2006: A Year in Photos

It's been quite a year with me and my camera. Prior to this year, I shared a film SLR camera with my family and really used it as a glorified point-and-shoot camera. It all changed this past February when I committed to buying a new camera and actually learning how to use it. On 6 February, I took a deep breath, plunked down the money (virtually with a click), a lot of money, and got a digital SLR with a fixed 30mm/1.4 lens. I couldn't believe I paid so much for a camera that didn't zoom. In retrospect, it was well worth it as I've learned so much and really found an outlet that brought many good times. So, on to the year in photos...

February 2006: Chinese New Year and Touristy Things in SF
This was my first spin out with the camera after reading the camera manual and a short tutorial I printed out from the Web on the flight out to the west coast. From what I remember, I was still mentally debating the "rule of thirds" (i.e. put the subject of the photo in the left or right third of the photo to make things more interesting). The rule makes sense for a lot of things, but I can't justify calling it a rule. Maybe it's just my science and engineering background, but "rule" is a strong word.






March 2006: Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin in DC
This was the first time I realized I was going to be a real photo fanatic. I got up at 4:30 AM two days in the same week to catch the first morning train downtown to get pictures with good light before and during sunrise and with few people in the way. If anyone's been to DC during Cherry Blossom (tourist) season, the place is packed by 7:00 AM. Oh, and then going to work for a regular workday afterwards.








May 2006: Bay to Breakers in SF
My sis and I split the cost of a new 24-70mm zoom lens that we could share between my digital SLR and the film SLR she was using. Zoom lenses are great for event photography when people are moving around and there isn't a whole lot of time to change lenses. I first tried the lens out in SF at Bay to Breakers, a costumed 12K where I got right in the middle of it all. I learned that access to location and action is key to getting good photos—rarely do good photos come from the sidelines. I try not to be too much of a jerk about getting in peoples' way though. Check out the wedding photos my sis took on film with the same lens and my story on the runaway brides photo.







May 2006: Joshua Tree National Park
My vacation for 2006 was backpacking through the Mojave Desert in what looked a lot like the setting for the road runner and coyote cartoons. (I couldn't find a road runner, but I did hear coyotes at night.) It was a grueling hike with a 50 pound backpack, but I felt a definite sense of accomplishment by the end of the 25 miles (although my feet disagreed at the time). I learned a few things about photography on this trip: (1) getting even just one or two photos that captures the essence of the trip feels really rewarding (see joshua tree at twilight and resting on boulder below), (2) when afternoon sun blasts all the color out of the photo, try going black and white (my friend's B&W shot), and (3) taking good photos requires one to be relaxed enough to look all around oneself for all the possibilities but focused enough to pick one possibility and go for it. And it also helps to have friends who are patient and understanding when I break away, sometimes often, to take a photograph (or to catch a breath or any spot of shade in the desert).







July 2006: Eastern Market in DC
I found the Washington Photography Meetup group and decided to give one of their events a try. It was a great day out Eastern Market: met some people who are just as interested in photography as I am, tried out my new wide-angle lens that I saved up for, and got some nice shots out of it. The wide-angle lens forced me to get up really close to objects and people—within inches—to get the payoff.






July 2006: Gazuza (UVA Alumni Club Happy Hour) in DC
Although my original intent was to take photos in the streets of DC before and after the happy hour, I couldn't help but try taking some photos during the happy hour. Gazuza has a westward facing patio that lets sunlight in as the sun lowers in the afternoon sky. Not enough to light the whole place, but at least a portion of it. This is where I figured out the photos of people standing in natural light looked a lot better in the photos than the ones who were subject to my on-camera flash.






July 2006: Dupont Circle at Night in DC
After the happy hour, I wanted to try taking some photos at night of things in motion without a tripod. Ok, so I saw the band on the street first and then tried taking photos from within their sidewalk "stage". I learned a lot about depth-of-field (how shallow it is when light is low), street lighting, and that annoying lens flare can happen at night.







August–October 2006: Fall Protests and Festivals in DC and VA
By fall, my camera and I were inseparable. DC is really at its best as the season transitions to fall. Cool, crisp weather, clear and colorful skies, turning leaves, and enough daylight to enjoy it all. You wouldn't figure DC as a festival kind of town, but come August, there's something interesting going on every single weekend in town or a little outside of town until the weather gets cold. This year, I ended up at a beer festival, cultural festivals, music festivals, and community festivals. Still much more to check out next year :)







August–October 2006: Random Wandering in DC and VA
Even if there isn't a festival happening on any particular day in the fall, the weather is so nice it's hard not to get out and enjoy it. And why not bring a camera along? There's another favorite weather day that I relish in spring and fall—windy days right before a storm. The clouds are low and race across the sky, wind ruffles the jacket—it's like it's carrying all my worries away. I didn't get a picture this fall that captured a day like this—all I have is one of Capitol Hill (above) in the spring. I did write an article about bokeh and lens flare in the fall though...









December 2006: National Zoo
My last trip to the zoo was with the photography meetup. The subject of the day was supposed to be the animals on the Asia Trail. They were interesting, but thanks to a good suggestion, the Reptile House because the supporting actor that overshadowed the featured star. Tip: the Reptile House is a warm place to check out on a cold day at the zoo.






I've taken 3,472 photos this year so far, but that's nowhere near enough to capture an accurate picture of my 2006. No doubt there will be some more photos before the year officially ends and many more as 2007. So much to see, so much to learn, so much to be found. Reminds me of something the late Peter Jennings said at the very beginning of his career, "I'm fascinated by everything. There's just too much going on in too many places that I just daren't miss."

Next post: things I've learned in 2006 without my camera.