Blah on procrastination.

I didn't receive email, but there's a speed challenge at dp challenge. I found it in time to participate, and reported not getting an email to the site, since I sorta have the option for that set. Meanwhile, I'd put off working on my Repetition entry. Today was therefore spent in much photography. I think I got more ideas of what I do and don't want out of a camera out of today than out of all of my prior experimentation. Because today, I was trying to get specific photos.

It didn't work that well. I got some I liked in the end, but not my first-choice topic for repetition. That one had flaws where it couldn't work, as far as not being possible to set the composition up right, but I am glad I didn't realize that until later, as I also encountered lots of camera-related tangle-ups.

I don't think I am quite as ready or eager for manual as I was. I wanted all along to make sure I had auto, and I knew I wouldn't be good at the manual stuff at first...but the results were lousy. Well, okay. Some were merely poor and I think I managed one mediocre. Needless to say, after coming up with a new subject that could work compositionally, I remembered to take some of the photographs on auto settings....

I kinda like the control of manual. And it would probably let me get a few things I'd never get any other way, once I mastered it. I still want a camera with some manual control, maybe even a fair amount, but I won't trade off any auto features to get it. (Real, real relevant since the two cameras I'm considering so far are from the same line...one has better zoom and a couple other features. The other has scene settings that I think I'm really going to want more....) Meanwhile, I definitely like what the Coolpix can do when it's not being fumbled by someone just learning how to use manual controls. *G*

I had the photos by 6:30, but played games until 8, then realized I needed to prep and submit to two challenges by nine. Hence the procrastination title, up there....

The deck looked dry today. As long as the weather report holds true for a couple more days, it will be sealed by the end of the weekend. And in theory, I may get to watch a movie tomorrow. Scott went over to Dale's to game today and was going to stop and try to rent Stitch: the Movie for me. (I didn't know if he'd set the account up yet, or I'd rent it myself. But until he sets it up, I can't walk in and get the employee/family discount....) It was for sale in the store, so good odds it can be rented and I'm curious. We'll see if there were any to be rented, though, considering the timing. :)

I'm now reading Mercedes Lackey's Shadow of the Lion, the only fiction I have out from the library. I've been renewing it for most of the summer and figure I should actually read and return it. I came close to closing it and returning it as it bored me for a while, but I've found that if I flip-and-skim when it gets boring, it's kind of good when it's good.

I suspect I'm missing nuances. Two of those flip-and-skim sessions eliminated entire chapters told from the adversaries' point of view, which really, really was not holding my attention. On the other hand, missing nuances or not, I'm at least getting the book read. It's either that or return it without reading it, so....