This morning I took a beginner DSLR course. There was a groupon deal for Chimpsy DSLR classes awhile back and I jumped on it. I’ve played around with the setting on my own and taking quite a few pictures already. I’ve even read a lot of photog blogs. I even bought Scott Kelby’s book and have read through most of it. But hearing the information from someone who is a photographer by profession just made it click for me in a way that reading it didn’t. Plus, she gave us tips that I haven’t found anywhere online or in a book. Maybe because they’re such common knowledge? I don’t know, but I am so glad I took the class and I’m really looking forward to the advanced class I’m taking in a few weeks.

Our instructor, Leslie Hollingsworth, was adamant that the best way to become a better photographer was to take pictures. So I decided to go forth and take pictures at the zoo with my new-found knowledge.  I wanted to capture color and tropical birds are great for that, aren’t they? And such posers! It was a lot of fun even though it was approximately as hot as or hotter than the seventh circle of hell. (Note to self: invest in some shorts.)

I’ve got to say, I am pretty impressed with what I was able to capture after just a few hours of instruction. But! I’ve still got so much to learn and plenty of room for improvement.

Here are some of my favorites.

You can see the rest of the set over here.
Some things I can definitely see myself investing in sometime in the near future:

• more memory cards
• extra battery
• telephoto lens (I will need to save up for a while for this one)
• more classes
• making time to take more photos
• making a list of places/things to photograph

Where are some of your favorite places to go to take photos?