The catalyst was my mother’s 75th birthday trip to Paris. To mark the occasion, my husband gave me my first digital camera- an Olympus EPL1. In January 2011 I took my first lessons – me and my Olympus. I remember being the only micro 4/3 in the room. I took every DSLR class and every Lightroom class. Some, I even took twice. As I learned my interest grew and as it grew I wanted to learn more. Shortly thereafter I started taking private lessons.In retrospect, those early pictures are not great photos. They lack exposure, composition, focus and depth. That said, I treasure them as I do the memory of the trip and hope that I will soon return with her to collect more memories and better photos.This photo was taken outside the Place des Vosges as we toasted our first afternoon in the city of lights. The effervescence of the champagne matched my anticipation and excitement at the adventure before us.

The catalyst was my mother’s 75th birthday trip to Paris. To mark the occasion, my husband gave me my first digital camera- an Olympus EPL1. In January 2011 I took my first lessons – me and my Olympus. I remember being the only micro 4/3 in the room. I took every DSLR class and every Lightroom class. Some, I even took twice. As I learned my interest grew and as it grew I wanted to learn more. Shortly thereafter I started taking private lessons.

In retrospect, those early pictures are not great photos. They lack exposure, composition, focus and depth. That said, I treasure them as I do the memory of the trip and hope that I will soon return with her to collect more memories and better photos.

This photo was taken outside the Place des Vosges as we toasted our first afternoon in the city of lights. The effervescence of the champagne matched my anticipation and excitement at the adventure before us.