So I'm taking a PHOTOGRAPHY class....

I asked for an iPad for Christmas.

So on Christmas morning when I opened a box containing a Canon EOS Rebel T3 with not one, but TWO lenses, I was in complete and utter shock. 

I had really been expecting that iPad. Not a really, really nice camera.

Long story short, the camera has proven much more useful than an iPad. And now, I'm taking an Introduction to Photography class so I can learn how to work the dang thing in something other than automatic mode.

So this weekend I set out on my first assignment. The instructions were vague: do something fun and take some creative pictures.

I, being one of the least creative people on this planet, had a hard time coming up with stuff to shoot. Nevertheless, this is what I came up with.

On Friday, Cameron and I spontaneously drove to Wyoming to watch our alma mater (Sheridan) play football, and to see one of our old teachers. 

I didn't like the majority of pictures I took, but that's all part of the learning experience, right?

I tried to get shots of the game from different perspectives, and I kind of liked this one. Watching the game on the fringes of the action was kind of interesting.

This picture didn't turn out nearly as well as I had hoped, but what I really like about it is the sky. Few things are better than a Wyoming sky :)

On Saturday, I hiked Mt. Timpanogos (Utah's second highest peak at 11,752 feet) with a friend. I've been wanting to hike Timp since freshman year, but have always been lacking in the execution. I can't even tell you how many times I've set out to hike it, but one thing or another (flaky friends, crappy weather, you name it!) got in the way.

So on Saturday, I finally climbed that dang mountain (cross THAT off the bucket list!) and took some pictures along the way.

Not only did Spencer (aka the power hiker) push me to do my best on the hike (it's BRUTAL and tons of people end of giving up on the way to the top), he was patient while I took pictures and even posed for a few.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Part of our hike was IN the clouds. Which was stunning and beautiful and fantastic. 

Pretty moss!

It's not everyday that you get to be at eye level with the clouds. Being that high up gave me a great opportunity to work with my aperture and figure out how much light to let in to get both the clouds and the pretty stuff behind them!

As if the view from the top of Timp isn't stunning enough, I felt like I was playing in the clouds. I could just reach out and touch them!

And so, my journey toward learning how to work my camera has begun. I find myself constantly wanting to explore, learn, grow, go on adventures and, of course, take pictures of it all. 

So if you have any great places to explore, let me know! If you feel like adventuring with me, come along! And above all, if you have feedback, tell me! 

It's only just the beginning!