In my last post, I created a to-do list for myself to better my photography. Happy to brag I can put a check mark on a photography course (one of many I’m sure, I hope). This course left me with two resounding feelings – thank the lawd I paid for that $200 course with a $5 Groupon and maybe I’m not as ‘beginner’ as I believe.

While I think Skill Success’s course for Photography Beginners Mastersclass would be ideally suited for anyone living under a rock and who hasn’t seen a camera since 1950, the upside is that it gave me a healthy dose of confidence that I only had to pay $5 for – #win (plus a nifty certificate of completion – #framing).

When I sat in front of my computer nerded out with notebook in hand ready to learn and re-instill, I was a bit miffed to see that each course was about only about 2 minutes long and catered to those who know absolutely zilch about a camera, it’s innards, and how to take a picture. At the same time, I was also giving myself a nice pat on the back while I went through each course, my inner dialogue boasting “I know that, I know that, hip hip hooray I know that!” Again…what allowed this bliss was the fact that I also did NOT pay the going rate of $200 for this course. I have a feeling my sentiment wouldn’t have been so chipper.

Nevertheless, it’s given me the opportunity to take a more pragmatic, realistic self-assessment I suppose to figure out what my next step should be in my photography education. This ‘course’ (I use this term lightly…as I envisioned this course being taught to a bunch of 80 year old woman during their allotted activity time in the home) showed me how much I know already and that I shouldn’t sell myself short, I need to take the courses that will challenge me, even if I’m behind in some aspects.

So onward and upword I go…recommendations welcome!

Well not really my shadow but a bunch of shadows from really awesome NY 2014 marathoners. Here are a few other cool gems from that day.

These little boogers liked to play hard to get but this shot definitely made it worth it! I also happy to grab one where the hummingbird actually perched itself onto the feeder, which I’ve never seen a hummingbird actually stop humming!

How many chips could a chipmunk chip if a chipmunk could chip chips?

Another great exposure captured from the cabin the weekend of the 4th. This guy stayed perched for the perfect amount of time while I clicked away. I find him adorable.

This was taken this past weekend up at my family’s NY cabin. The water was so still that it looked like glass almost, until our dog Nick happened to take a few steps and created the perfect ripple effect, giving movement to the image. To me, this is both simple yet captivating.

And of course, the cool cat in the photo is my daddio.

Stepped outside tonight to let Mr. Nicholas out and the colors across the sky were just wonderful.

Every so often, I happen to snap ‘that shot’ that generates the reaction all us photographers are gunning for, the ‘wow’ shot. When we get so lucky, we want to share it with the world. That ‘wow’ is just too good not to hear over and over again. I mean we could probably all look at our own shots that wow us for longer than we’d like to admit so why not share the eye candy!

So share your #eyespy candid of the week at #mg_captures as I would love to see them!

When I looked down at my display after snapping this shot, I had my first ‘wow’ and I was a photography goner. I just couldn’t believe the timing that took place to allow such a candid, unplanned moment to be captured. Since then, I am a junkie for those organic, genuine, wonderfully spontaneous moments that capture authenticity.

This is Nicholas. I love the juxtaposition of the stark black and white as well as the detail and sharpness of Nick.