Question 1

I used to own a nice camera, but I sold it last year because I wasn't really using it. It was a Canon Kiss x4. I had it for a few years and it was a pretty good camera. I just didn't have the patience to keep track of all of the lenses and remember the settings. It's much easier to use my iPhone's camera, even if the quality isn't as good.

Question 2

This is the last photo I took (at the time of writing these answers). I took this photo last night after I made dinner. It's pasta with pesto, chicken, and broccoli. I wanted to remember this because it was the first time for me to make it and I often forget things I made. I plan to make this again in the future. I think it's a good photo because I it to remember this meal. I also like the colors in the photo.

Question 3

I don't really like having my picture taken. I'm camera shy because I worry about making a weird face. I know I worry too much, but there are so many photos I didn't like for some reason. I really love taking photos of other people and of animals and scenery.

Question 4

I have taken many great photos in the past, but the one that comes to mind now is a recent photo that is now on my phone's lock screen so I can see it many times throughout the day. It's a simple selfie, but it means a lot to me because it's one of the rare photos I have with my new boyfriend. We live a little far from each other, so we can't meet often. Sometimes our favorite photo doesn't have to be the most artistic. It just has to be meaningful to us.

Question 5

I did own some fairly expensive equipment with my ex. We had a ring light, umbrellas, reflectors, and a backdrop. We used them for a while and did a few freelance jobs. We did several portrait sessions in Hyogo prefecture.

Question 6

I am pretty good at taking portraits. When we did some freelance work, I often took the camera because I have a good eye for creative angles that can bring out a person's best features. It's also important to communicate with the subject and have fun to lighten the mood. When the subject relaxes, you get better photos. I really loved doing that work. I wish I could have done wedding photography. I would love to capture those special moments. One fun event that I worked at was a Japanese festival. I took photos and video of local people carrying the portable shrine in the countryside. Everyone was so excited and the photos and videos were incredible.

Tough Vocabulary

Question 1

I bought an Insta360 Go 2 camera last June. It's an action camera. I love its portability and my favorite feature is that I can document moments hands-free. It's only about 2 cm. in length and it's not bulky to carry around at all.

Question 2

The last photo I took was of me and my husband. It was taken last Sunday during one of our morning strolls. I took the photo because I noticed we were unintentionally wearing the same shirt. It's not such a good photo but I like the story behind it.

Question 3

I tend to be awkward in front of a camera. I'm not camera shy but I'd prefer if someone gives me a few seconds to prepare before taking the shot. I have droopy eyes so I easily end up looking sleepy or bored if someone takes a stolen shot of me.

Question 4

One photo that comes to my mind is our family portrait taken on December 2020. It was our first family portrait taken by a professional photographer. We went to a photo studio and chose a Christmas theme for our photo session. I cherish this photo because during that time it was also the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were a lot of overwhelming emotions brought about by the pandemic and we realized we should document more memories to celebrate life.

Question 5

I bought a drone camera once. It was a DJI drone but it was one of the cheaper lines for amateur hobbyists. The first time I took it out was during our family beach trip. I was so excited to use it that I didn't consider the wind conditions at the beach that day. I managed to maneuver it on air for a few minutes but the strong wind took over and blew it away. I lost control of it and just stared at it while it flew farther away. Somehow I'm relieved that I started with their cheapest line.

Question 6

I don't think I'd be good at documenting weddings. I tend to get emotional attending such intimate ceremonies. It's a positive feeling but my emotions will definitely get in the way if I was a wedding photographer. I might have some knack for photojournalism. I used to be the editor-in-chief of our school paper and I enjoyed writing feature articles of campus events.

Tough Vocabulary