Day 5 PDYP Project: Sigma 24mm f/1.4

I am really loving the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 lens. Wasn't sure what I'd really use it for, and expected to be taking more pictures outside with it, but it's fun to use indoors and has a nice journalistic quality. Also for some reason I'm not the focus freak I am with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 even though you can still crop in pretty close. Is it a sharper lens? Not sure but some of these are really crisp on zooming in.

Shot with a Canon 6D, Canon Speedlite 430II Flash and a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 lens.

Home journalism in action:

Tack sharp hair and eyes

Yes, I could tidy the kitchen

Zoomed in. A boy and his car, again: 

Day 4 Put Down Your Phone Project: FOCUS Part II

More pics today with the Canon 50mm f/1.4. In search of the magic focus bullet, I found a little nugget in an article from Ken Rockwell: "The center sensor is more sensitive than the others in dim light. If the other sensors aren't doing well in dim light, choose the center sensor and you'll be much happier." I'd been using an upper right hand focus spot. You know what, Ken?? I am much happier, thank you! Seriously, this did seem to have an impact.

Canon 6D, Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens (cropped in Lightroom) and Canon Speedlite 430II flash. Click to zoom.

And one from yesterday that was pretty cute

Day 3 Put Down Your Phone Project: FOCUS

Focus. My white whale. Am I asking too much? Really though, I've got an active subject, love wide aperture shots and am using a flash after hours, how tack sharp can I expect? I have switched to AI Servo which is supposed to be the correct AF mode, but it's not life changing. I will continue to research and get back to you.

Again with my Canon 6D, Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens (cropped in Lightroom) and Canon Speedlite 430II flash. Click to zoom.

Day 2 Put Down Your Phone Project: 50mm f/1.4

On the second day of my "Put Down Your Phone" Challenge, f.k.a the 14 day Media-fast Challenge, I took pictures with the best lens ever, my Canon 50mm f/1.4. Again using the Canon Speedlite 430II Flash. I really loved using the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 yesterday so this was a difficult to be so close at 50mm. Also, I happen to be a bit of a focus freak, so as usual struggled to get the eyes really crisp. SUPER hard to do with a crazy active 9 month old. Much more introspective baby today too, intent on playing and specific toys.

14 (?) day Media-fast Challenge

A few things have happened recently…

1) My little guy turned into a chunky little man right in front of my eyes
2) I acquired a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 lens
3) Not exactly new, but I have been thinking a lot about what inspires me and what's an important way to spend my time…

So instead of the "decompression" time after work where I half-heartedly scroll through Facebook and the usual sites, with one eye on my playing son, I'm now going to turn on my camera and capture this incredible time. The internet claims you can be an expert in any subject in a year (not surprising given everyone else is just reading nonsense on their phones). Heck, I'll be happy if in two weeks I just get more comfortable with my flash and capture something special - mission accomplished on the latter. Not sure if I'll post every day but the boy was super happy to see the camera and there were some cute shots today. All shot with a Canon 6D, Canon Speedlite 430II Flash and a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 lens.

six months

 

Aannd the obligatory foot shot… 

february flowers

So you might have guessed from my last post that I have a new sidekick. So, for the past year or so it's been a bit challenging (and not top of mind, honestly) to get out a photograph. But with the gorgeous spring blossoms around San Francisco last month, I took the camera out with the little guy in his Ergo carrier. He…was not super happy to be standing around Church Street in his carrier, so it was pretty brief but it felt good to flex the Canon muscle.

Then I looked at last year's photos from the same time, and in comparison I feel a little rusty! For some reason this year, I just kept thinking the flowers reminded me of wallpaper and that's what I got!