Don't tell anyone...

... but I'm bringing Growing up Gibson back.

Stay tuned.

High Resolution

I've never really been into photography. Let me explain:

1) I've owned about 17... thousand cameras. I got my first camera in high school, and since then, I've been a serial camera hog. Every couple years I'll find some reason to buy yet another point-and-shoot that is simple—but usually, they are so simple, that I end up just using my iPhone instead. So the camera goes back in the drawer.

2) I know real photographers. I have some REALLY talented photographers for friends. I mean, have you seen Brad and Jen's photos? Or Brian Tropiano? Or Eric Staples? Or Emily Spence? Or Brandon Chesbro (who generously offered the photo above)? The list goes on and on. These people do photography for a living—so who am I to buy a nice camera?

3) Cameras are expensive... like really. I could never convince myself that a camera was really worth $500. (Insert iPhone defense again.) But after working for a while at Native and seeing all the high-resolution digital photography coming across my desk, I started to realize: maybe there is something nice about a camera with a few bells and whistles.

4) I'm insecure about my photos being bad. Really bad. I mean, let's face it you guys. I'm not the most technologically savvy lady out there. ISO? Shutter Speed? I don't know. And, to boot—we are absolutely inundated by media and images all day long—why do I need to contribute to the maddening array of perfectly styled shots that are driving the rest of us crazy with feelings of inadequacy?

So those were all my excuses.

But, I'm chucking them out the window. I bought a new camera. A nice one. Here's why:

1) I can get paid a lot more in the journalism world if I can also submit a few photos along the way.

2) I want to have beautiful pictures—not just instagram photos—to remember life by.

3) It's a new year. And I want to give it a shot. (see what I did there?)

4) I've earned enough money as a writer to invest in a new tool. And that's how I'm going to see my camera. As a tool. Hopefully you won't think that I'm one. 

So watch out. I'm hitting the streets with a camera in tow. Bad photos, good photos, mess ups, freak outs, spring time, video, summer heat, dogs, food, houses, people, smiles, tears... whatever. It's coming.