THE CHALLENGE(S)

I have always loved and been jealous of those who were able to take their camera and create these beautiful images from it. So, when my parents gave me my first "real" camera for a graduation present, I was sure that I would be creating equally as wonderful images as those photographers. Instead, I took a picture of a barbed wire fence (I was real proud of this one) and a few pictures of some trees and then the usual pictures of people smiling at the camera, saying cheese. I would get discouraged because not much turned out how I pictured it in my head, realizing my problem was because I didn't even know how to use my camera, aside from auto mode.. I ROCKED auto mode.
When I found out I was pregnant, I realized I would want to capture the life of my child as she grew up.... ergo..... learn how to use my damn camera. SO, I started messing around and googling (I love google.) Changing different settings/modes/everything and getting myself used to life outside of auto mode. Naturally, when I got a few good images, I figured I was awesome.. then, after more googling, realized I haven't even tapped the potential of creativity that I could squeeze out of my camera and my new editing software, which I know how to do about five things in currently.
Blah blah blah, long story short, I decided on a New Year's Resolution of completing a 52 week photo challenge that would help me grow as a photographer by forcing me to use new and different techniques AND I will get to document and take photos of my adorable baby girl!!!!
Mostly, this blog is for me, to document AJ's growth throughout a year by trying new things with my camera and editing. However, realizing some people may enjoy seeing pictures of a cute baby (and I reserve the right to have an occasional off topic week) I figured I would share as well.

Being the indecisive (Buddy's least favorite quality of mine) woman that I am, I have chosen two different challenges to follow. Really, it just gives me the opportunity to pick whichever one I damn well please :) SO... Here are the two lists I will be following and picking from (I'm choosing to ignore that one is for 2013):



WOOOO HOOOO!!!! So excited to kick this challenge's ass!! Cheers to 2014 and actually following through on a resolution :)