Although just a sampling, as you can see, my images have run the gamut from food to my dogs to everyday random sightings.  The great thing about a project like this is that it makes you think about photography everyday (or virtually everyday).  By doing so you are constantly viewing your surroundings as the next great photograph and hopefully improving your photography day by day.

In addition to the website, Days With My Father, Mr. Toledano has also published this collection in a book of the same title, Days With My Father.  Check out other Photography Books by Phillip Toledano too as his work is very thought provoking and well done.

While I was waiting at the side of a water basin for a duck or goose or heron (or anything really) to come into view I could see another photographer on the other side with a lens that looked more like a telescope.  They were obviously well prepared and well equipped for capturing wildlife, birds in particular.  My Sony Alpha 850 and 100-300 mm lens looked very amateur in comparison and it got me to thinking, was I wasting my time on birds?  Would that photographer with that equipment take a better picture every single time so I should not bother?  And if I was wasting time on birds, should I find one particular photographic subject and focus exclusively on it?  Wildlife? Landscapes? Portraits? Architecture?

I do not have the answer to these questions and they tend to only lead to more questions for me.  Why do I photograph?  What is my ultimate photography goal?

At this time I photograph for the love of photography.  I have never sold anything nor made a dime off my photography.  Someday I would love to photograph for a living – if I could photograph what I love.  But for now I am exploring all aspects of photography finding what I like, what I am good at and what may, someday, get me noticed.  The more I shoot the more I figure out what I like shooting.  And the more I shoot the more I love shooting.  So in the end, it does not matter that someone else has found their photographic niche and is probably good enough at it to invest thousands in a very professional lens.  What matters is that my photography gets better and my confidence in the images I produce improves.

When I was about it pack it up and head home last Sunday a family of geese, father, mother and five goslings, waded ashore right at my feet.  The young geese pecked at the shore for something to eat while the mother kept watch from the water and the father stood on shore keeping an eye on me.  The opportunity had come to me and my telephoto lens was not necessary for capturing this moment.  So lesson learned; have patience and keep shooting to continuously produce each image better than the one before.

to create a venue for local artists to show their work and be recognized for their talents. The league strives to increase artistic awareness and appreciation in their community and surrounding areas.

I joined recently to see if I can learn something from fellow artists and possible get some of my photography on display at some smaller local venues.  One of the perks of member ship is an artist profile on their site.  Check out my artist profile for The Gilbert Visual Art League.

Gifts On the High End

To get the obvious out of the way first, how about a Digital SLR Camera?  Prices can vary widely as do the quality and features of each camera.  Expect to spend around $500 on the low end all the way up to several thousand dollars for the most feature rich advanced professional cameras.  You generally can’t go wrong if you start with the three top brands, Canon, Nikon or Sony and then get the features best suited to your photographer’s level and ambitions.  Here are a few good choices:

$500 – $1000 Range

Canon EOS Rebel T1i with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Len

Sony Alpha A230 Digital SLR with 18-55mm & 55-200mm Lens

$1000 – $2000 range

Nikon D90 SLR Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-105mm VR Lens

Sony Alpha DSLR- A850 Full Frame Digital SLR Camera

$2000 and up

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera Kit with Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens

More Middle of the Road Gifts

If the camera itself is out of your budget, there is no need to worry.  The options for photography gifts for graduates are plentiful.  So for those more middle of the road gifts here are a few options:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 – The essential software for digital photographers.  Help the aspiring photographer give their images a final polish by giving them this software package.

Lenses – The prices of lenses vary significantly but you can almost always find something for at the mid-range budget level.  When lens shopping keep a few things in mind: quality can vary as much as price; know the camera brand you are buying for, there aren’t too many “universal” lenses (if any); if you are in doubt go with the old standby photography gift card.

On Camera Flashes – Even though many DSLRs have built in flashes, a on-camera flash attachment can make a big difference in lighting a subject.  A decent flash unit can be had for reasonable prices.  Be sure check the compatibility of the flash to the camera you are buying it for to make sure the two will work together.

On a Budget

Don’t let money stand in the way of getting your photography enthusiast graduate something they can use as they pursue their photography.  Here are several options that will not cost you much at all.

Magic Lantern Guides – These in depth guides are like a camera manual on steroids.  They go in depth on every aspect of almost all the major digital SLR cameras.  Even if your photographer has had their camera for a while a Magic Lantern Guide can be a valuable resource.  And for under $20 you can’t go wrong.

Batteries – A spare battery is a critical accessory for any photographer.   There is not too much worse than to be out shooting and have your battery die with no fully charge spare in your camera bag.  Find out the make and model of the camera your graduate is using and pick up a spare battery to make sure they never miss a shot.

Camera Bag – They may already have a camera bag, but my philosophy is you can never have too many and if you don’t have a Case Logic SLR Camera Holster Case then you don’t really have a camera bag.  This bag is versatile and extremely functional.  For about $30 your graduate will definitely thank you.

What is your goal or quest with your photography?

But it really forces you to keep your photography at the forefront of your mind every day and to keep yourself thinking about the next great shot.  It makes you use your photographer’s eye and see beyond the ordinary every day.  Even on those extra ordinary days.  Finally it allows you to share your work and solicited feedback from a very talented pool of fellow photographers.

I have put a link to my 365 photo gallery on Flickr in the sidebar of the blog.  Feel free to follow along on Flickr or even to join the group.