The NEW lens...

So, I got a new lens on Tuesday. I purchased a 50 mm 1.8 II lens. My plan was to go to the botanical gardens today to try it out. I was ultimately disappointed in the results...
Some pictures look OK - but I realized that have the aperture set at 1.8 was a bad idea. I tried the macro setting and I was pleased with the results but I can not use RAW file format and I can't change the settings. The camera essentially becomes a point-and-shoot at this point. The top picture was shot with the macro setting and the rest were shot in Manual mode. I think that I will probably use the macro setting while I am in Grand Rapids next week.
I am really glad that I went to practice a little bit today!!

Ann Arbor Art Fair - 2010

Well, it's that time of year again. If you live in Ann Arbor you know what I mean. You know that for no explainable reason it will be hundreds of degrees outside with humidity of 150% and then there will be strong winds and finally some snow. Yes, it's Art Fair season.
This year I was lucky to take an unplanned solo trip. No one likes to hang around me when I get in "photo-mode" because I take forever to take pictures and I move slowly. Walking alone with no plan enabled me to take as many pictures I wanted and move with complete freedom.
During the fair I seemed to be unintentionally forming a theme: Street Musicians. They were everywhere and were happy to have their pictures taken. (Thanks!)
My other theme had to do with my decision to hang out at the very top of some parking structures and then as the weather evolved into ominous clouds the tornado sirens sounded...
One more word of thanks to my brother, Jim, who kindly walked over to meet me by the fair and offered me shelter in his office nearby. From there I was able to witness how utterly brave and prepared these artists have to be to take on a show for so many hours a day for several days.

Street Musicians

Women at the Fair

From the top of the parking structure

Ann Arbor and Beyond

Sometimes it may seem like we have to travel the globe to find ourselves. Sometimes we travel thousands of miles only to end up at home looking for answers. What happens when home no longer looks like home. Has it changed - or has the way we look at it changed?
Here are some pictures I took in Ann Arbor a couple of weeks ago. I think that these are some of the most endearing photos I have taken yet. I feel like I am starting to find my style - and I had to go all the way to Ann Arbor to find it...

Baby Ducks!!!

On Tuesday (7/6/2010) I took my hanging basket around the side of the house to water it. On my way to the spigot I ran into a mommy and six baby mallard ducks. Initially they seemed frightened of me. Somehow they instinctively knew that I when I turned to walk away I was going straight to the house to get some bird seed for them.