Why Do I Feel Like My Arm is Missing?

Last month, my camera broke.  My amazing Nikon D40 that is attached to my hip broke. Big time.  It got knocked off the table (let's just say that this momma wasn't thinking about the strap that was hanging down looked mighty tempting to a 15 month old) and the LCD was smashed.  So I could still take pictures with it, but couldn't see to change the settings at all.

So after being sick about it for a month (and needing it for all the back to school stuff), I finally sent it in to get repaired.  Last Friday as I left it at the UPS center, I had a knot in my stomach.  And I couldn't relax about it.

I have come to LOVE my camera.  I love being able to capture moments in our lives so clearly with a good camera.  I fought buying a DSLR for a long time...thinking my little hand-held Sony was just fine.  Until I broke down and actually bought my beloved Nikon, I had no idea how much better of a picture I could take.

I found myself taking multiple pictures of everything to ensure I captured just the right photo.  Seriously, I must have taken over 200 "posed" pictures of the kids for our Christmas card one year.  The more pictures I took, the more I wanted to learn how to use my camera.

There are so many wonderful photographers in the bloggy world.   I am inspired by each and everyone of them.  Tracy over at Work of HEart & Soul takes ah-may-zing pictures.  They are simply breathtaking.  And she sponsors several different photography projects.  One being the 365 project, where Tracy encourages you to take a picture every day.  She provides ideas and prompts of things to take pictures of.  I jumped on board thinking that if I was forced to find a picture-taking moment each and every day, I would get better that way. Uh no.  Nonetheless, I have enjoyed documenting our lives everyday this year.  Have you checked it out? No?  Well click here to see The Darling 365 Project. You'll be glad you did.

Another great thing that Tracy offers is Mommytography, where her goal is to teach women how to take better pictures.  She offers online classes, Meet-n-shoots, and Mentorships.  I signed up for her online class last spring and it was one of the best investments I have made.  Where we are all so very busy, I was able to devote a few hours one evening to myself and with a online conference, lean step-by-step how to take better pictures.  It was a fantastic class and Tracy is extremely motivating.  Bokeh, F-stop, lighting, etc, etc!!  I learned it all.

My ability to take pictures has gotten better, but more importantly my subject matter improved.  No more forced poses from the kids....I want the serious, contemplative looks.  I want to get more of the details.  I look to de-clutter my pictures now.  I see life and try to capture it so differently after learning from Tracy.

Photography is like a foreign language, you less you use it, the more you lose it.  I have found that if I am not actively changing the settings and teaching myself this foreign language, I am not getting any better.  As a part of her class, Tracy offers online curriculum to keep up with this.  I am wanting to do this, but it always gets put on the back burner.

So, I feel like an appendage is missing without my camera. I am trying to capture life with my little Sony and my iPhone, but it is not the same.  The good news is that I received an email from Nikon with my estimate and it was not bad at all to repair it.  It should be back home and in my hands very soon.

But not soon enough.