! I loved taking photos starting when I was in High School. You are most welcome, it was my pleasure to link to you!
DeleteYou are so right ! Taking photos has to be fun !
ReplyDeleteBut it can be a real frustrating hobby.
Most of the time I take pictures that I think will be great. When I see those pictures on my computer .... 99% are bad !
Douce soirée
Natacha
I too am one of those kinds of peeps that take hundreds of images in hopes that a few will be 'good'. Stills of nature and other inanimate subjects are way easier than our pets...or peeps for that matter. I always wish I had an instant on camera in my fingertip, MOL!
ReplyDeleteMostly I miss 'good stuff' cause my camera is not with me, or turned on, even. I do not have a phone camera, cause being technically challenged I don't want a smart phone right now. I am behind the times or showing my age or something...Hah!
My dad always said, don't worry about the camrea so much as how you compose your image. A good camera helps but its not the be all and end all. I used to always carry a little point and shoot camera in my pocket and took lots of 'scenes' which others would say, wow, they are like postcards. That camera cost me all of $80...now I have a more advanced P & S camera, but its bigger and bulkier, and even after a few years, I don't know all of its bells and whistles. Photoshop?? nope, not me, LOL! I use the enhancers that came in my I-Photo on my Mac. Of course this can't fix the out of focus images, MOL!!
You *do* make nice pictures and I always love to see Cody and Dakota.