I bought a used Fujifilm X-T30 a couple of weeks ago. It will take some time for me to learn a new setup after 15 years with my previous camera. A friend advised me to put it in full manual mode to get used to the settings, light meter, and the shape and weight of the camera in my hand. I did that, and I’m starting to get a feel for it. I’m still not there with exposure and white balance, but I’ll keep practicing.

I carry my little camera with me more frequently when I go places now, way more than with my previous camera, and I go out of my way to be able to photograph stuff. Like the first flowering trees I saw on my route to and from the aquatic center where our daughter has swim practice. In a landscape of nothing by gray twiggy branches, I saw something — a large shrub or a small tree — with yellow on it. I couldn’t see what this blooming tree was from the road, so today I pulled into a parking lot and trudged over spongy wet ground to get a closer look: witch hazel.

I adore my new Fuji. Now I just need days with sunshine for decent light. Either that or I need to learn how to best use the light of overcast days. I’d rather have sunshine, though. I’m still working with the 15-45mm kit lens that came with the camera, which I love for wide shots, and which works well for closeups, like the bee butt below, but I want a wider aperture. I’m saving for the lens I really want (a 35mm f 1.4), and I’m hopeful I’ll have it for spring’s full arrival.

In addition to my new camera, I’m also excited to try a new (to me) open source photo editing software, Darktable. Thanks to Donncha for that tip in our photography channel at work, to Paolo for talking to me about his Fuji, and to Brie for helping me through my first days of a camera I had no familiarity with. I’m lucky to work with a lot of talented photographers.