I took some time to tweek my favorite images and the gallery that displays them. Take a peek! You can click the main image and enjoy the view on your entire computer screen!
Our family has been all smiles since we picked up our first family dog earlier this week. Meet Moxi, a boxer full of energy and lots of sass. Her parents are extremely gorgeous and she looks very much like them. I can’t wait until the weather warms a little more so I can capture some more shots of her. She is very quick so I have to pull out my fastest lenses!
We named her after a scene in Night at the Museum 2 where a character told another, “I think you’ve lost your moxy.” Later in the movie it turned into “I think you’ve found your moxy!” referring to happiness and contentment found. Our family most certainly has found our puppy that makes us all the more happy.
The search was very long and seemed hopeless for quite some time. Adoption means didn’t come to fruition and finding a breeder was even more difficult. We made a short trip to North Carolina to get her from a very loving family that had a litter of eleven of these gorgeous babies. There were only five to choose from and it was not an easy choice!
You’ll see lots more of Moxi – our foxy boxer!
So have you found your moxy? What makes you happy and content in your everyday life?
I came home from bible study tonight and totally missed the amazing view – or maybe it was overcast for a moment. My family came in behind me just a few minutes later and fussed about the moon with rings and that I had to go see. I think there was only one other time in my life I recall seeing something similar to this. So, wrapped in my flannel p.j.’s and warm robe, I curled up for a few brief moments to capture some long exposures (nothing too technical here, but enough to see what’s going on). Unfortunately, the longer the exposure, the more distorted the moon got (the 10-22mm lens caused the hexagon shape). But for now, you can appreciate the odd, very large ring, that encompasses the moon. There was almost one larger beyond this, ever so faint. The main ring appeared as if it were an opening to a clear window to the moon and stars above. Everything outside of it was hazy. If anyone knows what this is, I would really be interested!
December 2, 2009 - 2:15 am
beautiful!!! miss you!!!
Since I just took my first trip to Europe, I thought I would share a few tips on vacation photography from my experience. I will start with Part 1: Gear & Projects.
PLANNING TIPS
- Equipment does weigh you down. Keep this in mind if you have lots of walking planned. Sore shoulders and back make for a miserable day site seeing.
- My gear weighed probably around ten pounds and learned the hard way. But, my family took turns carting it by the hour. Sadly, I realized how out of shape I am in the process. Ugh.
- The size of your bag should meet airline requirements if you decide to use it as a carry-on when you fly. Check out the airline’s websites for details in advance.
- If you have a camera bag, either cover the logo on the bag (with tape) or take a non-camera bag. Theft is a second away if you set that name brand bag down!
- I decided to pack my gear in my Lowepro Micro Trekker. Yeah, it contradicts my tip, but the logo is easy to hide on the flap and its a generic looking backpack as well. It also is small enough to meet airline standards as a carry-on.
- Cell phone, video camera, pocket camera, or high-end camera? Overkill? I had all four, but the pocket camera was left in the truck. My daughter was happy, yet disappointed, because she was in charge of taking pictures with that one.
- Get your kids involved. If they are old enough to point and shoot, let them! With supervision, they can create a fun scrapbook of their own family vacation. See the world through their eyes. You’ll be surprised!
- Cell phones aren’t going to do the best job on still images or video. Notice I said best job. I had my iPhone with me to capture an image now and then, but the voice/data features were shut off the moment we hit international air. It rarely came out of the suitcase.
- Pocket cameras are going to give an all-around decent job on just about anything. My Canon S80 does a superior job on stills and video. If you don’t have a video camera, these types of cameras are the next best thing.
- Video cameras are the best. My Canon HV-30 was a must this trip. One, it has been neglected and I wanted to capture more of the whole experience and sounds of Europe. Two, video is an entirely different media that brings you back in a special way. I don’t worry about “professional” footage getting captured – just that it is captured. My husband states that I can’t get mad when he records, at least he is recording [when I "force" him]. (I never fail to get nauseated watching his footage!)
- High-end professional cameras. Don’t have one? That’s okay. You can manage fine with what you have and be happy. Just read the manuals on your devices and you’ll be a pro with what you own.
EQUIPMENT & TIPS
- Camera
- As I said, my Canon S80 got left behind on accident, but my Canon 40D made the trip. It was a joy to work in manual mode most of the trip. I got to try new things and work settings that kept pushing me to be creative. That made it fun for me.
- Whether it is pocket or DSLR, I found that I needed a strap. I had to hold the camera in my hand the whole time or pull it in and out of the backpack constantly. Annoying? Yes, but I managed.
- Pick ONE spot where that camera (and accessories) will be and always return it there – this applies to when you are site seeing and in your hotel. Create a habit and let everyone know (that is traveling with you) so they know where to find it. This helps keep track of your stuff.
- If you have a really nice pocket camera, it might be easy to steal. Try to cover it with tape and make it ugly. Nobody steals ugly. Read here and get more tips.
- Lenses
- I went with my standard go-to choices: EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- I took a “risk” to try out the 28-135mm (kit lens) and it gave nice shots. Don’t risk this – extra weight for the sake of trial and error isn’t worth it. Stick with what works.
- The wide angle lens was a great addition – so much so, that I want to invest in a quality Canon L lens of that range. I love shooting wide!
- Try to get a range of lenses to cover wide to telephoto in the least amount of lenses. If you want a challenge, try to pick just one. It will definitely push your creativity to a new level.
PROJECTS
- With the world of digital photography, there are infinite options to create something with the images and video captured. Make a wish list of projects you would like to make when you return. It will help you capture that perfect image for the cover of the book, the calendar, or closing credits on a movie.
- Keep your eyes on the shops and gas stations where you find all the tourist souvenirs. You may get some inspiration there and create something yourself with your own images!
… I am forever struggling with the gear I take on a vacation. I think most people who love photography do so. I fooled myself thinking my Canon HV-30 would be the ONE camera that would go with me on vacation. No, I have to have my DSLR wherever I go. I love it that much, as well as my lenses. I am learning to challenge myself in some situations (like a recent homeschool field trip where I only took the video camera and the pocket camera as backup). But, when it comes to those places far away that I may never see in my lifetime again – I bring it all. But, I think I did rather good this time around to Europe. I envy those people that can walk around with a little camera on their neck and walk carefree, enjoying the sites. Yet, at the same time, I find myself driven – I have a greater urge to capture what I see and preserve it to appreciate in beautiful images and video later. I will deal with the heavy bags, frequent stops, and my kids fussing, “Mom, c’mon! Do you really have to take a picture of everything!?” Yes, I do. It brings me joy and eventually joy to others too.
Do you struggle with choosing your camera to take on vacation? How do you decide?
by beezeyeview
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November 29, 2009 - 9:23 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by XShot, beezeyeview. beezeyeview said: Blog post: Vacation Photography Tips [part 1 :gear & projects] http://bit.ly/8tInDH [...]
I selected a few favorites images from my trip to France – boy, was that hard to narrow it down to any small amount! They are all so interesting. I snuck in a few images with my family as well as our friends that took us around Europe.
TRAVEL TIPS When you take your first trip to Europe, be sure to have a good game plan on where you plan to stop. This is critical. Secondly, plan restroom stops. Public toilets are coin operated in France! I was scared to go in one and not be able to get out (one I saw had a turnstile type doorway on a street corner – sigh, I forgot to snap a picture of it). Third, plan for many days if you can. It was amazing the amount of places we could go. That didn’t even include leisure stops for shopping or eating. Oh, speaking of eating, get ready to dish out some hard cash. McDonald’s was our safe haven, but that was even more than $60 for our family of six. Water, coffee, espresso, and soda at the sidewalk cafes were roughly $6 or more. Oh, and there are no public water fountains. That was miserable. Well, if you’re not drinking anything then you don’t have to worry about using a coin operated toilet! Ha! My kids were great troopers through the few days of site-seeing boot camp. We all had a blast.
Here is the final book I am getting made below. Click the far edges of the page to turn them or click in the middle to enjoy a larger view!
by beezeyeview
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