Taken at Longwood Gardens on my first outing.

Taken at Longwood Gardens in PA at the Childrens Garden. This is a

snapshot of a girl who was playing with the fountain, and I couldn't

resist taking her picture.

What I've done, over the years, is to take several photos of each event. Everyone is different because things change. Learning technicals, like lighting, placement of camera, lens, film, depth of field, come from books, classes, other people and outstanding web sites like photo.net.

However, once I'm doing the photographing I shove the technicals into the back up my head. I hope, that instinctively, I use them in the creative process. Review time will tell where I can do better. And it's always, "can do better," at least for me. With this photo the child changes. She's alive and things like facial expressions, body movement, like the hands, change all the time. I tend to concentrate on what I'm photographing. It's like a great classical musical performance that you've never heard before and you're anticipating the score. Where's it taking me?

The same for photography. Where's the story? So I take numerous photos, different angles, look them over, at the end of the day or whenever I can view them. Toss the images around and see if it tells something.

And I try to find areas where I can improve. I'm always doing that. It's fun! Variety. Each day is different. How can I tell the story a little bit better the next time?

Questions! Questions! Questions! Always searching, never getting enough. That's why photography is never boring! It makes life very interesting!

I always feel as if I'm new, just beginning. Taking pictures for over 45 years. Still exciting. Wonderful! Beautiful!

Maybe get to the level of the child. Move around. Get in the fountain and look up at her! Kinda crazy idea. Just a thought. Get out and explore.

Have fun!