I am taking a photography class, trying to learn how to use the manual settings on my camera. Let me just say that in doing so, I am taking A LOT of bad photographs. I took my camera to a quilt show this weekend and even though the quilts were stationary — just hanging there — I came away with many blurry or badly exposed photographs. I mean, how hard can it be?

Our homework assignment was to create motion blur using shutting speed; this is what I turned in. I wanted the yellow Auto Works sign to be in focus and a vehicle blurred. Although it was a very cloudy day, I think it is a bit overexposed.

They went that-a-way

I ate lunch at a sandwich shop and after finishing my meal, I sat at an outside table for a while taking my motion blur photos. A couple of employees came out on their break and teased me about doing undercover work. I assured them that I was harmless and explained that when I wanted an in-focus subject, it was blurry and when I wanted something blurry, it was in-focus. No one would hire me for surveillance work, that’s for sure.

Photograph properties:
f/36
1/10 sec exposure time
ISO-200
5 Max aperture
Spot Metering mode
55mm Focal length