Saturday, January 23, 2010

Climbing up the Learning Curve


Under Cover, acrylic/printmaking on canvas, 23 x 32, Sold
by Elizabeth W. Seaver


I will not tell you how long ago I bought a new camera, ostensibly so I could take higher resolution photos of my work.  It is a very nice camera.  It came with a very thick, technical book on how to use it.  Bleah!

This week in a fit of supreme grace I threw my point-and-shoot across the room.  It didn't survive.  Today I am faced with the choice to read the instruction book of death, or to go out and buy an new point and shoot.

Tedious reading...................shopping mall
Tedious reading...................shopping mall

I think I'll be getting to know my "new" camera today.  What the hey!  The sun is shining, at least.  Yes, it is a good day to learn to use a camera.

It is getting so excited over there on the shelf, in anticipation of an outing.  Go for a walk??!!  It already has on its leash (which I will be holding on to very tightly so as not to repeat Wednesday's fiasco!)

Since I don't have a way to show you my new stuff, I am putting up an older piece that sold but is a fore-runner of the style of work I am pursuing now.

I'll let you know when I roll down the other side of the learning curve. 

16 comments:

Incognito said...

I empathize with you about reading those darned manuals for new cameras. My way around that is to do the basic functions to get by and then when I have a need for something special, I go to the best resource I have, my ten-year-old son. You may borrow his wisdom if needed.

Kerri Settle said...

I hate the learning curve associated with any new product because I'm rather impatient and just want to get into it. For the past few years I've been using just the basics of my camera but this last week have finally purchased a few filters to test out, so you're not completely alone in figuring things out!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

It's nice to know I am not alone. I am also still blogging and not getting to it!!

I have a back up plan, Incognito, of asking a certain Beth of our acquaintance to help me over the rough spots!

Let me know how you do, Kerri! I'll be struggling along behind you.

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

I am loving this new venture of yours Elizabeth! So fascinating. I keep blowing it up to really see the nuances! Sorry about the camera...I've been there! Still yet to search the depths of my thick book...but I think I have to...the colors have changed on me...I'm sure I've pushed some button I wasn't supposed to...tomorrow is snow here...you have "inspired" me to trudge the depths of my book...good luck!!

Annie said...

The spirals make me think of Klimt, but more in your previous work.
Nice work!

Leslie Hawes said...

We'll have to start a Learning Curves Anonymous.
Step One is to admit you're Powerless.
Hello, my name is Leslie...

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Ah, Saundra, you are so nice to keep me company.

Annie, thanks so much. I am honored to even have my work and Klimt in the same sentence. Thanks for stopping by.

Hi, Leslie! I admit that I am powerless...and still, I have not opened the book yet. I have inventoried my unused canvas, wrapped a package and boxed a gift for my niece, actually retrieved the box of camera stuff from the basement, but I have not opened the dreaded book!

Anna M. Branner said...

Manuals longer than 10 pages should be banned. :)

Elizabeth Seaver said...

The older I get the less I want to follow any one else's stinking instructions! What do you suppose I'll be like at 80????

Diana said...

You can do it! You can do it!
(or a least enough of it to function.)
Who writes that stuff anyway?
My experience is they are not that much help anyway. Either that or I just can't understand what the heck they are talking about.

Leslie Hawes said...

Elizabeth...I wrote a blog post about my favored Procrastination Technique.
You might enjoy the read.
Plus, you won't have to read the camera manual in the meantime...
http://www.lesliehawes.com/wordpress/?p=215

Vicki Greene said...

Elizabeth, thank you so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment. I don't think that the people that write the instruction manuals have ever touched the actual camera and you read and are left thinking what are they talking about....... Your work is lovely and in scrolling through I especially like "Golden Panel".

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Leslie. I read your blog post and loved it. I recommend it for everyone's edification.

Thanks for coming by MY blog, Vicki. I appreciate your comment about Golden Panel. I look forward to seeing which way your creativity takes you.

Paula Villanova said...

Your efforts will be SO worth it! Please take the time to learn what your new camera can do. I think it's hard for us artists to work through the technical mumbo jumbo but once we do, the creative possibilities are endless (and with opportunity for better quality). Good luck and I LOVE Under Cover.

Gwen Bell said...

You're so funny! Good luck with that manual.
Love all the spirals in this piece. I could look at it for hours. Great title too!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Gwen--thanks so much for the nice remarks.