Saturday, May 16, 2009

Bike Baby


Long Beach, long boardwalk, tall bike, LensBaby.
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Tell a Swan Telephoto



Well not quite telephoto, this was actually taken at only 70mm, so this bad boy was pretty close. Yes, I was scared.
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The Jungles of Long Island




Deep in the jungles of Nassau County, at the Twin Lakes Preserve.
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On Becoming a Photo Enthusiast

I don't want to be a photographer, I just want to be a photography enthusiast. Becoming one is a commitment, but sometimes it feels like an addiction.

I think there are a few notable points in a budding enthusiast's history:
  1. Of course your first purchase (which should be a Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)) is key and that sets it all into motion.
  2. But than there is the point where all of your accessories and lenses in total cost more than than the pricey camera itself.
  3. Next is the point where you are buying a single accessory (Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras) that exceeds the value of your camera (by a factor greater than 2). I'm not there yet, but that $1800, f/1.2 50mm lens is practically calling my name.
  4. And finally is when you've amassed so many accessories and lenses that you need to buy a second camera body simply in order to use them all (fluidly).
I'm somewhere between step 2 and 3, dare I say, with 'enthusiasm'.

Feeding the addiction - all of the supplies, accessories and lenses just make the problem worse. Now you essentially have an arsenal of 'weapons' and there are few that you ever feel comfortable leaving behind. You know that once you're out there - you'll realize, 'man I wish I brought my _______' (fill in the blank with that lens that you hardly ever use).

So this all brings me to this moment. Right now I'm on Amazon picking up a new camera bag to hold all of the 'stuff' I have amassed. I saw this bag (Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras (Black with Green Accent)) at Best Buy, and it seems like its a good quality. Its sizable enough to hold alot of stuff, but not too big that its unwieldy. To no surprise Amazon was half the price, literally half the price, and this bag comes in at just under $40.


I'm not really into the brand-name emblazoned gear, and this is a bit bigger than I'd be comfortable hitting the streets with . This is more of a storage/travel bag, rather than a 'shooting bag'. Its something to put everything in, take along and leave in the car. I expect to then be able to assess the lens and accessory selections right for the moment, stow them in my 'shooting bag' and go to town... with my mind at ease knowing if I forgot something, its not far away.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Cheap Seats


At Citifield

Monday, May 11, 2009

Citi (sic) Field


Taken at "Citi" Field (the new Met's stadium). @10mm. Focal b/w applied

There's something really interesting about the perspective of this photo. When I rotate the photo to a horizontal view it still looks 'right'. But I prefer the vertical image, its much more dramatic.


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Gracing the Pages of This Site


My Niece, Grace. Taken @50mm. Some quick Picasa work applied
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Just Dandy, Lion


@10mm, great color contrast with this lens. Saturation was not adjusted (shadows were brought up a little).
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Cats, a Seven Time Tony Award Winner


@10mm
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Flow from Mel's Diner



At the nature preserve. Extended shutter times , 1/4 and 1/6 sec respectively. 70-200mm lens. ND Filter.
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Mush. Shhh. Rooms.


Nature Preserve, @10mm
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