| « Previous | Home | Next » | Albanyshooters Friday, January 06, 2006 |
 Last March I bought my first digital camera. I had little cash to splurge, so I found a great deal on eBay for a Fujifilm Finepix S3100. And began to reaquaint myself with the art of creating a worthwhile photographic image. It was not long before I felt a need to rub elbows with others. I looked online, even joined one or two online groups to have a place to share my pictures and discuss photography. But something was missing. I was still running around by myself taking pictures. I needed some local talent to really enjoy this newfound sense of creativity with. So I looked high and low and could not find a local group. Finally, I stumbled into a photography MeetUp which was in the last throes of dying from lack of interest. I looked into trying to breath life into it, but was met with apathy by the membership. A few weeks later, someone mentioned to me that maybe there was a group on Yahoo. I looked as soon as I got home and discovered there was not. BUT, I also learned how easy it was to start one. So was born the Yahoo Group Albanyshooters. I sent a message to all the old Meetup members and got two willing to join. One was enthusiastic enough to go online and solicit new members at dpreview. Then we were nine. Enough for our first outing. A trip to Thatcher State Park (better known to some as 'Indian Ladder'). Today's picture shows three of the four of us who made the trip. It was a rainy day (explaining the rain drop on the top of my lens) but four came out for it and we enjoyed a nice morning of hiking and shooting. I bring all of this up here for two reasons. First to celebrate our 30th member! That's right, Albanyshooters now boasts 30 regular members, many of who are still enthusiastic about getting out together to take pictures. Second is to express just how wonderful it is to spend time with fellow photographers. I have enjoyed each and every outing I have been on. I have learned lots. I have challenged myself to do better. I have made friends. I hope someday to meet with some of the friends I have made here and share the same sense of joy as we spend time taking pictures and getting to know one another. Some of you are close enough for a day trip. Some far far away; but anything is possible. Today I was stunned by a great picture at Graciform. Jonne posts some wonderful shots. I have really liked the work he does with a tilt-shift lens and have followed his site for about a month now. I believe he spent the holidays up in Finland in the frigid arctic cold. This picture, titled 'Morning,' sucked the wind from my lungs and out it came.... WOW!!!  | |
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Posted by forgingahead Archived under: Most Commented On, Nature |
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