left on walnut

Some of what I have learned about photography:

1. Light is tricky. I think I have enough but when I look at photos later on the computer, they can still seem dull.
2. My lens works better when not at full zoom. When the lens is way out there, photos are not crisp.
3. Some of the best photos with this lens are shot at f 8.0 or so, rather than at the extreme stops. I don’t know why. Could be user error.
4. My time as a photographer: 30% reading how-to blogs, watching instructional videos online, and reading the manual; 30% arranging stuff and lights; 30% messing with photos in Lightroom; 2% taking photos; and 8% making Tom come look at the photos I’ve taken. He’s wonderful. He always finds something nice to say.

Here’s stuff in the top right drawer of my daughters’ dresser: