Reasons for My Discontent

Last night, after posting some pretty underwhelming photo results for my "flash experiments" assignment, I signed onto the class' blog site so I could show my husband some of the really creative photo journaling assignments of my classmates from last week. While watching those slideshows for the second time, I wondered how Robert was able to get the red lightning-like lines to originate exactly at his Superhuman's eyes. I again admired the artistry of Kacie's composition and the action that her still shots were able to convey. Amy's assignment was just pure fun -- a labor and delivery in surreal black and white. And Allison's picnic... I love the way she sees things! The black and white cat on the blue step... the way she photographed the spreading of the blanket from a vantage point somewhere underneath it... thinking to take a photo of the weave of her picnic basket... and on and on.

When I'd returned to Allison's blog, I saw the very cool drum shot that was her teaser for this week's assignment... and so I had to look at that. I was completely blown away by the clarity of her shots as compared with my own run-and-jump attempts from Sunday night... and so I began shooting more photos(the first one a blatant plagiary of Allison's water idea, I admit!).

As well as shooting the water in the drain, I tried taking a swoosh shot of the TV (that's Jay Leno) -- and a whole lot of moving fan shots (these ideas, also, a-la- Allison). What else could I photograph while it was moving? I took pictures of a basil plant on the kitchen table (it's uppermost leaf was quivering in the breeze of the fan overhead). I took pictures of my own foot while it was tapping time to music (it looks like it was still) -- and of my husband swinging an orange stuffed cat by the tail (two of these look like still shots; the third one is swooshy, but blurred).
SIGH... you can view the results of these second efforts here.

I ended my second flurry of photography feeling a bit disconcerted. I guess I just need lots more practice... and I definitely will not quit my day job!