Monday, May 9, 2011

Leaps of Learning and Plateaus of Learning

         If you've followed my blog for a few months you will have noticed that I have challenges when it comes to high tech stuff. I wrote about my struggle to conquer an ipod. I wrote recently about putting a new battery in my bicycle speedometer and then resetting it. I still have digital watch that I have to have a go at, but since I don't wear it that can wait.

       In the last few days I took some time to play with my digital camera. You guessed it . It finally twigged that it is set up like all the other gadgets. There are modes and parts to each mode. Once you get the hang of modes and their parts you're away to the races. Now I look at it and say, "Why did it take me so long to catch on?" I had been looking at how poor some of my pictures were. I thought that if I had the camera on automatic it would do the work for me.

      As a photographer I'm a point and shoot type. My first camera was a 35 mm automatic. They were a very good camera as you could point and shoot and get a good picture. I don't think ahead as to what things will look like or how I want things to look. The camera and the environment have been in control of me at all times. From now on I know more what my camera can do and I will think about that before taking a picture. Then I will have to consider the environment and make that work so that I get a better image.

       So a few days ago there was a great leap in learning for me as I transferred learning from another area to the camera. I can also look back to incredibly long plateaus. I've had that digital watch for more than twenty years. I remember the battery going dead as I had 200 kids on a field trip. I didn't know what the noise was. One of the kids finally discovered that my watch battery had died. He then was able to turn off the annoying alarm for a dead battery. The next time that battery goes dead I'm it, as there are no more kids in my life.

8 comments:

  1. It sounds like you are keeping up just fine, Red! You are taking digital photos, blogging and microblogging. Great post!

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  2. The trick to using a digital camera and all the modes is to understand the basics of photography and that will give you an idea of what all the automated stuff needs to do and what the presets are trying to achieve.

    The main advantage of digital is that you can interact with your camera and at least have some idea of how your shots turned out (rather than waiting for the film to be developed).

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  3. Surely you must have some neighbor kids who can save you next time, Red! Isn't it funny how these kids, who grew up with these gadgets, make us feel like we are basket cases when it comes to electronics? Happens to me all the time!

    I look forward to seeing some of these pictures you keep talking about.

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  4. Oh I know your type well. :) There's a manual for just about everything.. and even when the original disappears you can probably find one online. I have great faith in you.. if you can manage a blog, complete with photos.. you can conquer your other gadgets. :)

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  5. You missed just one thing...there is some swearing!
    Yes I did download the ipod manual.
    Thanks for visiting Hiawatha House. Always appreciate your comments.

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  6. Yes , DJan there are kids who are willing to help me but I've decided that I must become more independent and what I find is the more I learn the easier it becomes.

    I don't think I promised pictures but there will be some.

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  7. Hi Phil, You get an asterisk in the wall here for being a first time commenter.
    Coming from a photographer like you I appreciate the comment and it gives me something more to learn.

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  8. Hi Ted, I can't remember if this is your first comment on Hiawatha House but just in case I will give you an asterisk. All first ime commenters get an asterisk.
    It's been a lot of fun to learn this stuff.

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