Fantastic field trip

As I mentioned recently, I signed up for a six-week course at the Cleveland Photographic Society. I have been taking pictures and trying to improve my photography for a few years now, probably since joining Blipfoto five years ago, but it has been hit-or-miss-self-taught-learning. Many of the pictures I see on Blipfoto inspire me, on so many different levels, and I felt the need to fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge of photography. Today a group from CPS went on a field trip to the Cleveland Mounted Police Stables, where we found a myriad of opportunities to practice and learn (photography, not riding the horses).

The instructors at CPS are all knowledgeable, helpful, and kind, and today's trip is a good example. My trip blip is Kolman, one of the instructors at CPS. Nancy, another instructor, set up an area in the stables so we could learn more about environmental portraiture. With her help (and her tripod) and Kolman as the model, I had an opportunity to learn a little about making portraits that won't embarrass the model...or the photographer. The whole experience was fun and energizing. I have posted other pictures from today's trip (blacksmith tools, mounted police regalia, and, of course, horses) in my Flickr photostream. Take a look if you have time. This has been a very busy day, and we're off now to see our middle daughter, Becky, and take her a belated birthday present. I will be back to visit your journals later on.