It had been about a month since I’d purchased the camera. I’d recorded the videos as I planned and even taken shots of a likely once in a lifetime event. Not everyday that you get to see the aftermath of a lightning strike, let alone right in your backyard.

These are my thoughts now, at the time I’m sure I was just thankful the tree didn’t damage the house in any way. As that would have been a headache to deal with. Not that it was my house at all, or even was the mortgage currently being paid. It was going into foreclosure after my father was forced into early retirement and couldn’t keep up with it. Plus I think he was ready to start over somewhere new. INC as it turned out. Beautiful place. More on that later. After spending 30+ years in one place, I can’t even imagine it. After a few years in this apartment currently I’m ready to pack it up and leave.

But to the photography portion of this, just days after the tree incident, the family had come back on one of the many trips to pack and move things up to their new place. Judging by the photo archive, I must have shown them my new purchase. The youngest sibling took to it immediately and I have these lovely images.

Honestly there’s several more of these. But you get the point. I also managed to get this image of my dad, which cracks me up.

After this the camera wasn’t brought out for another month, until my girlfriends graduation concert. Where she had to perform with her instructor to friends and family. I believe this is the equivalent of a thesis paper? Not sure, I didn’t go to college.

But that did give me a bit more experience honestly, they had rented a huge church for the concert. Friends of the family I believe, but the experience I gained was just how loud a shutter is in a dead silent room. Or even during the music. It was honestly bothersome and I record video more than I took images.

Oh, and also a shot of my shoe.

I did also wind up taking images of the group for the reception afterwards, but not my family and I’m not putting those on here. Looking back at the image now there’s plenty I would do differently. Framing wise I would have stood up or gotten on a step to get on level, light wise I would have used an off camera flash to try and light up some of the dark areas. Even a shot from behind showing the audience would have been cool.

But these are thoughts coming more than 5 and a half years later. I’ve done a lot more with a camera since then.