…..back in the real world I have bought myself a new camera. It is very fancy and has lots of bells and whistles; I have no clue how to use it. For photos on my blog I use my iPad because it’s very good at taking sharp pictures of small details, i.e. it’s very good for calligraphy and collage, but not so wonderful at distant views – poor zoom capability.
Anyhow, I am trying to learn Camera. I am calling it Camera because it’s on a par with learning a foreign language. It is fine if I leave it in Auto mode [as seen in my previous post – competent pics of a misty morning, and nice pic of Sid], but if I stray out of Auto mode the results aren’t so pretty….
Therefore during the month of October I will be mostly learning Camera; writing Christmas card addresses in my finest calligraphy; and trying to write a novel. I know crazy talk! Writing a novel has been an ambition of mine since I was a child, but I’ve never really taken it seriously – I have a habit of giving up once the going gets tough, or when I realise I’ve written 16,000 words of utter tosh. It doesn’t matter if it is tosh – it’s the journey that matters, and actually FINISHING SOMETHING PROPERLY. I get so cross with myself. I will have regrets if I don’t try. [All this talk of apocalypse focuses the mind]. I will also have regrets if I leave Christmas card addressing until mid-December [unless there is an apocalypse and then it won’t matter].
Last week I heard this tune on the radio – I thought it was something from the 1980’s – apparently not.
Though appropriate for the difficult times we are living through.
Next Week: Ms Scarlet falls asleep; her ink goes dry, and her keyboard remains silent.
Wonky Words 
Don’t ask me, dear! I spent the first 17 years of my life in regular black-outs. I remember when the grocer forgot to order candles and the whole town was scrounging 1″ stubs from neighbours…
Also, I only use my “big” camera on auto these days. I do have a good big lens, but find it too heavy. Maybe I’ll sell it…
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Dinah – I am bored with reliving the 70s now. I think I’d like to move on to the late 80s – when there was a bit more hope around.
I remember paraffin heaters, and lamps, for the power cuts, and playing Monopoly – as a kid it was fun – not so fun as an adult.
Sx
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Oops! I was talking about the 50s. (limps away quietly…)
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We lurch from one crisis to another – it’s difficult to pinpoint which decade we’re in!
Sx
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“Lurcher ” is my new nickname!
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Dinah – Lurchers are very smart!
Sx
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A blockbuster written in Camera would certainly be novel. Are you quite sure that the world is prepared for this yet, Scarlet?
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Batarde – How about about a blog written in Camera??? This may come to pass – my next post might be all about exposure!
Sx
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I feel as if I’m floating right now. So many options, but they all seem just too ephemeral. Maybe finding and USING my own camera might help. xoxo
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Savvy – You probably feel as though you are floating because Mr Devine has you perched on a flying bathmat halfway across the Atlantic on a mission to add some twinkle to our collaborative writing project! If he does, then using your camera would be a jolly good idea.
I am using a camera everyday now – it is like a visual log, and it does help to keep time a little under control.
Sx
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We have a “proper” camera – albeit a very simple one with no faffing about. There are a couple of settings (sunset being one) that do work, but most of them seem to be a bit too clever for their own good and unless you have a tripod (rather than shaky hands) there’s no point to them.
Still, it’s something else to keep you occupied. Though I can hear you calling it a “twat” at some stage… Jx
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Crikey, Jon, I am going to have to sweep my house for bugging devices! I just can’t get camera language to stick in my head – and all my pictures now have a blurred background, which is effective, but I don’t know how to switch it off. I think I might be the twat!
Sx
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Did you take the morning photograph in ethereal mode? It looks stunning.
Good luck with your novel, if you can’t find the muse, the best places for inspiration are those small indoor market cafes, the close proximity to other people means you will hear all often with no holds barred! The book will write itself. The one I visit in Castleford has fly papers hanging off their special menu board, it has wipe clean tablecloths and the staff wear tabards.
I like to use the ‘Dramatic Warm’ filter on my iphone especially when taking pictures of elderly relatives, it makes them look like they have been transported back to the 1970s.
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Mitzi – Thank you!
The Castleford cafe explains a lot!! Bideford or Barnstaple could be inspirational places to visit. And Torrington. Not many people to eavesdrop on in my immediate vicinity!
Do you mean the photo on my previous post? I like the colours in that one, and I actually quite like the second ‘new camera’ photo in this post as I can see the rain in it. I have no idea what settings I used as I was in a muddle with it. I might have had Macro on by mistake! Apparently I have a filter that makes everything toy size – I’ll have a go a that for my next post.
Sx
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The second new camera photo it looks antique, I can imagine a milk maid in the foreground, her hair tucked under a cap of white linen, wearing a yoke, delivering milk to the market, and lifting her skirts to passing tradesmen for a penny.
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Mitzi – Those were the days – when a girl could raise a fortune (and a few other things besides) in less than a week.
Sx
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I never really got to grips with my Camera either, and almost everything is shot in ‘Intelligent-Auto’ mode – although the intelligence is lacking when it comes to close-ups, as Camera likes to focus on everything in the background rather than the thing I’m pointing it at! So that first photo of yours of the raindrop with the blurred background looks very familiar.
Still, good luck! And with the novel. Isn’t November NaNoWriMo?
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P.S. You are not allowed to fall asleep next week. Or let your ink run dry. Or have a silent keyboard, as Part Five of our ‘Over the Cusp in Mogwash’ tale needs writing because I have – finally! – finished Part Four!
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Yay!! I managed part 5!! And I have just published. Everybody is falling over themselves to read the next thrilling episode – I can hear the stampede up Jon’s back passage.
Sx
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Good grief, it seems like I replied to all these comments in my head! Apologies.
Mr Devine – I might write a post about my progress with Camera – I have been practicing every day, AND I occasionally go full manual – go me!!
Sx
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Oooh, what would your book be about? Can I be a beta reader? Once a year I make an effort to get to know my Nikon camera better, but I can’t say whether I’m any better at using it or not. It has more to do with my frustration at buying an expensive item and then leaving it about like an expensive paperweight. Also, as if you aren’t busy enough, I need you to be my proxy and make friends with a nice couple in Devon (that’s where you are, right?) Something funny about a cat and a shared love for folktales….hmmm…let me get back to you on that.
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Mels – Apologies for my late reply! Yes, I am in North Devon – who is the couple of which you speak????
I am determined to learn Camera – I have been using it everyday and I’m now fluent in Aperture Priority, and the exposure compensation dial! It was an expensive purchase – the price is fuelling my determination.
Sx
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Good luck with Camera. I don’t have a camera but Jenny does and seems very conversant with how it works, though nowadays she generally uses her smartphone. I tried to write a novel once, I managed about 100 pages and then total writers’ block, I was unable to write another sentence. Probably fortunate because it was utter tripe and actual publication would have been most embarrassing.
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Nick – Apologies for the late reply.
I am getting better with the camera – it’s actually fun to mess around with. As for the writing, I have reams of utter tosh typed up! It’s an old dream – maybe I would do better to dedicate myself to my blog?!
Sx
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Crikey, you seem to be trying everything at once!
I’m too lazy to carry my proper camera so rely on my somewhat rubbish old iPhone when I’m out. Like you, I love my iPad for close ups and detail.
Good luck with your novel. I am thinking about doing nanowrimo this year, but for a screenplay which I started at the beginning of the year and haven’t looked at since April. But that depends on the builder having finished in here. X
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Eryl – Apologies for the late reply.
You know me, Eryl – my dreams of typing everyday will probably come to nothing! However, I am pretty smitten with my camera – it’s a high end point and shoot, so it can be used manually as well – I am learning all sorts. It’s even helped me use my smartphone camera – I have a OnePlus which allows for a bit of tinkering – and now I understand what some of the ‘Pro’ dials mean.
Maybe I should blog more – but I’ve been saying that for the last 10 years!
Sx
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Interesting new song (from the youtube info it appears to be from this summer) that I enjoyed. I checked out the lyrics. Here’s a good line, “You’re the only one that knows how to operate
My heavy machinery, so…”
Maybe he is a big guy?
Digital cameras have too many options that just seem to confuse.
You know you could change that line in the song to:
“You’re the only one that knows how to operate
My fancy camera, so…”
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Bill – “You’re the only one that knows how to operate
My heavy machinery, so…” It’s a very odd line isn’t it?!!! I thought that. Maybe he was referring to his deep thoughts and not his pelvic area? Who knows???
I am learning how to use my fancy camera 🙂
Sx
P.S Apologies for the late reply.
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That line is certainly open to a few interpretations.
In one of your replies you mentioned a setting to make “everything toy size”. The camera we have in a drawer somewhere has that setting. It creates an optical illusion by de-focusing the background edges.
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Yes, Bill, everything made toy size including the heavy machinery! Maybe I should write a series of posts about my adventures with my camera, and I will explore the toy setting.
Sx
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I love those misty landscape shots xxx
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Thank you, Lulu!
Sx
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