Over the past few months, I’ve been catching up on photo blogs from our travels. I wish I’d made time on the road to have done these blogs real time. But I was too busy enjoying the moments and I won’t let myself regret that. I find myself rolling the question of “what is the purpose of my blog?” around in my head a lot. Why do it? In the end, I’ve come to think of it as my creative sustenance.
Blogging on a regular schedule has been good for me–I’m writing more, doing something with my photos, making videos again, trying to discipline myself by editing with an aimed machete, and self-imposing deadlines to publish. I like thinking about these projects and topics for photography. I like the practice of writing, and shooting regularly. It gives me challenges. I’m trying new things. It gets me out. And in the end, that’s the best part of all.
Yesterday, my friend Debbie and I attended Filter Photo Festival’s Sony Photo Walk workshop. This was a two-hour, free event to sample the newest Sony mirror-less cameras. We checked in early, and checked out our cameras–I had the Sony a7-III, with the 55mm 1.8 Zeiss lens. And a few minutes later, we hit Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on a blustering Fall day.
Now, I’m not a reviewer of cameras. So, you’ll not be hearing any detailed techie stuff. What I can say is this: the camera is crazy lightweight, the focus zones and super high ISO were impressive, it shoots video too, and I loved the pop-out screen and shutter silencer. Net: If I had a few grand laying around, I’d get one, with a couple of those sweet Zeiss prime lenses. Of course, then I’d have to buy a new Mac to fully update Adobe Creative Cloud to read the Sony A7-III cards…and well, this little hobby gets expensive. But I digress.
The point of this was to say that it is good to get out and try something new. I didn’t take any photos that light up my switchboard, but I spent time with a long-time friend, had celery in ceviche, accepted a broken pink rose from a friendly florist, and walked among tourists on a blustery Chicago day. Good stuff. Creative sustenance. I feel energized today.
Thank you Debbie for asking me to go, and thank you Filter and Sony for setting up photo walks to sample cameras!
I’d love to hear how others get creatively nourished. Any tips?
