The first photo I take with a new camera is of Maria, for love and luck. I had a long and rough night with my new camera, but we are learning to love and understand one another.

I think it was appropriate to catch her carrying all of our Amazon boxes to the garbage cans outside.

I see this as an art camera, as the camera I use to make art as opposed to regular photography, which captures my life. I think this morning was a good start.

I was up until four a.m. freaking over things. I’m settling down.

First, a dying daisy, the camera is amazing at shadows:

Then, our “Books” sign, one of our oldest things. In  Hebron, I had a “Worms” sign on the porch, and people kept knocking on the door looking to buy worms. I replaced it with a 100-year-old “Books” sign which still hangs on our porch. No one has ever stopped to buy books.

The sign is an antique. Note the detail.

The windowsill gallery is a good place to experiment with the Leica. This camera was worth every penny. I focused on the lights, I liked the softening of the plants.

The only way I know to learn a new camera is to take a lot of photos. I learn something with each one. This weekend, I’ll shoot and shoot and shoot. I see why people make such a big deal out of Leica cameras.

This is the least expensive camera Leica has ever made and the most expensive camera I’ve ever bought. My Canon and lenses are on the way to New York City for trade-in.