I am taking a photography class which I am really excited about.  I like taking pictures but frankly I know next to nothing about the science behind it, the lingo or formal techniques.  Basically, my style is this: take lots of pictures of what you like and hope that a handful turn out.  Most of the time this plan/strategy works out okay but this summer I bought a new digital camera.

[caption id="attachment_2276" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Detail on a Building in Rome"]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/img_1895.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2276" title="Rome Architecture" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/img_1895.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption]

I bought the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. It's a really wonderful camera but I think it's smarter than I am. It takes great pictures. Or maybe I take great pictures with it. Either way, the one thing I know for sure is that it can do more than I've been letting it do and this is because I don't know enough about the camera or photography to really optimize my use of the camera.

So when I had a chance to learn more about photography, practice new techniques and get feedback on my photos I jumped at the opportunity. <!--more-->It's also great motivation to get my camera out, look at the world with a creative/artistic eye and actually do something with all of the photos I've taken over the last year and a half.

I've been using <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/">flickr.com</a> to share and store my photos. On a whole, I like flickr but here's the question: do I upgrade to a pro-account? It's $25 a year for unlimited photo uploads and storage.  What's good about the pro-account besides unlimited photo storage? Well, you can make folders to store and to sort you photos, access to the original files and even stats on my flickr account.  The other thing that's really prompted me to consider this upgrade is this message: Once you hit 200 photos, you'll need to upgrade to a Flickr Pro account or you'll only be able to see your most recent 200 photos. Right now I am at 171 photos so I am getting close to the 200 photo limit.

Thoughts? Ideas? Advice? Do you love flickr? Is there some better option?

Anyhow more on my photography class to come! (And I hope some great photos to follow as well!!)