the final lens

I finally received my new macro lens this week and I love it! If you've been following my macro saga, I first ordered the Canon 100mm f/2.8, but I had problems with it because there was no image stabilization. I sent it back and ordered the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM. I feel like the focus is much better; it really grabs onto the subject. I also read that this lens is great for portrait shots, and oh is it ever! I took a few of Livia today and they were so sharp and clear.

We had a balmy 45 degree day this week, so I thought I'd take my new lens for a whirl at a local rose garden. It was certainly slim pickin's in the rose garden because everything was dead! Bummer! I really have no idea what I'm doing with the macro lens. You'd think it would just be a matter of getting in close and snapping away, but there are some different settings on the side of the lens, and I have no idea what they do. I'm not a manual reader either, so it might be a bit of trial and error.

I don't know how I feel about my first batch of shots with my new lens. I love the lens, but I'm not so sure about my shots. We'll see what you think. Keep in mind everything in the garden was dead - blah!

Well, either way, this was a pretty small rose, so I guess the macro is working!


I usually prefer to take pictures of flowers when it's cloudy out because the light is much more even; no hot spots or dark shadows. But in this case, I really like how the light is hitting this plant.


This obviously isn't a macro shot, but I really liked the tones. I think you'd be much more impressed if you saw the SOOC - ha! :-) You know me, I always have to fiddle around with the color.


This shot might not seem like much, but it makes me over the moon happy! A green plant in the Midwest in December - eeeeeekkkkk! Love, love, LOVE!


Not sure about this one, but the hubs likes it, so here it is.


I think I really like this one. I saw it as I was leaving, and I challenged myself to make a totally dead flower look pretty. What do you think?


These are just some first attempts with the new lens. Keep in mind, I was shaking like crazy in the 45 degree "heat," and the sun was setting so my ISO was crazily high. I think I had it up to 1250 for some shots - yuck! We'll call this Round 1. Stay tuned for improvement. ;-)