New Toys!

How much difference could a little glass, metal, and plastic make to your photos? As it turns out, quite a bit...

From New Lens Day 1

We caved a bit again today, not with you but with ourselves... We knew exactly what was in the box from Grandma Suzanne and Grandpa Dale, because we told them what it was and where to get it. It was a new lens for the new-ish camera, one that not only has more zoom than the standard lens, but also vibration damping, a very very nice optic, manual focus, extremely highly rated, almost always sold out, very difficult to find, it is a real nice lens.

Especially when you consider that the picture above, plus this one below, were both taken from practically across the street. Clear, great color, very crisp...

Anyway, so we obviously opened it. My rationalization was that Christmas is ALMOST here, and what better day to really exercise this new lens than on Christmas morning as we see what Santa brought you! And we didn't want to start cold on Tuesday morning, we should have a few days to get used to it and warm up to it. And opening it early wasn't a big deal since we knew what was in the box. Right? Does that make it ok?

I hope so, because we're really psyched about this thing... You know, because the camera has been in your face (or at least pointed at you from across the room) all day long.

It is scary to think what this thing is capable of, the depth of field and colors and everything about it just kicks butt. Not to mention the extra muscles we're going to build, because the thing is relatively small but must be filled with mercury. Still, from just playing around with it today, we think it'll be totally worth the extra effort!

The really funny thing is, I think it makes these pictures of you just a little bit cuter still, and I didn't think such a thing was possible.

Another side effect - from across the room you seem a lot more likely to actually look at the camera than you are when we're right up in your face. Not saying you are ever going to smile when looking at the camera, but still it is nice to see those sweet dark eyes. This one again from across the room (and partially down the hallway)...

And even better, we can get you from so far away now, you aren't always aware when you're being photographed - now we can get some real candids!

Ha! Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to Grandma Suzanne and Grandpa Dale for the really really nice present, and we hope you don't mind that we opened it a little bit early. From the looks of things, we're going to have a lot of amazing pictures of little Maya come Christmas morning, and that's what it is all about! Check out the pictures so far - when we get down to reading the instructions we'll be really dangerous!

From New Lens Day 1

It was kind of weird asking for a camera lens for Christmas... But since your Grandma and Grandpa are regular readers here, we hope it'll pay off for them just a little bit too! And your mom and dad sure dig it. I can't wait to play with this thing outside! So thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa, and we'll make sure to take lots of pictures of little Maya with your most excellent present!