Camera in Hand

 

Photo by Rich Berberian

I am and am not a photographer.

I am in that I have a couple of decent cameras, and of course a cell phone, and really enjoy taking photos.  I use photos that I take in this blog, family gatherings, North Park events, and annually for the Armenian Youth Federation Olympics.  I am a photographer in that I like to take photos and get enough great shots that encourages me to do more.

I am not a photographer given that, other than the impressive set of automatic presets, I really don’t know how to use my Nikon SLR or Sony Alpha settings very well.  Aperture, aspect ratios, exposure, depth of field, focal length, and others are all terms that I frankly should not only know more about but should be able to use to manually get even better shots like professional photographers.  Instead, I use the automatic modes and then employ cropping tools, filters, and other features available on the basic photo editor on my Mac to take good images and make them amazing.  My cell phone, an Apple 13 Pro, has an amazing camera as well which takes photos at about the same quality as my Nikon and Sony. Again, I use but a fraction of the features of the iPhone camera.  For that matter, I probably use only a fraction of the features of the photo editor as well.

Does this bother me?  Not really.  I wish I knew more and may well take the time someday to learn some day about the features of my cameras and the photo editors.  Technology is a great equalizer.  It can make anyone a better photographer with little effort. 

Magnolia in bloom on
the North Park University
Campus

I have a collection of photos taken mostly in the town I live in.  These are photos taken over past two years of the iconic architecture in Market Square and our two train stations.  I have photos of flora.  I think the architecture photos are better than the floral shots.  I am thinking about taking the best dozen photos and making some note cards for my own use and gifts for friends and family. 

Floral photography is a real art.  I was first impressed with it when I was a graduate student back in the 1970s.  One of my professors had this hobby and his office was adorned with incredible photos that he took.  I aspire to get amazing photos like I see others take and post.  This kind of photography requires that deeper knowledge of all those terms and camera features I am only vaguely aware of.  The goal, I believe, is to get an extreme close-up of a blossom that shows amazing details of the petals, pistil, and stamen.  The background should be blurred.  Of course, the colors should be vibrant and true to the naturally beauty of the flowers.  All this requires the knowledge of the camera features I know so little about. One thing I have learned for sure is that bright sunlight coming in the direction I am taking the photo is an absolute must.

My cousin Levon takes amazing photos of flowers about DC.  He posts them on Facebook.  Everyone that sees his photos comment on how impressive they are.  I and other friends encourage him to publish a coffee table book of which I would certainly buy the first copy.  I really should have him teach me the art of floral photography.

This week I took a camera to school and to music practice and took some photos.  I have included a few of them here including one of Levon’s.

 

What was, presumably, once
a photography store front
across from North Park University

 

The second floor of
the Johnson Center at
North Park University

 

Sculpture of Jesus outside
of Anderson Chapel
on the campus of
North Park University

 

Market Square
Lake Forest

 

Lastly, one from
Cousin Levon