Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Learning from Each Other


One of my favorite things about the community of online photographers/artists is the willingness of people to share their knowledge with each other. Want to know how someone captured that perfect image? Just ask and they'll be happy to tell you. What were their settings, what lens did they use, etc.? No secrets, just a willingness to share with a fellow artist.

Over the years, I think I have learned more from other photographers, scrapbookers, and digital artists than I have from any class I've taken. I have a couple of friends, one who is a more experienced photographer than I am and one who is more of a beginner and I love shooting with both of them, learning and teaching and sharing.

A perfect example of this willingness to share was Deanna's post last week sharing the links for several beautiful fonts. I know I am a bit of a fontaholic and she pointed me in the direction of some I hadn't seen. Several times I have asked Maria Chiesa (echie52) about the word art she has used on her photos and she has always given me the information about where I can find it. I now have a little treasure trove of wonderful word art that I would have never known about if she hadn't shared her knowledge with me. The word art I used on the photo at the top of this post is from Sue Cummings at O'Scraps. I use a lot of Sue Cummings' word art since discovering her through Maria.

Then last week I saw an amazing image on our own Kim Stevens' blog, Picking Poppies, where she talked about a texture she had used. I fell in love with it and immediately wanted to have it. I e-mailed her and she was quick to tell me exactly where I could find it. It is from Pixel Dust Photo Art and it is the Digital Virtuosity Texture Set. I used the Soft Sunset texture from that set on the image above.

We learn from each other. We teach others what we know and others teach us. Maybe there are other types of communities out there that are as giving of their time and knowledge but I know I am so grateful to be here with all of you who teach me something every day. Our Focusing on Life community strives to be a place where you can come to learn and be inspired and a lot of times you end up inspiring us.

As you are reading this, six of the ten of us here at FOL are at Shutter Sisters Oasis in Palm Springs, California, learning and sharing with other artists and I know we will come back with a lot of things we will in turn share with you.  Here's a little peek of the six of us at Oasis:


A special "hello" to the four of our FOL sisters who were not able to join us on this adventure. We miss you and hope that the next get together is one that includes all of us.

I hope whenever you have a question you will feel free to ask it and I hope you will continue to share your images in our Flickr group so that we can in turn be inspired by you.  Thank you all for being a part of this wonderful sharing community!





15 comments:

heyjudephotography said...

Yes, yes, yes to the sharing, but can I just jump straight to the photo of the six of you together please? This is just so wonderful to see you ladies together! This photo just makes me so happy. When we all get together somewhere, some day, we will need a bigger frame! Share your little hearts out out there in Palm Springs. Share with us when you get back! Hope you are having a blast! Miss you guys! (And, P.S. - you all look fabulous!!)

Danielle said...

I totally agree!!! I have learned so much from fellow bloggers....they have all been so willing to answer all my crazy questions...I was even blessed to have a precious blogger send me her book "Canon Rebel T3 For Dummies" book when she no longer needed it....this community has been a blessing beyond words.

Carol said...

OK THATS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR! I am in a family of good-looking sisters!!. Honestly - i saved this immediately and I took time to zoom in and look at each of your "wittle faces". So great to see you all together! So weird to know, and yet not know you! I can see in each face the soul that draws me to you. You look just like the people I am always drawn to hang out with.
I also love the cleverness of the pose with the big frame So cute! ANd per your words, just this morning Kim direted me to an insg painterly app that I had fun over breakfast with (check it out o IG)
Keep having fun girls and keep 'em coming!

Kim Klassen said...

oh my gosh... this photo of you makes me all kinds of happy..... it's so beautiful.... you are all so lovely.............

so happy to be here with each of you......it's all so good....

xo, Kim

Unknown said...

I so enjoyed reading this post! I am so eager to learn more, and just discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago (I'm not sure how!). I am learning everyday. I have started my own photo-journal blog: The Seeing Eye (http://photojournalseeingeye.blogspot.com). I cannot wait to hear about Oasis, either! I so wish there were something like that here on the East Coast. If I knew enough about how to start something like that, I would! Take good notes and share with us!

heyjudephotography said...

Olivia, so glad you are here with us. We want everyone to feel like they're a part of our little family. Welcome, welcome. And, now I'm off to check out your photo-journal blog!

Claudia said...

What a grand family photo!! Like many families... sometimes its not the entire group!! We still will have our opportunity -- but until then represent us well and soak in all the FAB for us all!! Then of course share!!

Lovin you from UTAH... be safe and have a blast!

HUGS

Claudia

AFishGirl said...

What everyone else said! I just made Fishboy do a quiz and give the names. He needed some prompting but he did very well, considering. Enjoy it all and yeah, more pictures!

Unknown said...

Be warned! It's AMATEUR! I want so much to be "pro," but never feel I'm there yet!

Carol said...

Atta boy, Fishboy !

Carol said...

Hey Kim, so nice to welcome you to our blog! You've been an inspiration to us all for a long time! Take good care of my life sisters out there . Maybe I can swing it next year
Thanks for your sweet message!

Carol said...

You are off to a great start. I can see you learning every post! Keep up the good work, and welcome to our family

AFishGirl said...

I just laughed and choked on my own saliva (which sounds more polite than my own "spit." Ha! Carol, I'll pass on the praise to him.

Michele.NYC said...

Terri- I am so glad you posted that picture...so wonderful that you are all in the same place. I've already e-mailed Carol and am going to to everything in my power to be there next year. Have a wonderful time and keep posting on IG, I am loving every single image!

Kim Stevens said...

Oh I just adore this picture of all of you and LoVe that frame!! And Terri, that texture is so awesome isn't it . . . looks perfect with your photo! Really looking forward to hearing more about your worldly experiences together!! xo

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