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. ;-)

day 229: favorite jeans

Last week it was 118 degrees (with the heat index), and this morning it's 70. My body is in shock. Anyone else wearing jeans in the middle of August?

macro friday

Check out some other macro shots at Macro Friday!

day 208: build

day 206: perspective

day 203: breakfast

Well, if you know me, not breakfast in this house. And yes, I went and bought a little single-serving container of Fruit Loops just for this shot. And yes...I did in fact give myself a self-righteous pat on the back when my oldest son spotted the little sugary preservative-laden wheels of death and said, "Woa! Are those some type of fruity Cheerios?" (He didn't even know the name).



And before you leave my blog thinking I'm some type of snooty super-mom, I will let you know that I am a scatterbrained, disorganized mess half the time. But I am a bit of a nutrition fanatic.

And yes, I did let them eat the Fruit Loops. Just this once. :-)

Edit: For the record, child #3 ate three death disks and flung the rest to the floor, shaking her little blond curls and saying "No mo'! No mo'!" Child #2 didn't want anything to do with the cereal, and child #1 ate every last one, even the Fruit Loop dust.

Edit #2: I just want to say a special thank you to One Country Girl for choosing me as last week's Macro Friday winner! Thank you for making my day! :-)

Head on over to Macro Friday to see some more cool shots!

day 200: morning snack

day 198: baseball

day 196: so it never happens again

macro friday

This is my first week participating in Macro Friday, and although I'm still waiting for that macro lens to fall from the sky, I'm going to give it my best shot.



Head on over to Macro Friday to check out some other entries.
Happy Friday!

day 195: create

sweet shot tuesday

I think this just might be my favorite shot of the week. I've really started getting excited about macro photography, and even though I don't have a dedicated macro lens, I still try! :-)



Check out more "sweet shots" at my 3 boybarians.



For Sweet Shot Tuesday, you're only supposed to post one shot. These actually are all the same shot. I just got a little carried away with the cropping. ;-)

macro monday

I had a few hours alone (gasp!) last Saturday, so I packed up the camera and headed out to a local rose garden. Lately I have been inspired by Ashley at Ramblings and Photos, and she is a master at macro photography. She also has me breaking the 10th commandment as I am coveting her new macro lens. I don't have a dedicated macro lens, so I had to get a little creative with my cropping.

I'm not a pro, (you've realized that by now, right?), and I always say I learn something new at each photo shoot. Here are a few things I learned this time:

1. If you're bending down to take pictures of flowers and your hair is long, consider tying it back. Unless you are working on patience or some other type of character-building, untamed hair in combination with photographing flowers on a windy day should be avoided at all costs. At the very least, wear a hair bob on your wrist. You'll thank me later.

2. If possible, try to go on a cloudy day. Just like harsh lighting is not flattering to people, neither is it flattering to flowers. You will have blown out areas, harsh shadows and all-around yuckiness. (This has taken me a while to get through my thick head. Seems like flowers would be beautiful in the sunlight, right? You'll have much more even lighting if it's cloudy...or if you can find a shady spot).

3. Try to avoid going at 11:00am when it's 90 degrees and 90% humidity. This might cause feelings of general grumpiness.

4. Consider taking a friend. Or some pepper spray. What interesting characters you will find at a rose garden, even at mid-morning. If your friend is not needed for security detail, maybe she will help you hold back your hair.

You're welcome.

Here are a few of my favorites: