Chapin City Blues

I have been consuming photography videos on YouTube. Each professional has a different take on how we should compose our photographs, but the same tip for beginners: go out and shoot. And so, I took two walks today. One around campus during my break at work. And one around the neighborhood before it got too dark.

I felt exposed. Something about walking around with a camera in hand. The park was too crowded. People are not my favorite subjects, even though the basketball game—shirts vs. skins—may have been interesting to shoot. Instead, a found an orange cat snoozing on a picnic table. Perfect subject to practice on. Snap. Snap. Snap.

I stopped at the church after to shoot my favorite fountain, the resurrected Jesus stature, and a tiny saint at his feet. Something haunting about Catholicism. I am drawn to that place not out of faith but because of the colors of stone and flora. As I snapped a picture of la Virgen, I heard a cackle. A man struck a pose and I was tempted, but we shared a laugh instead.

After a shower, I plopped onto my chair, powered on my laptop, connected the camera and started shifting through the images. I am only happy with the cat photo. Lighthouse it is, then. I am not familiar with the software, but I played with masking and presets. I am still a student. I wonder if I can take a photography course at the university.