Category: Project of the Month

February’s Project: Learning to use a Nikon DSLR

January has come and gone so I need a a project for the month of February. I am ready to jump into learning how to use this fabulous camera that the family gave me for Christmas- a Nikon D3300. I have no goals to set with this project because at this point, I have NO idea how to use this grand device. But Imma gonna learn!!

I’ve been interested in photography for some time and am blown away with what I have captured using either a Blackberry or iPhones-

Blackberry, 2009; Treasures Collected, Morro Bay, CA
Blackberry, 2009; Treasures Collected, Morro Bay, CA

I love this photo of treasures we collected from Moro bay in 2009.

Taken with a Blackberry Curve

I went on to snap even better pics with iPhones- 3s, 4s and 5s models-

Cedar and Mistletoe Idyllwild, Ca iPhone 4s
Cedar and Mistletoe
Idyllwild, Ca
iPhone 4s
Boston All Saints Way 2011
Boston MA North End, All Saints Way iPhone 4s
Jelly Beans
Feeling snacky? Easter, 2014 iPhone 5s

I started a board on Pinterest to keep my favorite photos that I had taken all in one spot:

…or two:

I can’t wait to see what I can learn to do with a much better camera!

January’s Project: How do I Drive This Thing?

Just do what the guy says and we will all be safe...
Just do what the guy says and we will all be safe…

Three days into January and I’m still finding something new to do. Every day! WOO HOO! What are the bets that I can keep this up for another three days?

How about a project for the month? That sounds good to me. To quote the great Captain Picard, I’ll “Make it so.”

JANUARY’S PROJECT:

FIGURE OUT HOW IN THE WORLD DOES ONE SET UP AND MANAGE A BLOG?

(Now that I’ve dated myself with that ST-TNG reference above, I’ll get to the point…)

Hopefully, by the end of the month I will have figured out how to incorporate pictures, establish links with social media sites, choose what this blog will look like on screen (WordPress calls this the THEME, see? I am learning, YOW!) And while I figured out what a sticky post is,what the heck is a slug?

Lucky for me search engines exist, and these three sites will be great helps in this project:

From WordPress-

http://learn.wordpress.com/get-started/

A great infographic-

http://www.topwebhostinggeek.com/how-to-use-wordpress-features-and-functionalities-infographic.htm#sthash.PmdOKhSg.dpuf

And a whole ton of links and explanations from WordPress blogger Gretchen Louis-

http://gretchenlouise.com/become-savvy-inside-wordpress/

So, if you are an experienced blogger and have some great tips for a n00b like me, please share! What did you do to learn how to navigate WordPress, Blogger or your platform of choice?

Jean Luc Picard says "Here's to you, awesome n00b blogger!"
Jean Luc Picard says “Here’s to you, awesome n00b blogger!”
Everyone should try new things every day!
Everyone should try new things every day!