I have been serious with Photography for about 5 years now attempting to learn as much as I can on a near daily basis.  The drawback of this for me is that my position at Oklahoma City Community College doesn’t allow as much time for photography as I would wish.  I do, however, get to refine my skills in Photoshop.  Teaching the program helps in this refinement, but sitting on my butt for several hours a day makes the need for exercise extremely important. 

Until the fall semester of 2011, I exercised very regularly to the tune of about 4 to 6 days a week.  However, during that fall semester of 2011, I was short handed in my computer lab so the exercise schedule had to suffer.  I went from 4 to 6 to almost no days per week.  I gained about 25 pounds in 9 or so weeks.  This was too much for me, but I should have known to cut down on my calorie intake since I had slacked on movement. 

Once the Christmas break of 2011 came along, I got my larger butt back into the gym and have once again moved my exercise routine to all but one day of the week.  Mostly I do Body Pump, Yoga, and Treadmill work.  Some days I walk outside.  Once I lose about 20 of those 25 pounds I will begin to train myself for a 5K on Thanksgiving Day.  I know that doesn’t sound like much for those who have done this.  I have competed in one in 2009.  I walked most of it and came in next to last in my age group and third to last for males.  I want to beat that, and don’t feel it will be too difficult to do.  Now I will discuss the parallels to photography. 

When I started back at the gym in December, it was extremely difficult both physically and emotionally.  I was fat, out of shape, and felt like a total loser in comparison to all of the individuals in the classes.  But now, I feel like I’m getting some place and making real progress.  Yoga is especially perfect for this analogy.  The instructor that I use is named Debbie.  She explains everything in great detail and how we should “take our practice into our everyday life events.” 

In this I believe Debbie means;

• ·         We should slow down to be more efficient. 
• ·         Be aware of your limitations and don’t do more than you are capable of. 
• ·         Always strive to reach the next level.
• ·         Compete with yourself always and don’t worry about what someone else is doing.  You can’t control them anyway.

These are just a few of the lessons that I take from Yoga, but I was able to put them into photographical practice last night.  I was able to photograph a high school basketball team in an extremely poorly lit gymnasium and wasn’t allowed to go away from the stands.  I slowed my thought process down to make sure I had my settings right for the conditions.  I shot at 3200 ISO, 2.8 f stop, and my camera turned down 2/3 stop to increase the shutter speed to freeze action.  I did get a few decent shots even though they are pretty noisy. 

The Tip Off!

Two years ago, I didn’t even know what turning down 2/3 stop even meant.  Thank you Moose!