Night time shot

Had a chance to go out last night to see if the built in flash on the EOS 400D was adequate for some family pictures at the local Plaza. Set the camera on auto to save time and just get a feel for the possibilities. Not bad. I took some that were about 20-30 meters and not so good but I expected that. This photo was one time I could get Caleb to sit still for a moment and came out pretty good. I will still get a flash but the prices here are prohibitive, especially when my wife hears the cost, or even the need to spend more. ; )

More of Harbour pics

again I am not sure I have the composition right and I did not touch these in Photoshop, so nothing is corrected... yet.

I need to look through my pics from this trip to get the whole feel of the time in San Diego.

Composition

I wonder what could be said of this photo. It has an interesting subject and I enjoyed the day on the boat taking pictures. I am not sure which bird this is my expertise is low in this area, though I hope to change when I move to Hengchun.

First try with my new lens..

Purchased the new lens for the 400D , a Sigma 28-300 F3.5-6.3 DG Macro, The first shot was taken Macro from 30 cm not bad for what I know, which is next to nothing but I am please with this so far. The second shot was from a distance of 20 meters or so and not so good detail as I want, BUT it could have everything to do with me. I was hand holding it and felt I was moving too much considering the viewfinder wobble. I'll try the park, that is what I really want to do, and we will really test it out.

I need to be bolder..

Today after taking my son to preschool I went walk/running at the Chia-Yi City Park. I had been thinking to take the 400D, then I decided to take the Ixus 800 IS, but in the end took neither. What a mistake, the park was beautiful. It had rained hard last night and the park was pristine clean as well as vivid in colors. I blew it, so many possibilities and potential. I will think more seriously next time.

One positive is I was able to see potential pictures as well as enjoy my surroundings. I look forward to moving next year to the south of Taiwan where I will have beach, ocean, park, wildlife, marine life (I bought an underwater case for the Ixus 800 IS) as well as night life in Kenting. Very excited about the potential fun.

I don't have my camera yet...

I am starting this before I really have my camera. I have been using a Powershot G1 for several years and recently bought a Ixus 800 IS for the family. I have been using the smaller 800 for several months now and like it very much for family candid shots and taking with me to the park with the family or travel. But my dream camera, which I will get before Christmas, is a Digital Rebel xti, or 400D. I have yet to feel comfortable with my research into another lens but I am still reading about all the lenses and trying to fit it with what I think I want to do. Hope to show my shots thus far including family as I get time and inspiration.

So much to learn..

Repost from transferring blogs to this account:

I have spent the last month after my new purchase of the 400D just trying to learn the camera and I feel I have so much more to learn. I haven't had a lot of time to actually take pictures and have done a lot of research on lenses of which my conclusion is that 'it all depends.' So, I have decided to get a relatively cheap lens, the Sigma 28 -300, to start and hope to decide on a Macro lens if this doesn't fit the bill. Living in Taiwan the prices are not great but acceptable.

I need some time to learn through taking pictures so I hope I can take off a few hours a day to test things after I get the new lens. You really can't learn enough from reading as I should well know but I wanted to have and idea of everything. I am still struggling through terminology and the whys and wherefores but it is coalescing into some plans for testing.


Want to test nature/wildlife settings with the new lens and Macro as well, the kit lens I feel is okay but not as 'fun' for the types of things I 'think' I want to do. Really like the podcasts dedicated to Digital Photgraphy, they are really helpful. Next time I will be prepared and name a few.

It is interesting how the reviews are changing about the 400D, they are more positive and useful. I think if you have the money you might be tempted to buy the Nikon which has a better kit lens, but I felt the size and feel of the 400D was better suited for a first DSLR considering weight and comfort, we'll see after awhile i am used to the G1 and 800 IS Ixus and the 400D is a big step up. The 800 IS Ixus is still the tote around for quicky snapshots and day trips, but I hope as my lads grow(2 yr old and 4 month) I can take along the 400D as well, the 800 is great for my wife, even if she is a tad slow....

That is another issue just trying to get shots of what you want the digital is so great, I can take hundreds of shots and not worry about expense. I have a Pentex P3 SLR, but rarely used it because of the learning curve and developing cost for bad pictures. When I get my feet wet and feel comfortable I think I will buy some film and try it out again.

I also want to get my G1 fixed so my son can use it later. I hope I can interest my sons to many things and let them decide what they like. As a father I hope they like some of the things I do and will want to learn from me first till they surpass me. So far unlike the pics here my sons are the subject of most of my pics, literally thousands.