My Weekend in Manual Mode

This weekend update is brought to you by: I Finally Understand Manual Mode Productions. 

Mj has been out of the country for two weeks so my social calendar has slowed down significantly.  Apparently I have no life without him.  I only had two things planned.  I went to a fight party at a friends house on Saturday night.  I still have no idea who was fighting or who won because I'm not really that interested in MMA.  I only went to see my friend and hang out.  And eat the pizza.  And drink her Light Raspberry Smirnoff Vodka.  Good stuff.  My parents came down to see me on Sunday and we had a really nice day together going out to lunch and hanging out.    

Mom and Dad
It's been an entire year since Mj brought home the Canon Rebel DSLR camera.  I don't know what my problem is but I've been really lazy about figuring out how to use the thing.  I had no clue what I was doing in manual mode.   My primary technique was to switch the settings around haphazardly until the image stopped being black.  I didn't understand why the image was black, too bright or blurry.  Without understanding what each setting actually does it's kind of impossible to know that so it took me forever to get a decent shot.  I found a great website and finally took the time sit down and read up on Shutter, ISO and Aperture.  It finally clicked for me what each setting does and what effect they have on images.  It was so exciting to be able to apply the information and make somewhat educated decisions about my settings rather then blindly guessing.  It took a while but I think I'm finally starting to understand this fancy camera.




Still working on that novel.  Sigh.  It is such a work in progress.  I really need to figure out where this story is going.  I put on my Pandora Classical Music for Studying station and sat my butt down at the dining room table for hours on Saturday and Sunday.  With the house all to myself and nothing but time there were no distractions and no excuses.


After doing the 30 day shred at home going to the gym just feels like the biggest pain in the butt ever.  That's okay because I'm still getting my fitness on.  Saturday was Power Yoga with Rodney Yee, Sunday was Element Ballet Conditioning and Monday was 30 Day Shred Level 3. I was planning to schlep myself to the gym today after work but I left my gym bag at home.  I swear it was an accident.  I may or may not go but either way I'll still work out.


I drank more coffee then usual.  After my work out on Monday I busted out my tiny little old school Mr. Coffee machine.  I rarely drink coffee on weekends when I'm away from work and I pretty much never make it myself.  My favorite go to spot for coffee is 7-11.  I went there on Saturday so I saved myself the $1.25 and made it myself.  It's no Keurig but it works.  Breakfast was Ezekial Bread toast with yummy melty Peanut Butter on top.  I sat my tired legs down to watch Breaking Amish.  

There was  a lot of TV and movie watching and wine drinking.  Just a glass or two every day.  Does that make me an alcoholic?  I'm hoping not.  The movies were Open Road, Admissions and Warm Bodies.   Open Road was just okay but I really liked the other two.  I found a really good TV show from some foreign film channel on You Tube called The Model Scouts and got hooked.  It was so good.  I stayed up to the wee hours of the night on Friday and Saturday watching it.  What is it with Lifetime movie network?  They are off the chain with all their movies and TV shows about murder.  I had it on in the background half watching but mostly not.  On Saturday it was back to back episodes of I Killed My BFF and Killer Kids.  Then on Monday in honor of Labor Day (get it? Labor) there was back to back movies about women so obsessed with having a baby that they lie, cheat, steal and kill in order to get one.  What are they trying to tell us?

It was a great weekend.  I'm no pro with the camera but at least I'm finally learning.

20 comments

  1. Hi Cece! New to your blog and can't wait to follow along. I was in the SAME boat about the switching camera modes until something appeared last year and have finally found settings that I love! Anyway, sounds like a great weekend, especially the pizza and wine parts. :)

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  2. I drank a lot of wine over the weekend too. Especially on Saturday. Lol. I also try not to drink coffee on the weekends but it's the only time I get to drink flavored coffee made just the way I like it so I always fail to take that much needed break from the coffee-crack. That adds up to 7 days a week of something I know I should be drinking in moderation. I'm glad you had a relaxing weekend too. It seems to be the general theme running through all the blogs I've read today. And, oh, keep it up with that novel. You have one reader waiting in line:)

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  3. and now you won't turn back! once i figured out the manual settings on my camera i refuse to use the auto mode!

    your pictures look great :)

    if you're an alcoholic then I'm an alcoholic and we can be alcoholics together :)

    sounds like a nice weekend! glad you got to see the parents :)

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  4. so i usually don't like weekend posts about what people did, but for some reason, i always enjoy reading yours! I don't know if that makes me a stalker or a creeper or what, but you write really good weekend posts : ) Plus, I also want to get a DSLR camera and learn how to use one. Maybe next year : )

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  5. Great pictures. I got a nice camera too and haven't used it much. My husband fusses at me for not using it. I really like the movie Admissions. Sounds like a laid back weekend. It's so great that you hang out with your family so much.

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  6. This sounds like such a nice and relaxing weekend. Sucks that MJ is not around but it's nice to not be super busy with events.

    I got a DSLR almost 2 years ago and I still don't know how to use most of the features. It's about time I get on it.

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  7. I really need to read my camera manual, too. I've had my DSLR for um, five years now, ha. The last time I told myself to read the manual I didn't really feel like I'd understand it, but I feel like I've learned a lot about photography in the past few months from, well, being a semi-pro photographer (I know, so backwards!) so it's really time to try again!

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  8. I was all over that Going into Labor (Day) marathon, too :) Your pics are so clear! Making a mental note to take the time and adjust my camera settings also ;)

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  9. Model Scouts? I have never heard of it. Like ANTM but British-style? Sounds interesting.

    What a nice weekend. I do regret not being in the USA for Labor Day...it's such a relaxing holiday.

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  10. i really need to sit down and learn manual mode too...have any tutorial recomendations?

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  11. I saw Warm Bodies and really liked it. I thought it was light-hearted and cute, which is a great departure from the usual zombie movie.

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

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  12. Sounds like you had a great weekend. It is very easy to get hooked on the Lifetime movies. Can't imagine life without my Canon. Good luck on the novel! Can't wait to buy a copy.

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  13. Sounds like such a lovely weekend! That is so cool that you're writing a novel. I'd love to do that some day, but my ideas are all over the place.

    I'm glad you're getting the hang of your camera. It took me a while to get mine down but I think I've finally got it!

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  14. well, you are doing great with your camera!

    congrats on writing a novel. i wrote one last year and i used NANOWRIMO to get it done. it really made all the difference!!

    morgan

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  15. Hi Cece! I just stumbled across your cute blog. Your parents are so cute!! I would be totally bored at a fight party too :) Like you I'd just go to enjoy the pizza and company! Have a great weekend!!

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  16. these photos are great! how cute are your parents??

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  17. ^^ ditto to Faith's alcoholic comment. ;) This looks like a great weekend!

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  18. I have had my camera for awhile now, and I do shoot in manual but I still don't know much about it. I wish I would sit down and learn! I want to see Warm Bodies, glad you liked it. I thought it looked good the first time I saw the preview!

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  19. I've been reading a bit on how to use a DSLR because I'll be getting a Canon pretty soon. I've also been reading up on the different types of lenses. It seems like you've gotten the idea of shooting. I especially love the picture of the wine glass. Like you, I also have about 1-2 glasses of wine in the evening. I happened to discover pomegranate wine and I just have to have a glass.

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  20. I love the 30 day shred! I definitely haven't been to the gym as much since using that DVD.

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