This post will be really really boring if you hate photography

I had one of my lovely readers (Hi Heather!) write me the other day and ask me a question. I got to thinking, it was a really good question, and my other four three readers might like to know too!

Heather asks:
"I am a relatively new shutterbug and am becoming more and more obsessed as time passes. Somewhere I read in your blog that you use a Canon. I have a Canon T1i and Paintshop pro Ultimate Photo X2. I have a 50mm 1.8 lens that I love but I am thinking of investing in another lens. What do you use? Do you have any suggestions?"


Well Heather, et al:

I'm going to tell you the stinking truth, because as Jasmine Star says, I'm gonna K.I.R. Keep it real.

I have three whole lenses. No really :p

I have the 50mm f1.8, I use it a lot for portraits and food. Unfortunately I've taken a lot of pics of food lately. lol. This lens is on the low end of the cost spectrum (you can get one under $100), but not a lens that most beginners would have. It has dreamy bokeh (depth of field - those blurry bits in the background). I usually shoot portraits with it at f 2.2, because of that, I haven't thought much of spending $300-$600 for the f 1.4 or the f 1.2 I just haven't. Someday I might realize what a moron I've been, but in the meantime, it serves its purpose to me.

I have the 70-200 f4 USM. It's big, and it's white. Ppl eyeball you when you use it. It doesn't bother me until I'm with the unsavory, and then I just put it away. You can get little wraps for the white parts, I've seen them in black and camo. I might have seen hunter orange too, but I might be imagining that.

I also have the kit 18-55. That's it. Yep, I still use my kit lens, and I use it even at weddings. I think ppl underestimate the kit lens. Having said that, my 18-55 does not even have IS (image stabilization), and those are cheap, so I bought one on eBay the other day for $108. I received it a couple days ago, and I can already tell a difference.

I started noticing that my wide shots where soft up close, and that's bugging me a lot. (especially wedding pics!) and I was hoping the IS would help that. It's gotten really good reviews. If I wasn't saving for a camera, I probably would have bought something different. I've heard people say that they get their camera and never once use the kit lens. I think those people are nutjobs. At the least, for beginners, it's a nice general lens that will work in a variety of situations. Would I shoot a whole wedding with it? heck no. But if I had to choose only ONE LENS, I'm scared to say, this might be the one.

*ducks from egg tossing*

What should you buy, depends on what you love to take pictures of. People? Then maybe a 35 or 85 mm. Personally, I don't like the 85mm, I had to back up so much I felt like it was a huge waste of my money (rental) and the wider aperture.

If you like landscapes, then you might like something wide so that you can get the broad sky pictures.

If you like pics of birds or animals, then you would want a telephoto obviously, and I wish I had the 70-300 but, unfortunately, that money tree stopped growing.

If you want to do macros you might go for the 100mm macro.

Do you want a prime? Or do you like to zoom?
Personally, I prefer zooms. Less running around for me when I'm not in a situation I can run around :)

If I were to buy one lens tomorrow, I would buy the 10-20mm super wide because I LOVE wide shots. Love love love. It's my favorite. People think you only might use a wide for landscapes or buildings, but I like to go really wide, and get in close to a subject, it looks completely different than standing back and just zooming in.

Whatever you pick, get the absolute best that you can afford, even if that means maybe putting it off for a few months so you can save up. Good pictures are almost always the glass, (and the person behind it lol). Rarely the camera, so don't let some snobbish mkII guy tell you that you take inferior pics because your camera didn't cost $3k.

I've seen guys with really expensive cameras that ran it on full auto. OK, well I can do that with a point and shoot. Having said that, I am saving for a new camera. I am going to go to a 50d (I think) for my main camera. I shoot a lot of weddings, and receptions means dark, and high ISOs, so I'm getting a lot of grain with my 30d.I hope that helps you. I know i didn't actually *answer* the question. LOL.

All my Love,
Lana


Then Heather had the GALL to actually RESPOND AGAIN.
Good Lord girl. ;)

Among other things, she says: " I am interested in hearing more about your wide angle up close technique."

Excellent follow up, and something I've been meaning to post about.

Please look at the following photos:

A year ago, this is how I would have taken this photo. Basically, stand back, and use the lens to zoom in. This is a perfectly acceptable image, where I stood approximately 1.5 feet from the handlebars shooting at 55mm.

But then I got to thinking, what would this look like if I shot it just a little different.

I stood in the exact same spot, but instead I shot at a much wider 18 mm and approximately 3 inches from the handlebars.

The handlebars are approximately the same size, but the rest of the bike has completely changed. Not only can you see all of the fender, but you can see the shadow of the wheel. Yes, there's distortion, and years ago, old school, this would have been a big no-no.

BUT, this isn't a cover poster for "40-year old virgin" and I like to be a little more "edgy" for this small town.

If you use a point and shoot, zoom out, but move up close. You'll have to experiment with how close you can get to maintain a sharp picture. Try this with people. Imagine huge noses and tiny ears.

You know, how I normally look

Roses on Tuesday

You should go buy yourself some roses today. Just because you can. Once in a while, my lovely husband brings me home flowers for no reason. Tuesday, I decided I'd just buy my own. (and use them as a tax write off because I used it for a prop - I'm just crazy like that.)

Earth day - Part deux

Yesterday, in honor of Earth Day 2009, and also in honor of it being super hot out and I just wanted to take some pics, I went out in my pj's and took some pics of my tree. The tree above is in my front yard. It's not really 98 feet high, it just looks that way. But dude, wouldn't that be cool.

I've been taking pics of this tree, from the same angle for every season, and I only have "summer" left to take. I'm thinking four 16 x 20 canvases of each season. I've become a little too addicted to large pieces of artwork.

Here he is from a different angle. Do you think that it's a "he"? I'm thinking yes.

When I was laying down and taking this photo:

I realized that I was really laying on this:




Of course, I didn't figure that out until about 15 min later that I literally had ants in my pants. LOL. I still itch thinking about it.


While I was shooting pics of the trees, Daddy Robin was having a fit. I mean a flat out, ear splitting hissy super fit. I wasn't even close to him, or Mamma Robin, at one point I turned and said "what the hell did I do to you?"

It was then that I looked up and saw this:

Of course, when I saw it, it was much closer and right over the house and about 98 times larger. Daddy Robin was going to kick some serious ass - or at least try. We *heart* guys that protect their women.

Which got me to thinking what Mamma Robin was up to, and how the baby eggs were doing. Last year, they grew up and flew away in a matter of what seemed like days. She had 2 broods last year!

So I put on the long lense again, and decide to see how close I can get to her, before she takes off on me.

I got to about here:

then an ant bit me on the butt.

Sigh.

When I moved, she flitted away. so instead I'm going to pretend like I got up this close:

which is really an extreme crop, but don't tell ppl, I want them to think I'm super stealth - or have a $29,000 lens.. one or the other. {and in case you're wondering, it's like $650 a *week* just to rent a lens like that... i looked}

So then I decided since she was gone, to see how the eggs were doing... or naked flying rat looking things. {unsure of what stage of gestation we were at at this point}

Oh looky:

Wait for it....

Wait...

Wait....

There's 4 now!!

I'm sure she's going to totally regret that. Last year two barely fit in there. I'm wondering if one is going to get pushed out :/ {I understand honey, there's been days. There have *been days*}

I'll stay on top of "Robin Cam - 2009" for you.
In the meantime, I really MUST get back to work. I let the blog distract me for 1/2 hour and I have so much to get done!

You suck Wednesday. Bite me.

The post office blows. Apparently, contrary to what the USPS website says, my package to TX is exactly 1 inch too tall. That one inch is $54 extra.

Um.

No.

I was so irritated, I'm not spending $75 to mail something that is definitely not worth $75. *never*again*ever*

So, the package came back home, will be squished down a bit (I put about 3" of filler in the top just to fill out the box) taken back into town and remailed for $24). *sigh*

Wednesday sucked.

I decided to kick Wednesday in the junk and have a do-over. Unfortunately, they don't let you do over the same day, so here I am at Thursday. Woke up early by {insert biz that wants to sell me advertising}. Hello, I believe I said call after 10. So why ya calling 2 days in a row at 8 a.m.? Plus she claims she's called me "several times" yet I only had 2 calls. Let's define "several" ok?

I badly want to tell her to pound sand now.

I think I will.

*hold please*

OK done. Not exactly a "pound sand" but I did get to say my piece. Man, what ever happened to customer service? dude. Seriously.

*deep cleansing breath*

I realized last night, I forgot to share a couple scrapbook pages with you. Each year for around 5 years now, I've taken the boys school picture, and made a double page spread (along with some pics of them from that year) about the type of person they have been, mom advice, what they are into, etc.

It's also a good way to keep track of their school picture too, as I only get 2 5 x 7's each year. Seriously - I'm a photographer, I'm not giving a lot of $$ to Lifetouch when I can take more interesting pics myself. Isn't it sad that school pics are sometimes the only pics get of themselves *the whole year*? (and sometimes christmas pics. sigh). Travesty.

I played with the new lens for about 10 min this afternoon. I've just been busy doing other stuff and not had time to play yet.

But here's an example:

My neighbors across the way, via my 18-55mm kit lens

Via my 70-200 mm.

Not that I am going around taking pics of all the neighbors houses or anything. I can be weird, but not *that kind* of weird.

And lastly, went to weight watchers today, it's been nearly a MONTH since they had a meeting due to holidays and weather. I only gained .2 pounds. I told her I would take it, and with a smile. I wanted to finish the year out strong and lose a few, but you know what, I'm going to see that as an accomplishment and move on. (cuz It was.. dude... you should see the crap I ate at christmas. Ppl can attest, there might even be pictures. Perish the thought).

Anyway, feels good to be back on track. Seems like it's taking forever for things to go back to normal.

Speaking of which, which one of you is gonna come over and take down my tree for me? I have all the ornaments off. I just have lights and the tree left. Someone yesterday tried to talk me into putting snowflakes and hearts on it.

NO WAY.

A teaser - just to get me all worked up.

Since this post is getting an absolute ton of hits, I'll give myself a little plug. Be sure to visit the rest of the blog - Mz-Cellaneous.

***

I got my continous lighting system today! Whooop.

I saw the Fed Ex guy pull up, and I was hoping it would be my lens, but it was this instead:

It's a simple system, I actually thought continous lighting would be good for me, since I'm "entry level" into lighting systems. I didn't wanna overload myself all at once. I mainly like to shoot natural light, but SOMETIMES, that does not happen ya know?

Like now. It's dark. Sometimes that happens.

If I shoot by a lightbulb, this is what I get:



the only thing I did for this pic, was to light through a white umbrella. I didn't even turn the incandescent light right next to it off. (straight out of the camera)


Not freaking bad for $35!!
Looks almost like natural light. OK, I'm hooked.
I bought it on amazon, search for "continuous lighting system"

I also wanted to show you the 365 scrapbook I was telling you about. Here's the album, an american crafts D-ring album. Purchased at Hobby Lobby 1/2 price. Seriously, I will never understand why ppl have to have a $1200 wedding album. Even if I'm selling $1200 wedding albums.



Inside, I put page protectors (12 x 12) that are divided for 4 x 6 photos. Each photo printed has the journaling and the small square photo included. Since I blog pretty regularly, it will be easy to just plop in some of the journaling and a photo from the day I blog, print it out, round the corners and stick it in. Done.


5 Down, 360 to go.

accomplishments - schmaccomplishments!

I'm going to have to quit saying "more later" when I repeatedly do not make it back by the evening. I could have probably posted again, but I was on a roll so I decided to just run with it.

I accomplished a lot yesterday. Here's my biggest accomplishment:

I installed this door in our bathroom! I got it going, and then when tanner got home, he helped me finish it up. We had to cut the door down by 1/8" which was a gigantic PITA.

I also had a big accomplishment at WW. I officially lost 2 pounds which in their books put me at 11 lost total. At home I'm always around 1.5 more than what they show. I'm very happy with that number. 2 pounds a week is 104 pounds a year. wow. I could be done in 4 short years! LOL. :p

It took everything I had not to stop while I was at WW and take some more really cool macros of wet spider webs outside the door. I'm sure they probably already think I'm weird.

I stopped by the storage unit when I was in town, and took some pics of some crap I have in storage so I can get rid of that unit before winter. I have 2 small units right now, and one is only half full, there needs to be some reduction, and some re-arranging and I'll cut that bill in half. Anyway, got some of the bigger stuff listed online for sale.

I also worked in the evening on the girls albums. We started an album called "Today I..." and they would use a pic of what they did that day. It was a nice little craft project, but I couldn't imagine doing that with 15 little girls. 3 was hard. Anyway, it didn't get finished while they were here, so I told them I'd finish them and mail them. I'm wanting to get that last box of junk mailed out tomorrow. Only 3 more pages to go, and then I think I'll put on some page protectors for the pages - a cover layout and I'm DONE.

Today, my goal is to finish trimming out the doors. I have my door on my scrapbook room, but the trim hasn't been put on because no one wants to hassle with assembling the miter saw. LOL. So I'm gonna give that a go today, install all the trim and then probably stain it this weekend.

I also want to get some more items listed on ebay and such, get caught up on emails - then I need to work on my photo website as I have cards to give out with the url, and yet, no website is there. *I hate it when someone does that*. Bad form. At the very least I need a page that says "under construction - visit here" (pointing to the blog).

OK, need to get moving, I started out kinda late cuz I overslept!

I'll *try* to post later. LOL. we'll see.

Senior Storyboard

Last night I stayed up for a while and worked on this:

It's a senior storyboard and apparently all the "rage" at the moment I think I'll offer something like this for my seniors. This one is an 8x10. I have a hard time imagining someone wanting a 24 x 30 of themselves but hey, whatever they want!

Yesterday got a lot accomplished and unaccomplished. Gene called, said he wasn't feeling good, that he'd pick up my beadboard on the way home then he was going to bed.

LIE.

about 10 min before he got home, I heard a pipe burst under the house (thank god I was here) so I shut off the main to the house and he "got to" spend a couple hours fixing that. I felt bad for him, because I know he didn't feel well. I have water again, but only in the master bath! I have to carry water for a couple days until all the plumbing is completely finished this weekend. *it's ok*

Yesterday I also tried to socialize some mice together. Tanner has 3, and 2 are new (salty died about 2 weeks ago :( ), when we tried to introduce them, Pepper the older mouse kept biting the tails of the other mice. Well, yesterday I got out a big rubbermaid tub and made a playground and put them all in it. they did well most of the time, but Pepper was still being a bitch so I did more research. Come to find out, you need to wait until they are all the same size. The 2 new ones must be fairly young as they are smaller than Pepper. So maybe a month or 2 we'll try again.

Today, going to try to install that beadboard *by myself* :) I'm pretty positive it won't be a huge deal. Just getting it cut down to size will be a PITA tho, as it's very wobbly and loosey goosey. It'll look good when it's done tho!

I am here. I am Mz Cellaneous

Dont you love the word Miscellaneous? I've always loved it.

The other day, I was laying in bed staring into the darkness thinking whatever thoughts were keeping me from sleeping and the word Miscellaneous came to mind for whatever reason like it has 100 times before. I again thought to myself how wonderful miscellaneous is. Here's is a word that doesn't mean left overs. It means, something that fits in no other category it's so different.

When shopping on line, I find myself searching for the "misc" button. What might be so unique and different it can't even be categorized? That's where the creative stuff is at.

So back to being in the dark - I laid there and thought to myself. *I* am miscellaneous. I really have never fit into a basic category. So many categories, slots that people fit in, and I never felt like I fit into any of them.

In JANUARY, my resolution was to start a photography blog. I wanted to explore the idea/possibility of being a photographer semi-pro. As usual, one of my big hang ups is "where do I start?" I let that be my excuse for not starting anything. "I don't know what words to use to just start a blog". *eyeroll*

excuse.

nice.

So here lie Mz Cellaneous in bed, staring into the darkness thinking about where I do or do not fit into this world and bam... the words all came. A place to start and a lack of an excuse.

That was like, a month ago.

So I got a touch of the lazy too ok?

Will I talk about photography and post photos I've taken? yes. Definately.. and probably more than anything else because yes, I do want to start a part time photography business.

You'll also see me posed about art, parenting, scrapbooking and MISC!

I bore easily.. just a warning. I can totally see me not post for a month. I can also see me post 3 times in one day. It's happened. :p BUT, I'm going to make myself of a personal promise to post my photos of that week on each sunday.... well, a sampling of them anyway.

Now, just the intro of myself....
My name is Lana. I have a full time job in customer service... I really like my job a lot... I'm damn good at it. I have 2 boys, Seth (17) and Tanner (12). 2 pretty cool kids if you ask me. My boyfriend is Gene and pretty darn awesome himself I might add. 2 cats (Trust me, you'll see them at some point) and I love art, scrapbooking and photography.

{Order depends on my mood for the day}

Saturday, I'm photographing a special wedding - my baby sister's (she's 21, not much of a baby anymore). So I'll post some photos for you on Sunday. I swear!

I'll try to post some cutie baby photos I took a couple days ago. One of my bestest girlfriends had her 3rd on Monday and she's about a tiny little bundle of cuteness. *many baby photos to come*. Yay babies!

If you made it this far, well, you're probably my family or a good friend and thank you... that makes you awesome by default. LOL.

More later!