This is my inaugural post to this new blog. I hope you'll indulge me as I provide a little history and then give a glimpse of where I'm hoping the future leads. I have been in the IT business for over 30 years in just about all roles you can think of. I got my degree from Michigan State University and I've done software testing, development, systems programming, project management, and IT management in both private and public sectors. The last 18 years, I've been employed by IBM and it has been an excellent company to work for.
But for the past 10 years or so, I've really developed a passion for photography. I've been fortunate enough to purchase some nice gear. I'm currently shooting a Canon 5D Mark III full frame DSLR. I have several lenses, flashes, filters, etc but that is not what really matters. Yes, higher end gear will provide you with some capabilities that entry level camera equipment may not but in the end, what matters is understanding the art of photography and what makes it all tick. What I am discovering is that you can and must understand the mechanics of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO and how they all relate to each other but that doesn't give the ability to take artistic photographs. Some photographers are born with that gift and others, like me, try for years to learn it as best they can.
This week I started working part time at IBM, 3 days a week. I will be retired completely by the end of next year, 2015. I'm hoping to use this extra time I'll have to get out and shoot every day I'm not working. There is so much educational material available. I wish I had the tenacity to devour it all as I did the latest technology when I was in my 30's and 40's. I have subscriptions to several great photography magazines, have many recent books, and am a member with the Photoshop Users group which gives me access to Kelby One training. I also have probably over 100 books on photography that my father-in-law gave me. My father-in-law was, in some ways, like me as he was an avid photography enthusiast. In fact, he took our wedding pictures while still performing as father of the bride. And this was back in the film days so you didn't know if you got the shot or not but believe me, he did! So I look forward to digging through those books as well.
I have a photo website, www.adahighlanderphoto.com and a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/adahighlanderphoto. Feel free to check those pages out and see what's new. I intend to try to write in this blog about my next journey through retirement. It is not my intent to ever become a professional photographer, i.e. make money at it. But if a little income gets generated along the way, that will be fine too because just like computers, cameras are always getting upgraded and I have a tendency to like the latest stuff.
Nancy and I are headed to Italy in August. I hope to blog a lot while on that trip. Feel free to drop me email or visit my sites and leave comments. It will be appreciated!
Until next time...
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