Business Writing

So, it's almost seven, which means that in about half an hour I'll be in a business writing course. Basically, I took this class to learn how to format a letter. I'll admit that business writing is not my passion, however, I have found some of the other students' sample writings to be quite interesting.

It appears that everyone falls into one of two categories: too mean or total doormat. I happen to be in the second group. The emails, letters and faxes that I send out at work all scream "Walk all over me! Don't bother to reply!"

In order to fix this, I have been instructed to set firm dates/deadlines with my clients, and to write more descriptive subject headings.

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

"The Photographer's Eye"

A few weeks ago I joined an evening photography class on a whim. Ten years ago, my father gave me an Olympus OM-1 camera. It spent the past decade in my sock drawer at my parents' house. During that span of time, it missed 2 family vacations, 4 years of college, 10 christmas celebrations and 3650 sunsets.

My interest in photography was sparked by a visit to a small art gallery in the Back Bay area of Boston, where I found inspiration in the gift shop. For $15 I was able to purchase & construct my first pin-hole camera. This is a type of camera which has no lens. Typically, these cameras take fuzzy pictures and need long exposure times.

My first roll of film was not worth printing, cautioned the photo-processing center that I brought my cardboard camera to. It appeared as though my camera had small openings which allowed the light to soak through and ruin the film.

Rather than try again with the pin-hole camera, I instead decided to have my father unearth my OM-1. It's worlds easier to use than my previously mentioned cardboard camera, however it's still far more difficult to use than a regular 'point-and-click' digital camera like most people use today.

My goal is to practice shooting objects in motion. My photography instructor has mentioned that moving objects are typically shot at a shutter-speed of 125 and up. I'd like to get pictures of byplanes, birds, kites - anything in the air.

Hopefully I will have a few photos on this blog soon, but until then, enjoy this photograph that I found on google.