After almost two months of doing Photo-a-Day, here are ten things I’ve learned:

1. I am embarrassed to take photos in public.
2. Your flash is not always evil.
3. I need to have my eyes checked (or my manual focus is broken, I think it’s the former rather than the latter).
4. I think like a scrapbooker and not a photographer. (I think about the story I’m going to tell about the photograph rather than the story the photograph is going to tell.)
5. Not editing my photos is killing me!
6. My camera is not as delicate as I thought.
7. I am using one sixteenth of my camera’s cool features (if that).
8. The lighting in my apartment stinks.
9. Have I mentioned that I’m embarrassed to take photos in public?
10. Know that I was going to upload the photos to the internet has definitely made me censor myself (unflattering pics of people or taking photos of other people’s kids, etc.).

How about you?  Have you taken the challenge?  How are you doing?

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

36 thoughts on “Ten From Photo-a-Day

  • I’m not doing the 365, but totally relate to this:
    4. I think like a scrapbooker and not a photographer. (I think about the story I’m going to tell about the photograph rather than the story the photograph is going to tell.)
    I think it limits me sometimes… maybe I could tell an even better story if I tried the other way around. Hmmmm…. something to think about.

    Reply
  • I’m not doing the 365, but totally relate to this:
    4. I think like a scrapbooker and not a photographer. (I think about the story I’m going to tell about the photograph rather than the story the photograph is going to tell.)
    I think it limits me sometimes… maybe I could tell an even better story if I tried the other way around. Hmmmm…. something to think about.

    Reply
  • I’m not doing the 365, but totally relate to this:
    4. I think like a scrapbooker and not a photographer. (I think about the story I’m going to tell about the photograph rather than the story the photograph is going to tell.)
    I think it limits me sometimes… maybe I could tell an even better story if I tried the other way around. Hmmmm…. something to think about.

    Reply
  • I’m not doing the 365, but totally relate to this:
    4. I think like a scrapbooker and not a photographer. (I think about the story I’m going to tell about the photograph rather than the story the photograph is going to tell.)
    I think it limits me sometimes… maybe I could tell an even better story if I tried the other way around. Hmmmm…. something to think about.

    Reply
  • Finally! Someone who admits they’re embarassed to take photos in public. I hate that about myself. There are so many great photos that I don’t take because of that! I’m trying to teach myself to be less embarassed, and it gets better, but still…:)

    Reply
  • Finally! Someone who admits they’re embarassed to take photos in public. I hate that about myself. There are so many great photos that I don’t take because of that! I’m trying to teach myself to be less embarassed, and it gets better, but still…:)

    Reply
  • Finally! Someone who admits they’re embarassed to take photos in public. I hate that about myself. There are so many great photos that I don’t take because of that! I’m trying to teach myself to be less embarassed, and it gets better, but still…:)

    Reply
  • Finally! Someone who admits they’re embarassed to take photos in public. I hate that about myself. There are so many great photos that I don’t take because of that! I’m trying to teach myself to be less embarassed, and it gets better, but still…:)

    Reply
  • Im doing a Project 365 +1 and lovin it!
    It took some time but now I take and use my camera everywhere and yes get a few strange looks. Then I had to work on my family’s embarrassment LOL
    Great list!

    Reply
  • Im doing a Project 365 +1 and lovin it!
    It took some time but now I take and use my camera everywhere and yes get a few strange looks. Then I had to work on my family’s embarrassment LOL
    Great list!

    Reply
  • Im doing a Project 365 +1 and lovin it!
    It took some time but now I take and use my camera everywhere and yes get a few strange looks. Then I had to work on my family’s embarrassment LOL
    Great list!

    Reply
  • Im doing a Project 365 +1 and lovin it!
    It took some time but now I take and use my camera everywhere and yes get a few strange looks. Then I had to work on my family’s embarrassment LOL
    Great list!

    Reply
  • LOL – I’m so with you on 1 and 9 – isn’t it weird?

    Reply
  • LOL – I’m so with you on 1 and 9 – isn’t it weird?

    Reply
  • LOL – I’m so with you on 1 and 9 – isn’t it weird?

    Reply
  • LOL – I’m so with you on 1 and 9 – isn’t it weird?

    Reply
  • YES!!
    esp 1 and 4..I don’t know how to edit pictures, so that does not work for me..
    also, I have a rather dull life,
    work, home, work, home
    kinda hard to find that little something sometimes.

    Reply
  • YES!!
    esp 1 and 4..I don’t know how to edit pictures, so that does not work for me..
    also, I have a rather dull life,
    work, home, work, home
    kinda hard to find that little something sometimes.

    Reply
  • YES!!
    esp 1 and 4..I don’t know how to edit pictures, so that does not work for me..
    also, I have a rather dull life,
    work, home, work, home
    kinda hard to find that little something sometimes.

    Reply
  • YES!!
    esp 1 and 4..I don’t know how to edit pictures, so that does not work for me..
    also, I have a rather dull life,
    work, home, work, home
    kinda hard to find that little something sometimes.

    Reply
  • I love 1/18’s photo and your mum is the cutest! Loving taking a peek at your pictures Julie, and I too have a hard time taking pictures in public…strange isn’t it?

    Reply
  • I love 1/18’s photo and your mum is the cutest! Loving taking a peek at your pictures Julie, and I too have a hard time taking pictures in public…strange isn’t it?

    Reply
  • I love 1/18’s photo and your mum is the cutest! Loving taking a peek at your pictures Julie, and I too have a hard time taking pictures in public…strange isn’t it?

    Reply
  • I love 1/18’s photo and your mum is the cutest! Loving taking a peek at your pictures Julie, and I too have a hard time taking pictures in public…strange isn’t it?

    Reply
  • I haven’t taken this challenge… but I should! And I think that EVERY ONE of those things you’ve learned apply to myself as well! I am embarassed to use my camera in public too… specially since it’s got the big lens and people look at you funny (maybe they don’t, but I imagine that they do!!!) 🙂

    Reply
  • I haven’t taken this challenge… but I should! And I think that EVERY ONE of those things you’ve learned apply to myself as well! I am embarassed to use my camera in public too… specially since it’s got the big lens and people look at you funny (maybe they don’t, but I imagine that they do!!!) 🙂

    Reply
  • I haven’t taken this challenge… but I should! And I think that EVERY ONE of those things you’ve learned apply to myself as well! I am embarassed to use my camera in public too… specially since it’s got the big lens and people look at you funny (maybe they don’t, but I imagine that they do!!!) 🙂

    Reply
  • I haven’t taken this challenge… but I should! And I think that EVERY ONE of those things you’ve learned apply to myself as well! I am embarassed to use my camera in public too… specially since it’s got the big lens and people look at you funny (maybe they don’t, but I imagine that they do!!!) 🙂

    Reply
  • Love the honesty of this list! Haven’t taken the challenge, but I suppose I could modify it….and I’d have to learn to use more than 1/16 of the features on MY camera too!! Congrats on the feature in the French Mag too!!

    Reply
  • Love the honesty of this list! Haven’t taken the challenge, but I suppose I could modify it….and I’d have to learn to use more than 1/16 of the features on MY camera too!! Congrats on the feature in the French Mag too!!

    Reply
  • Love the honesty of this list! Haven’t taken the challenge, but I suppose I could modify it….and I’d have to learn to use more than 1/16 of the features on MY camera too!! Congrats on the feature in the French Mag too!!

    Reply
  • Love the honesty of this list! Haven’t taken the challenge, but I suppose I could modify it….and I’d have to learn to use more than 1/16 of the features on MY camera too!! Congrats on the feature in the French Mag too!!

    Reply
  • Thanks for discussing taking pics in public Julie. I began the challenge about 2 months ago and LOVE that it forces me take a second look at things EVERY DAY. I work from home – so there are days when finding something new is a real challenge.

    Reply
  • Thanks for discussing taking pics in public Julie. I began the challenge about 2 months ago and LOVE that it forces me take a second look at things EVERY DAY. I work from home – so there are days when finding something new is a real challenge.

    Reply
  • Thanks for discussing taking pics in public Julie. I began the challenge about 2 months ago and LOVE that it forces me take a second look at things EVERY DAY. I work from home – so there are days when finding something new is a real challenge.

    Reply
  • Thanks for discussing taking pics in public Julie. I began the challenge about 2 months ago and LOVE that it forces me take a second look at things EVERY DAY. I work from home – so there are days when finding something new is a real challenge.

    Reply

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