Off and on over the past few weeks, I’ve been at my desk, the surface awash in papers, pens, camera lenses, and Apple devices.  The elusive time I’ve been craving to set my work life to rights has materialized and I don’t want to waste it.  In an attempt to make the best use of this gift, I’ve scrapped my previous practice of crafting a labyrinthine to-do list in favor of selecting one task to do all the way through completion. It’s much for challenging than I anticipated.  The payoff, however, is insanely more gratifying.

I’ve chosen about five areas that I want to cultivate: Writing, Family Life, Fitness, Self, and Photography. And yes, I notice that those same areas are the ones I write most about on this blog.  Each day, I’ve chosen one of those areas and spent my time reading, brain-storming, note taking, and creating. Each day, I’ve gotten sidetracked by Pinterest, Tumblr, Bloglovin’ and Facebook.  Eventually, I redirect myself back to my keyboard and start writing.  Usually, as I’m hitting my stride, someone is hungry, needs help in the bathroom, or it’s time to pick someone up from some activity.  If I could just bypass the pre-work foolishness and get down to business, could you imagine how productive I could be?! *le sigh* a girl can dream.

I’m still working through my list of interview questions from the photography blog, Click It Up a Notch.  These are a series of photographer interviews that I read several months ago.  The more I read, the more my mind sparked and fired, ideas pinging around faster than I could grab them.  If reading about other photographers created such a response, what would happen if I posed those same questions* to myself?   Over the next few weeks, we’ve been finding out.  I’m a little more than half-way done. If I’m perfectly honest, it’s starting to feel a bit like homework.  Of course, being the Type A, super student that I am — I crush it in the homework department.  Gold Stars all around!

*photographer interview questions courtesy of Courtney Slazinik of Click It Up a Notch.

What Type of Camera and Lenses Do You Shoot With?

Currently, I’m working with a NikonD5000.  I bought it about six years ago knowing absolutely nothing about DSLRs.  At the time, the price tag was enough to give me chest pains, especially considering I didn’t know the first thing about how to get a return on my investment.  There was much time spent in the library, poring over books, and lots of time just pointing and shooting. I took classes, where I promptly learned that my body style was for “amateur photographers” as opposed to “serious photographers”.  I seriously shelled out money for the camera and this class, how about that?

A for lenses, over time, I’ve picked up a few beyond my kit lens that I really love.  It’s difficult to choose a favorite since they all serve different purposes.   Since lenses can be quite pricey, I’ve used Lens Pro To Go to test out lenses and figure out which ones I’d like to add to my rotation. Other times, photog friends clean out their closets and under their beds, turning up glass that they’re ready to part with for a decent price.

When I’m working, I’ve got my 18-55mm, my 50mm prime, and my 70-200mm.  Of the three, I’d say the 70-200mm is my favorite. It’s pretty amazing.  When I was doing wedding photography, that was my girl Friday.  I was able to get fantastic shots without being obtrusive during key moments of the ceremony because the focal length was so versatile.  Hands down, that lens is one of the best purchases I made.