kathyrn

they say a picture is worth a thousand words

[gruntledmisadventures]

I love colors. 

[gruntledmisadventures]

I don’t know what kind of hold this city has on me, but I can tell you I am in love. Not the type of love where you stay together forever, but more the type where you leave your wife and go love another woman for a little bit. You always go home to your life and routines, but you think of her when it all gets to be a bit too boring and mundane. You think of her when you want to escape and find some excitement. She’s the place you can just let go and relax and live in this moment and this moment only. 

(for some reason it won’t upload the edited versions, so y’all get the originals. and chicago is not a slut.)

[gruntledmisadventures]

This. Everything about this. This was the consolation prize in regards to the vantage point, but it turned into one of my favorite shots. 

I will have a canvas print of this someday. 

[gruntledmisadventures]

I absolutely love this picture. There’s just a certain feeling you get when you look at it. Almost ominous but at the same time comforting. It could also be that it was 90+ degrees and we were taking autumn pictures. 

Whatever it is, I like it. 

[gruntledmisadventures]

I loved everything about this day. I was going through some things personally and almost canceled, but I decided that getting out of the place would be good for me. I had been having a hard time with my anxiety, yet here I was off to meet a bunch of people I have never met (except Bailie). I had never participated in any kind of “shoot” before. I didn't know what to expect and I wasn't even really sure what I was supposed to do. 

This was the first time I was able to just be there and take pictures. The whole world around me disappeared. I didn't care that I was surrounded by people that do this as a career. I didn't care that it was ninety degrees. I didn't worry about anything. This was the first time it was almost therapeutic for me. 

[gruntledmisadventures]

I kind of cant wait to do this again next year and see how much I improve

[gruntledmisadventures]

This was my first parade, my first time shooting in the dark, and my first time taking my camera to Chicago. Earlier in the day we went to Millennium Park and then Lincoln Park Zoo. I knew shooting during the day wouldn't be too much of an issue, but I was excited to try the dark. I learned a few things that night. 

Im short, that's nothing new, but I learned that if I'm not in the front row its not going to work. Luckily when the parade started the people I was around jumped over a flowerbed to get closer. I followed with them and ended up with an incredible spot. Now I know to get there early and get your spot picked out. Its worth it. 

I also learned that not every shot is going to be any kind of usable. Especially in a situation like a parade when everyone is moving. I shot continuously for the whole hour only to get a handful of pictures I can use. It just really showed me how much I still have to learn. How to use settings to compensate for the dark instead of trying to correct it after the fact. Made me realize how much I don't really know my own camera.

I'm not sure if it was at this particular time or not, but I've realized much rather take pictures of people moving and doing things. That might be a universal thing, I don't know. 

[gruntledmisadventures]

I simultaneously love and hate this picture. I was incredibly anxious this whole day. I met a friend to take some pictures for an event. Nothing fancy, because let’s be honest, no. But it was the first time someone had specifically asked me to take pictures for them. That on top things going on in life, I was a mess. I was looking for any thing that could distract me.

Initially it was the colors that drew me in. These drinks were just left on a table at the end of a long evening. I like to think that I find the beauty in what would normally be overlooked. I thought the browns in the glass was stunning. I was excited taking this picture but unfortunately I just see the things I should have done differently. I focus on the areas where I could use some improvements. 

I’m excited to use this as an example of where I started.