Day 1: Restart! 07Nov2011

It's been almost a year since I started my 365 photo project, but somewhere around the time my thesis was due and defended, I lost my momentum and stopped after 6 months. I've decided to give it a new try this year.

I have changed a few things. First, I've switched over to Picasa since Blogger is run through Google anyway and TinyPic randomly deletes my photos for no reason I can see. Secondly, I've decided to limit myself to one photograph per post. Any other photographs from that day that I really want to share will be posted through Google+ and/or Facebook. Third (which is more awesome than a change), I have inherited my dad's Canon AE-1 complete with shoe flash that fits my DSLR and three lenses with sun hoods: 75-200mm, 28-70mm, and, most exciting to me, 50mm 1.8/f prime. Investment in an FD to EOS adapter soon to follow!

I also have a few goals for this year:

-Now that I have an external flash, I really want to learn how to use my lighting better. I've usually steered clear of using a flash because I dislike the shadows and flatness it can produce. However, I do know that as I learn to use it, external light can be my friend.

-I want to do more storytelling with my photographs. It is easy for me to find a photograph in my surroundings, but harder for me to make one and be intentional about it.

-Related to the last goal, I want to do more portraits. My new old 50mm portrait lens should help with that. Any willing and able models would be greatly appreciated.

-I will call Everyday Joe's and ask them if they have any wall space anytime soon so I can display and maybe even sell something.

And here is the picture for Day 1, a leaf on the neighboring basketball court. I added invert and gradient map adjustment layers.