Who says I can't become a real photographer?

I spent the past hour or so reading the blog of a woman who started up her own photography business. It is amazing. I love her photographs. And this is totally what I aspire to be.

I've decided though that I really need to take some sort of photography classes. As much as I know about lighting and cameras, I might as well know nothing. I know people tell me all the time that I have a lot of talent, but honestly some of my best pictures are flukes. I just happened to be standing in just the right spot, with just the right lighting, at just the right time. I'm not saying I don't think I have talent, but I'm not really quite the type of person to go around tooting my own horn all the time. I do think that a lot of my pictures are amazing, but some of that is in the eye of the beholder. What I think is amazing might possibly by mediocre to a professional or art critic. I just think that taking a class would enhance my photography and I would actually learn a lot more about the mechanics of photography. When and how to use certain lenses or flashes. Being able to adjust the aperture and shutter speed myself and actually knowing what I'm doing.

I've always been leery about taking classes though. I took a photography class in high school and all I remember is having to take pictures of what they told me to take pictures of. As fun as it was, I like taking pictures of what I like taking pictures of. We had to take pictures of restaurant signs once. Now if I were going into marketing, that might be fun. But other than that, it's not fun to me to go around taking pictures of restaurant signs. Maybe that doesn't make me a true photographer though. I'm sure most people would say that a true photographer could see a block of wood and turn it into art. But then again, I could totally do that. I'm all about weird angles in my photos, so maybe I am a true photographer. Seeing as how I've matured a lot since high school, in more ways than one, I could probably go out right now and rock the restaurant sign photo shoot.

I'm not worried about what anyone says about my pictures though. I take pictures for me. It's what I love to do. Unfortunately for my family, it's something I've loved since I was in middle school. I've had family members mumble and grumble about "me and my camera", but that's just something they'll have to live with it. It's what I do. And it's what I'll always do.

Maybe I should call them "Wannabe Blueberries"

Surprisingly enough this thing is a weed. (we think) I'm not sure a lot of people read this, but if there are any nature buffs that happen to, please let me know if you think you know what this is! This huge weed/plant thing is growing in the flower bed behind my parent's house. It started off as just a tall leafy stalk. Then, it sprouted these tiny white flowers, which turned into these berry looking things. My mom hates it cause she says it's a weed. My dad loves it because he thinks it's cool and says that every flower started off as a weed. I like it just cause it makes for some interesting pictures. The colors are awesome.

The remnants of rain