Tell us a little about yourself Christine
I grew up in Michigan, but we currently live just north of Orlando in Florida. My husband and I just celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary last month. We have two children and three grandchildren. I love to have my camera in hand or in my backseat, but recently I'm challenging my artistic side to learn Zentangle.
What type of camera do you use and what's in your kit?
I am a Sony girl and always have been from day one. I just recently purchased the RX10 IV and it is absolutely fabulous. My favourite lens is my macro 90mm and my Velvet 85 lensbaby. These two are very similar, but I love the blur I get with the Lensbaby.
Do you use Lightroom, Photoshop or do you have any favourite apps?
I use Camera Raw to edit my images and occasionally photoshop to do some creative things with masks. I use the LR Mobile, Snapseed, Topaz, Distressed FX, Becasso and PicTapGo apps.
When did you first pick up a camera?
When I was a teenager my Dad gave my sister and I each a yellow Kodak Instamatic 110 camera. I really liked it but could barely afford the film and lost interest. We also had a dark room in our basement for B & W processing only. I can still remember that chemical smell! I really got the photography bug when I bought my first DSLR and our son gave me a Christmas gift that was for a beginner's workshop.
How did you discover 365 Picture Today and how long have you been a member?
I posted my first picture January 1, 2020 and I have not missed a day, yet! A good friend and I decided to take a picture a day several years ago, but after a while I was looking for some way to 'track' or 'group' it so that I could look back and recall the memory instead of looking through thousands of images. I googled and found this group and have never looked back. I love the word challenge and all the beautiful interpretations from the community.
How do you stay motivated to post a picture a day? What advice do you have to give others to keep posting daily?
Personally, I do not look ahead at the prompts until I get the email each morning. I look at this 365 project I am doing as a way to remember each and every day in my life. I go about my day and try and remember the prompt and grab my shot when it arises! If for some reason I just cannot make the prompt fit, I post an image that is 'my day' and sometimes pull a recent image that I have taken. I love how everyone has a different interpretation of the prompt. It really widens my photography perspective and over the years it has opened my eyes!
What is your favourite type of photography?
I absolutely love to photograph nature, but my true love is birds. Yes, I am a birder...there, I said it! I am in love with the shorebirds along the beach. I love to watch their behaviour and try to capture it in my photographs. I also use my macro for close up shots of bugs, flowers or anything that shows the smaller details inside the larger picture. I use my 600mm to capture the endless ways to interpret birds along the ocean shores. I tend to photograph more flowers during the warmer months and migrating birds in the cooler months here in Floridia.
Where is your "go to" place to take pictures?
Easy! The ocean is where I most often go! You don't have to even ask me twice either! It's different everytime I go and there are so many things to see. Nature is always there!
Where would be a dream location to go on a photography walk/holiday?
Oh goodness! My dream loction would have to have barns, old rusty vehicles, or anything historic. I really like to photograph old things that are being replaced with new. I like to preserve history with a photograph!
