Plaza Lights

So last Saturday I went with Digital Labrador to a "photo safari" on the Plaza. In my 10 years in KC, I have never really taken pictures of the lights so I thought this would be a fun learning experience. There were a couple pros stationed around the Plaza with fun equipment to use and tips/tricks to share. They had a Canon 5D Mark II that was amazing! I didn't use it but I saw some of the images it was producing and it's truly a fabulous piece of equipment. If I had an extra $2700 laying around I would buy one.

It was FREEZING that night but I managed to hang in there and shoot for 3 hours straight. It was hard to shoot with numb fingers but I got a few shots I was happy with. I was hand holding everything because I couldn't find my tripod- which was fine because I hate lugging that huge thing around anyway.

My favorites:

Closer...no, closer!

I got a new lens (oh, by the way Todd- I got a new lens :o) ). It's a Sigma 28mm 1.8 and I'm pretty much in love with it. Thanks to Josh Solar for the recommendation!

So last weekend I wanted to see how close I could get to my subjects and have the image be in focus. I started at about a foot away. Everything still in focus. I moved 8 inches closer....still clear. I moved closer- about 4 inches away and it was STILL in focus! Finally I just put the lens right on the subject (not in focus) and moved back until it was in focus. How far back you ask? About 2 inches. I can focus on an object at 2 inches!

In. love.

My first post.

I guess I'll start with some pictures. I took these with my new Canon over the weekend. I'm still getting used to the thing and I really need a new lens but for this being the first time I used the camera I think these are decent. I tagged along to a downtown airport photo shoot for my sister, her boyfriend Matt and her two boys Cade & Reid. Matt is a pilot so this was a great location for them. I stayed out of the photographer's way (a friend of mine) and got some shots from the sidelines. Here's some random's of my nephews from the day.

and of course I have to have a few of my little guy:

(Jake, 5 1/2 months)