Learning Curves
They say old dogs can’t learn new tricks. When my now ex-husband and I were first dating his father had two dogs that lived mostly out in the yard. Seven-year-old Princess kept herself entertained by chewing on rocks (and had whittled-down razor sharp teeth to prove it!). I figured she was bored…and since sometimes I would be there while my then boyfriend was sleeping (he worked odd hours) or working, I decided to spend some time with Princess. We started out just going for walks but she was so attentive I figured I would try teaching her a couple things. She ate it up and we were soon in the obedience ring claiming trophies and perfect scores. The point of the story? At seven years old, she was the fastest learner I have ever known. The other point of the story? Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.
I’m a pretty old dog…and I’m trying to teach myself some new tricks – film-making, vlogging, and now, shooting myself with a wireless shutter release. It sounds so simple, but there are endless mistakes to be made.
Like this…
And this…
It’s one thing to make the camera take a picture from a distance. It’s another thing to get the subject in focus! And get all the desired body parts in the frame! So I hope you’ll bear with me as I master this new trick. This time of year (early darkness) it’s harder than ever to get people to take blog pictures for me so I’m going to have to rely on this new method quite a bit. I *will* get better (woof!) but it may take a little time.
The other new trick I’m working on is video-ing (it’s probably a little optimistic and premature for me to call what I’m doing “film-making”!) and vlogging. It’s *really* time-consuming and not nearly as “fixable” as photography. So my YouTube vlogs are going to be bad…until they’re not. I’m a person that learns by doing, so…I’l just keep doing until I learn.
Me standing in a hole, next to a garbage can. I’m knocking it out of the park with my selfie photography, oui?
This mauvey pink chenille cardigan is the one from the newest video “Plus Size Fall Haul Part 2” (could that BE a more compelling title? How can you NOT watch it?). I put it over the polka dot dress that you last saw under a wine-colored duster in a What I Wore This Week post, here.
It’s finally cold enough for the fleece-lined footless tights. Yay? The polka-dotted Karen Kane dress is my favorite swing dress style and this one is in a nice weight fabric that just skims over the body and doesn’t show off any lumps or bumps.
PS – here’s a long-ago picture of Princess (photo right) and skinny 20-something me with two of my girlfriend’s dogs.
And I have a new plus-size fall clothing haul up on YouTube – there are clothes from Charlotte Russe, JC Penney, Target, Gloria Vanderbilt and New Look.
Thanks for sticking with me and my learning curves!
What I Wore:
- Karen Kane polkadot swing dress, old, similar here and here
- Charlotte Russe mauve pink chenille cardigan
- Footless fleece-lined tights, old from Maurice’s, similar here
- Faux-leather black booties, old from Avenue, similar here
PPS – take a chance at winning a $500 shopping spree at Karen Kane, woohoo!
I’m linking up today with Linda at A Labour of Life: Life & Style for the Woman Over 50 who is wearing THE most amazing plaid suit today! Go check her out.
This post contains affiliate links and if you click on them I may be compensated. Compensated (whether via affiliate links, sponsored posts, etc.) content will always be labeled as such and I do so solemnly swear to always give my honest opinion and only recommend products that I truly believe to be useful, beautiful, wonderful and sometimes even magical.
Nancy
What happenend to your voice half way! Hahaha, it’s so funny!
Fashion Schlub
Oh gosh, my voice? What *did* happen?? I watched it through several times while editing and didn’t notice anything. Except when I started to tear up and had to suppress a little cry when I was talking about wearing the kitten sweater on a bad day. I’m such a sap.
Bettye
Fashion Schlub
Ha, I heard it! My voice gets sped up at the last sweater. Before I published I was playing around with speed, as the video is so so long I was wondering if I could speed it up the TINIEST bit, not enough to be noticeable but enough to take a minute or two off the total length. I realized it was VERY noticeable (as you heard!) so put it back to regular speed…but for some reason that last clip stayed at the sped up speed…and I don’t know how to change it now that it’s published! So….I added a note about it in the description box and I’m just leaving it as is 🙂 Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Bettye
Nancy
Ha ha ha, it was really funny! I liked it!
Fashion Schlub
So glad I was able to make you smile 🙂
Deborah Stinedurf
Uncle Fester…bahaha!! I love that you’re trying new things especially the videos. I have a collab opportunity that requires a video and I’ve never done one soooo….I might have to give it a try. You’re right, with practice you’ll get the hang of doing your own shots. I pretty much always do my own and there was definitely a learning curve! And how sweet was Princess? xo
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
PS…Have a fabulous and relaxing “avoiding people all day” day! I’m a huge fan of that myself! 🙂
Fashion Schlub
Do you have any tips for me on how to get ME in focus and not the garbage can, fence or trees? I FEEL like I’m lining myself up straight from the lens and yet…there were shots where I could only see just a corner of the pink cardigan and nothing else? Am I that “straightness” challenged?? Granted, THAT day was VERY windy…which wouldn’t explain me being totally out of frame but I wondered if the blowing leaves were catching the lens’ (lenses’?) eye instead of me? I had a little better luck on another day, but THAT day an audience (dog walker and town worker) gathered to watch and I was too self-conscious to keep going once I’d gotten the bare minimum of shots. But there were a lot more in focus and with all of me pretty much centered in the frame.
Anyway, I’m having a lovely day. Am working on Breakfast #2, a little YouTube watching, doing a little unpacking (yes, still), a little parade-watching…and so far have managed to keep most people at text-length except for one person I actually *wanted* to talk to and he got a phone call, but other than that, Hermitness Rules the Day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bettye
Dawn Lucy
Okay now I need a long chenille cardigan! You’re so cute, Bettye!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
Fashion Schlub
*Everyone* needs a long chenille cardigan! It’s like wearing a hug 🙂
Bettye
Julia @ When The Girls Rule
I loved the story of Princess! That was so sweet for you to give her something else to think about. I don’t have time now to look at your videos since I still have family in town but saw you in my inbox and realized I hadn’t checked in lately. I can’t help with photograph advice. I take tons of pictures and try different angles and places to stand and lighting and then just flipping through them after and hoping there are a few good ones and hoping I’ll remember how I got them! Hope you’re enjoying your holiday weekend!
Fashion Schlub
Oh, yeah, no need to waste your time on MY videos, please! Ha. Although this one turned out to be (accidentally) funny at the end when the speed sped-up and I’m talking like a cartoon character.
Enjoy your family!
xoxo Bettye