Ever since I was 13 years old, I have wanted to be a photographer. I had even planned to go to Ryerson to study photography after high-school. Certain things in life occured to change my plans. I didn’t finish high-school (missed 1 credit), my parents moved to Manitoba, and I got sucked into working full-time. By that time, I didn’t want to go to Toronto and I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how to pay for University. All the while I never stopped taking pictures and loving photography.

When I did go to University, I went the “safe” route instead of the “art” route and got a BA, concentration in English and Philosophy (the Greek kind). I loved it and am very happy that I did it. After University I did enroll in a couple of photography courses at Algonquin and have continued with my love of the photograph.

Then came the technology age. Ahh technology, some days you love it some you hate it! Hubby bought me a digital camera when I was pregnant with “J” so I could record his every moment quickly and send photos to family who live far away. I love the digital camera, but slowly I started to use only the digital and no longer my SLR. Something about the instant gratification of downloading a photo, touching it up, printing it off that made me stop.

“A” has become very interested in photography and for Christmas he received a camera from his Opa and Hubby and I. And “A” and I have been working together on taking pictures. He is starting to learn that he needs to bring his camera with him if he doesn’t want to miss a photo op. Easter weekend, I encouraged him to bring it with him to take photos on the Market and at the Farm. But, it wasn’t until we were there that he realized that he was missing out on taking lots of great photos. I took lots, with my digital, not the same for sure.

Where is this story going, you ask? Well, this weekend Hubby bought me my first digital SLR!! A Nikon D-50 . A gift for our Anniversary, which is next week. I am thrilled and excited and feeling rather silly as digital photography isn’t quite the same as manual, so basically I have to start over pretty much from scratch. I have already taken quite a few photos (on the automatic setting), and the clarity is amazing. I feel like I can get back to my grass roots of photography and be a bit more creative. I may even have to enroll in a couple of courses again to learn more about my camera and how to get the most out of it. It will be a fun experience and for sure there will be a lot more photos posted here.

That we take pictures of our kids at Starbucks every year? We (being my Sister and I) have now shamelessly started Baby “A” on that same tradition. Because we couldn’t see anything Starbucks in the background, we added a napkin so we would remember. We have pictures of “J” & “J2” since they were a few months old too. And every year we make sure to take more. In each photo you can see the progression, from bucket seats to high-chairs, from high-chairs to strollers, and now from strollers to chairs with paper and crayons. And a giant chocolate chip cookie for good measure.

That I let “J” run through the hose? I kept telling hubby all week that the water was too cold and we shouldn’t let him get wet. Hubby kept calling me a freak. Truthfully “J” loves it and I want him to love the water this year so much. We had a summer filled with fear of water last year so it made for a long summer of me by myself in the pool. I want a water companion this year!