So I’m still thinking about snorkeling in Grand Cayman this October. Since homeland to me refers to an archipelago of more than seven thousand islands, which is more islands than the entire Caribbean, you’d think I wouldn’t be this excited about the prospect of a few hours of snorkeling. But I’m a victim of flashy, colorful tourism ads that claim you haven’t really snorkeled until you’ve snorkeled in Grand Cayman. The brainwashing is so complete that it’s managed to blur traumatic childhood memories involving deep blue waters and Jacques Cousteau. (Someday my brother will stop thinking of me as a goldfish mass murderer.)
Plus, I really do love the water. And I love swimming around fish. Just don’t ask me to touch them. Or ask them to touch me. Else I’ll start making crying noises underwater and make like I’m trying to shake them off of me. Trust me, I speak from experience.
Anyway. I thought I should maybe get to downloading some pictures from last year’s Caribbean trip before I embark on the next one. Besides, my poor husband has been asking to see just one photo – any photo – from our trip for months now. As I’m viewing them, I’m asking myself why I haven’t upgraded from my measly 1.3 megapixel point-and-shoot camera (Google’s translation plug-in just volunteered the fact that “measly” is ridiculo in Spanish. How apt.) It’s embarrassing how other people’s cell phones have better resolution. I suspect my six-year-old niece can sketch with higher resolution. It’s really sad. And ridiculous.
It’s a good thing I like taking pictures of sunsets and waves and clouds and random kids. Because not even 1.3 megapixels can hide the natural beauty of, well, nature.
Or maybe my eyesight is going and these look pretty only to me. Just in case, I’ll only post a few of them. Here’s a bunch that I like. The rest I’ll put in here for safekeeping.
I think I like clouds. A lot.
these are startling in their beauty. I am humbled.
Ah. Remember when I said in your blog that your photos don’t need Photoshop?
Well, mine do. That’s all Photoshop, baby. It gives my washed out photos more vivid color, the cropping makes it look like I’m better at framing than I really am, and all those other things you can tweak (I’m still learning) help cover up the fact that 1.3MP can hardly do nature any justice. (Notice how I’m really careful about adding that .3 to the 1.)
Your photos inspire me to resurrect my love for photography. I have also been newly motivated by the discovery that if I do go ahead and spring for a digital SLR, I’ll be able to put my old lenses to work again. Yay! I may not be at the mercy of my county’s Office of Temporary Assistance just yet after all.
Thank you so much for your compliment. Can you see me blushing in embarrassment?
Jumping up and down…can you teach me photoshop?
Haha. Sure thing! Except, that would be like the blind leading the blind. But you’d be like that Shaolin master in Kung Fu with all your heightened senses, gracefully sidestepping rocks and railings, and I’d be tripping all over, breaking glasses and stuff.
These are so beautiful. I agree with Shrew…. breathtaking!
I hope you’ve got your tickets booked and your new digital SLR ordered for Grand Cayman.
Hey brc! Thanks for the compliment. Yep, trip is all booked and final. The digital SLR may not make it into the budget by then, but there’s hope for it yet!
(Of course, that means it’ll bump down the MacBook Pro. And the Tyros 2. Dang.)
The pictures are wonderful. I have also learned the joys of photoshop — because you can crop out that one person who, at the final moment, as you press the shutter, walks into the frame. Looking forward to the next set!
Dr. Bob! So nice to see you here. Thanks, but really, the photos look good because the scenery was really just that good. Even I couldn’t mess it up.
Must learn how to do that cropping people away thingie. Could you imagine if we could do that in real life?