getting back into old habits.

during finals week i needed to take a break. so we went outside with all our kids.
this was the first time in a long long while that i just explored an area with my camera. as sad as that statement is.
i was never completely comfortable with my digital SLR. so using it and being out of practice wasn't the most incredible thing ever. but it was fun. and i got some ok shots considering i was only shooting for a few minutes.
i should take a class on how to use my camera. as in teach me what combonation of buttons and dials i have to have it set on to get the look i want. i get the basics. but i don't know how to make it do exactly what i want it to do all the time. i only shoot in color, because i don't know how to set it up to dark good B&Ws.
i never thought in color before this camera. i still think in black and white sometimes. i miss crisp blacks, pure whites, and shades of gray.
my goal for myself in the next few months is to become friends with my digital. if i can befriend it, and get to know it, i won't hold such a grudge against it.
at least that is what i am hoping for.

all of these photos are not touched up or manipulated. just straight up shot as. except the first one was cropped a little bit.