Goofing off in the backyard

Most days I come home from work, cook/eat dinner and then retire to my office to play games, read or surf the internet while Ann retreats into her office to study for school.   Sometimes she comes out of her office and pokes and prods me with her new medical instruments – which she’s getting much better at using – to practice her new skills.  While I generally moan and groan about this, in reality I don’t mind in the slightest.

Some nights, though,  we eschew the normal routine and do something a little different – and tonight was one of those nights.  While trying to decide what to make for dinner (rifling through our pantry trying to figure out what we even HAD to make), Ann made an offhanded comment about our neighbors bbq-ing. That in turn made me want to grill,  so we decided to go to the store and get some hamburgers to grill (and pick up a few other things we needed anyway).  So – off to the store we went.

When we came back, after putting away the groceries, I went outside to fire up the grill.   Ann followed me out,  school book in hand, to study outside on the deck while I grilled.   After starting the grill – I went and grabbed my camera to do some photography in the backyard.

And so it went – Ann intently studying on the deck while I wandered around the back yard taking photographs of anything and everything I could think of.   I used a short wide-angle lens to do nearly every shot I took – trying to get used to shooting in that format in preparation for a new lens I’m getting soon (a 10-20mm super wide angle).  I have to say I enjoy it a lot more than I thought I might.

I took some shots of plants,  of Ann,  of the grill and my yard in general.   For the first time in a few months I really enjoyed the photographic process and it has made me want to shoot more, and try new things again.   I also thoroughly enjoyed spending time in close proximity to Ann and grilling burgers for dinner.   I’m pretty happy with the photos I managed to snap as well – and look forward to doing more and improving as I do.

After dinner we did go our separate ways – Ann to her office and me to mine, though Ann did get some poking and prodding with her instruments in as well.   I think I’ve had my ears, eyes and nose checked more in the past few weeks than in the previous 27 years I’ve been on this planet.   I don’t mind, though – at least I know I’m healthy.

I also found out through a friend at work, a fellow photographer, about a photography club here in Indianapolis that meets weekly.  I’m considering checking this out as I want to a.) meet new photographers and b.) enhance my own skills and experience.  Photography comes in as my third favorite thing in life (behind Ann and computers, in that order).  I think it’s time I gave it a little more attention and nurture my fledgling skills.

For those wondering – all of the images in this post were taken this evening while out goofing off with Ann.   I posted a few more than these on my flickr page (linked to the right), if you’re interested in seeing more.