April Activities and an Online Class

As I look back at the last few weeks, I realize I've hardly touched my camera.  If I have, it's been for my fiber arts activities.  I've knitted a cardigan and finished it back in March.  I'm now focused on knitting warm weather garments.  Mostly sleeveless.

Here's the results:

My hand knitted Ocean Cardi

Knitting the back of my Maremma two tone vest (pewter & garnet colors)

My Rosanna sleeveless tunic (black tweed)

Tomorrow, I start an eight week class using Illustrator.  I've been "teaching" myself for the last year and most recently using it to create brochures, posters, flyers and a magazine ad.  "Google" had been my loyal friend, but now I must take a class to make sure I'm using Illustrator to it's fullest potential.  Also, to make sure I haven't picked up any bad habits like creating huge files sizes.  

I've realized there is never a good time to take a class.  I'm always busy between work and home life. My motto has been "just do it" and make time.  So far, it's been working.  :)

A Quiet Morning!

I saw hubby off to work early this morning.  I was standing on our porch enjoying the peacefulness of the morning.  The sky was overcast and the temperature was warm with a little humidity in the air.  I took a stroll around our garden and realized it was a perfect opportunity to take some pictures.  I grabbed my camera and my 60mm micro lens and headed back out for a quick photo adventure.

I took a few steps off our porch and noticed a few spider webs tucked in between the shrubs.  I got down really low to the ground and captured the morning dew on the webs:

I also found a spider resting in it's web:

I saw our colorful daylilies blooming.  Too bad the flowers don't last a long time:

I'm so thankful for a long weekend.  Time to unwind, rest, and enjoy my hobbies....

Anemones in Bloom

My hubby spotted these Anemones in bloom.  I'm looking forward to the next few days as more and more of them open up.  I took this picture using my 85mm lens and compact speed light.  I was waiting for the rain showers to stop and by then it became evening.  Still not a bad time to take pictures.  

My Favorite Bag: Tamrac Aria 6 for Photographing Events

A few months ago when I was visiting my local camera shop, I came across this bag in person.  I originally saw this bag advertised on Amazon and then immediately went over to Tamrac's website to check out the specifications.  The bag is new this year and comes in two versions:  Aria 3 and Aria 6.  The Aria 3 bag is so adorable, but I knew it would be too small for all the camera equipment I wanted to carry with me (just in case).  I was on the fence with the Aria 6 bag.  I wasn't too sure that it would be huge and bulky for me to carry around.  

At my local camera shop, they carried both models plus the three colors:  black, brown and moss.  All three colors were beautiful!  I had a hard time choosing the color, but naturally opted to get the safe color...black.  I think my second choice would be brown.  I know, I shouldn't choose the camera bag color based on my wardrobe!  If I didn't play it safe, my first choice would have been moss green.  It was that pretty!

Back to my bag choice.  The Aria 3 is quite small and would fit a D40 or a D5000 camera with a short lens without any problems.  It's an adorable sized bag.  Very fashionable.  I chose the Aria 6 for its size and capability to hold all the camera equipment I would need to carry with me.  

Aria 6: Front

The bag is made of lightweight water-resistant nylon fabric.  Yes, the bag is amazingly light.  I thought I would wear this bag as a messenger bag, across the body.  I haven't had the need to.  It works perfectly as a shoulder bag.  That's how comfortable it sits on my shoulder.

The back of the bag with pocket

One of the key selling points for me was the side pockets.  It can hold my iPhone.  I can slip it in the pocket with any problems.  Now, how many camera bags do you know that have small phone pockets that can hold an iPhone-size smartphone?

Side view

The interior is very roomy and holds all the camera gear I want to take with me:  D7000 with my 18-200 attached, SB-700 speed light, an additional lens (one of my primes), a small lens blower, extra batteries, extra media cards, my keys, my wallet, my pens and notepad for taking notes, and of course my iPhone.

The removeable padded interior dividers flexes quite a bit.  It hasn't been an issue with me.  I just wanted to point it out as other bags come with a firmer padded dividers.

Inside the bag with my D7000

Inside, there's a back padded pocket for an iPad.  With all the camera equipment I have to carry, adding an iPad does weigh the bag down a bit.  Still, it's a handy addition in case I need to use it.

Interior:  additional pockets for storage

Under the front flap is a pleated zippered pocket.

Under the front flap:  another pocket for storage

The Aria 6 bag is very stylish, lightweight, and very functional.  Isn't it cute?

The adjustable strap with movable padding

While I use my Aria 6 bag for taking pictures of local events, I still have my favorite camera backpack,  the Tamrac Evolution 6 that I use for long distance travel.




Just like purses and wallets, a girl can't have too many camera bags.  Yes, I'm a Tamrac gal at heart!

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G: Low Light vs Compact Speed Light

After I mounted my new lens onto my D7k, I took some sample pictures in a room with low light.  I had an incandescent lamp turned on to the left of the following book samples:

85mm, f1.8, 1/125, ISO 2800 (no flash & handheld)

85mm, f1.8, 1/125, ISO 400 (SB-400 compact flash & handheld)

Can you see a real difference between the two pictures?  In the first picture, the low light no flash picture looks quite good.  In the second picture, I bounced my compact flash towards the ceiling.

So far, I like the results I'm getting with this new lens.  More to come....

My New Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G AF-S Fixed Lens

I couldn't wait.  I had some rewards points that I converted to gift cards and applied them towards my new lens. Yes, it was a great deal as we ended up paying 40% of the cost.  What a nice early present!  Thank you hubby!

Here's the packaging the lens came in:

Nicely packaged from the vendor

Inside the Nikon box:  plastic container, manual, and warranty card

The plastic container containing the lens and hood  pulled out of the box

The plastic container opened:  hood and lens

Nikkor 85mm f1.8G AF-S lens with B&W filter

I will be "playing" with this FX lens this weekend and report back my findings!

NOTE:  Photos taken with my 40mm micro lens and SB-400 compact flash

Up Close and Personal

I am surprised the spider didn't jump onto my lens!  I was that close!

What a Difference a Flash Makes

I was going through my photos from the last few days and I came across a pair that shows what a difference a flash can make.  This blue hydrangea shrub is located on the edge of our shade garden.  I took these two pictures with my D7000 and 40mm micro lens.  For the flash picture, I used my compact SB-400 speed light.

Which picture appeals to you?

While I'm taking my pictures, I can actually visualize "painting" the images I take.  The left picture without flash looks quite dark, it's actually quite "art-sy".  If I painted this picture in oil or watercolor, my painting would show the different values of color.  Light and dark colors.  My flower would appear to pop-out of my canvas or paper.

If I painted the right photo with flash, my flowers would look a bit flat because there are less values in the color.

When I see a striking subject as in a flower, I tend to take lots of pictures.  A straight on shot and then a different angle.  In natural light and then with a flash.  Zoomed in and then zoomed out.

I have plans to take my favorite floral shots from this Spring and re-create them on my canvas.  To paint the above hydrangeas, I would actually use both pictures as references for my creation.

In my mind, there really isn't a bad picture.

One Shrub...Many Colors

As the Spring flowers are winding down in our gardens, the final and magnificent blooms of the season is our colorful hydrangea flowers.  Yes, all the flowers seen in the photos below are from one single shrub.

Makes me think of God's palette of colors.

Latin name:  Hydrangea Macrophylla

Buzzing Around the Garden

No, not me.  Just the bumble bees in our garden.  My 40mm micro lens has been a joy to use.  I can get up close and personal.  Sometimes a bit too close for my liking when I'm looking through the viewfinder.  Bumble bees are pretty friendly.

I've learned to be patient and just wait for the bees to come within picture taking range.  Especially with my 40mm lens.  Sometimes, I wished I had a longer lens.  Maybe an 85mm?

Hydrangeas and My Point & Shoot

I thought I would take a break from my technical posts and show some pictures of hydrangeas that are blooming in our garden right now.  These were taken with my Coolpix point and shoot camera in aperture mode.  Unfortunately, I don't have the names of these beauties.  I have to wait for hubby to give me clues....

I'll be back to with a post about this nifty point and shoot camera!  Stay tuned!

A Bit of Patience With a Bumble Bee

I hung out in the garden this evening taking more pictures.  Our beautiful Stewartia tree was in full bloom.  I noticed a few bumble bees were hovering at the top of the tree.  I waited.  A lone bumble bee ventured down and buzzed around my ear.  I knew it was time.  I got my camera ready and focused on one of the flowers closest to me and waited.  These critters can be fast and I knew I had to do just click away and hope for the best.

Stewartia flower (40mm micro)

There was no way I could get a clear and sharp picture without my flash.  Good thing I had my SB-400 with me.

More Blooms

More flower pictures from our garden:

Peony

Bletilla Orchid

Geranium

All pictures were taken with my 40mm micro lens and small SB-400 flash.  I'm in a flash mood.  Can you tell?

National Photography Month

Happy May!  This month is National Photography Month.  I was trying to think of a way to celebrate all month long. Maybe take a picture a day and do a daily post on my blog.  So, here's my first picture for May:

Peony bud and a tiny friend (40mm micro)

What do you plan on doing to celebrate National Photography Month?

Two Post Wednesday: Yellow Azaleas

I'm glad I took a turn around our garden late this evening.  I came across our yellow azaleas blooming.  Tomorrow it's suppose to rain.  By Friday, I suspect the blooms will start to look tired.  

I took the following pictures using my 40mm micro lens and small SB-400 flash.  I like working with this combination:

After the Rain (with my SB-400)

We were fortunate to have a rainy day.  I noticed our clematis was looking a bit wilted.  After a day of rain, our garden perked up.  (So did all the dandelions that appeared out of no where).

The late afternoon sun was going in and out of the clouds.  I decided to try another tool from my photog arsenal.  I took out my lonely SB-400 and just snapped a couple of pictures using this small handy flash:  

Tree Peony (200mm)

Alpine Columbine (200mm)

Clematis (200mm)

Weigela (200mm)

Even when the sun came out, I left the flash on.  I like the results.  I call my SB-400...a portable flash.  It's small that I do not notice the extra weight on my camera.  There are no settings to tweak on the flash.  My smart D7k knows what to do with it.  I think I'll be taking this flash with me more often.