Wide Angle Lens

I have two lenses for my DSLR.  I have the kit 18-55mm lens, and a cheapish 70-300 telephoto lens.  Neither one is super fancy.  It's really alright since I'm not out to make a living with my photography, just take some fun and pretty pictures and get better.  But every time I come up to the coast I wish I had a wider angle lens.  The kit lens is pretty good for my basic needs, but photographing the ocean and the redwoods really calls for something better.  So I rented a moderate (ok ... one of the cheapest) wide angle lenses for my vacation on the coast.  I don't know how I discovered borrowlenses.com, but I love them.  In addition to the great tips and photos on their blog, they have a great selection of lenses.  This really isn't a review of them or their service, just a quick unsolicited plug.

I rented a Sigma 10-20mm.

I'm not too experienced with wide angle lenses or landscape photography.  But the best way to learn is just to go do.  So I'm doing.

Lines ... and then some

My niece is taking a photography class in school.  She had her first assignment this weekend ... lines; we were all together for the weekend visiting Josh's mom, so she and I went out to take photos.

It was fun to have something to think about when taking photos, and not just shoot willy-nilly.  I really was forced to think about my composition and look for things that fit a specific subject.  it was also fun to pass on a little bit of knowledge to someone else, something I don't get to do being so new myself.

Anyway .... Lines and other things from Nana's.

she's such a willing model

Audrey was modeling so well and Annie wanted to join in.  But Annie didn't want to smile.

Audrey was pretty adamant about having a group photo.  It was overexposed and it's just too hard to get another shot set up.  So B&W it is.....

There's an old shed on the side of the house that was just begging to be photographed.  I am picturing a Bridges of Madison County style picture.  Couldn't quite process it right, but I'm content with it.

We went for a walk.  This was the neighbor's cat.  Everybody freaked out at me that I was taking a photo of some other person's house.  But the cat was so purr-fect there on the top of the railing.

This dog looked so pathetic staring out the window like that.  I love the peeling paint around the window.

Stairs always make great line photos

"Ah-ee."

Our favorite winery

This train car was begging to be photographed.

Power lines in the open space behind my MIL's house.  Makes it feel so rural and desolate.

Josh snagged a photo of me and Annie playing with Annie's new toy.

Josh showing us how he can juggle.  He was trying to catch the ball mid-air and missed.

The rest of the photos from our trip can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biochemtine/sets/72157631668954317/with/8044592558/