all shot with my new sigma 24mm macro lens on my d3.

not much done with the shots, but quick edits with my basics set from the sesame ellis photoshop actions and harriet an action from peta mazey’s twirl set!

now go on and click this little banner/button thing cause i need more votes…it is free and you have finished looking at the photos by now anyway:

the sigma 24mm f/1.8 macro lens (for my nikon d3) arrived this afternoon while the twins were napping and my camera battery was charging.  i loved having a wide angle lens when i shot with film, but i sold it many years ago.  this was a range that i was missing from my equipment and really interested in working with again.  while the new nikon 24mm f/1.4G is without a doubt kickass, i will never be able to justify the cost.  if i shot weddings or was a photojournalist, it would make sense, but not for what i do.  after a lot of research online, i decided to give sigma a try.  i have never owned a sigma lens.  i did not really have a good reason for that, just never thought about them as an option.  when i started looking, i was really impressed with the photographers i found using sigma gear.

so by the time everyone was home, fed and the battery was ready, i was left with cruddy light and dirty and tired models.  i was too excited to wait another day though, so on the lens went and i gave it a whirl.

gemma noticed i had a new lens.  (i was very proud.)  her interest faded after 2 shots.  kind of fun though…the bobblehead distortion makes her look younger!

left: one shot that kieran “took” while i held the camera and clover.  kieran likes to push buttons…he is also and excellent garage door shutter, washing machine starter and crosswalk signal alerter.    right: kiki hunting baby in the backyard.  i do not understand how i get the ONLY crazy ragdoll cat in the world.  every other ragdoll cat i meet is docile and mine is the one with the attitude problem.  sigh.

being a macro, this lens can really get in close and focus.   kiki actually bit my camera today (see?  crazy!)  it gets that close.

verdict (on the lens, not the cat).
great lens for the price!
pros:
feels solid and well built
focuses fairly quickly.  no hunting around even in the dim light.
beautiful balance of sharpness and shallow depth of field at f/2.2, but still pretty sharp wide open.   i just found the focus was falling ever so slightly in front at f/1.8….that could be user error though.  ;)
colors rendered well

cons:
you have to clean up because it shows everything in your messy living room that you could hide from the 50mm.

so hello there, Sigma.  i am sorry that i have never given you a chance before.  welcome to my camera bag.  i had better go and see what else you have…i have heard there is a sweet 70-200mm f/2.8 in your catalog.

that she could rewind this day.

i wished right back that her life would be full of days that were so wonderful she was left wanting a rewind button.

tech details:
both:  nikon d3 – 50mm f/1.4g lens – ISO 320
left:   f/2.2 – 1/400s
right:  f/2.2 – 1/320s

they have their bunnies (nunnies) and their peta…

we had a nice time even if the photo-taking part was a disaster.
these babies like to explore.
i am looking forward to this fall weather so we can be out more with less chance that clover will end up with severe sunburns.  no blisters is a good thing.

out of focus proof that the 3rd little creature did in fact join us on our adventure to fitzroy.

according to the tracking ID, only one more day until i get my very own 24mm lens.  i shot this (blind.  obviously.) with peta’s canon 5d.  love the scope of view.

two more days to join the comments on this post…you could win a year subscription to clickin moms.

one day a week, the babies are looked after and peta and i were able to get our work done so that it was playtime when gemma got home from school.

peta and gemma are fierce jenga competitors.  they both ENJOY making it certain that the next person will fail.  that next person being me by the way.

don’t miss your chance to win a year subscription to clickin moms by leaving a comment on the post before this one!

sometimes i am a little too enthusiastic about photography…that is why peta and i started beyond snapshots.  if you join us for any of our classes (only one seat left for the next class so hurry if you are interested) or workshop talks, be prepared for over sharing.  i have a lot of information and frankly, alec is no longer interested.  i start talking about my search for the best wide angle lens for the money and i can see his eyes glaze over and i can almost read the thought bubble hovering above his head “please make her stop talking.”  i recognize the look…it is the same one i have when he speaks cycling.

i can’t help it.  i just get really excited about things i love.

these guys pretend to be enthusiastic, but really they just want a cookie.  in fact gemma would like 3 cookies.  never too early to bribe.  there is your free tip for the day.

but one thing that is amazing to have when you are learning a craft and excited about the work you are producing is a community of like minded friends.  it is a lifesaver (for husbands like alec.)

that is exactly what you get with clickin moms!  these women have created a friendly and beautiful community where you can virtually hang out with people who are actually interested in your in camera settings.

clickin moms is the newest sponsor here on the blog and to celebrate having them join the sidebar we have a contest for 2 people to win a year subscription each to their information packed forum!

How great is that?  Here is what you need to do to have a chance to win, leave a comment here on my blog (facebook comments do not count, so if you are reading this on facebook, click on over to the site to leave your note) and tell me something photo related…something that would bore the pants off your kid or trigger eye rolls from your partner.  i am listening.

what are you excited about today?

have you found a great photoblog?

want a new lens?

are trying new processing?

going to your first photo/blogging conference?

ANYTHING.

I will be picking 2 random comments as the winners so get clickin.

the contest is now closed, but i love hearing your stories, so if you landed here and have something to share, tell me! like i said, i am listening!

Random Picks:
Congratulations to Julia Avina and Natalie Barnes!

while they get along great most of the time, there are the other moments of frenzied biting when i think they need a DMZ.

sometimes i catch myself thinking “gemma never did that” and then i remember that gemma is
A) a different kid…all kids are different despite having the same parents.  i get that
&
B) did not have a sibling all up in her stuff ALL THE TIME and ohmygod it must be annoying when you are too little to know how to say “Back the hell up and get your own toy.”

gemma is busy being a kid.  a kid with spelling tests and math homework.

that is right, homework at 5.  she loves it at this point, but all i can see is the years and years of more to come.

i am struggling.  i was not prepared for this level of momwork so early.  i need to up my game.

gemma came home from school the other day and told me about her science experiment.  you remember the science experiement, the one that she was supposed to have brought an empty jar to school for.  the jar that they mentioned in a note sent home with plenty of time to prepare.  the jar that every other mother remembered…no?  well me neither.  i forgot her jar.  she looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said “that’s ok mom, mia shared her jar with me.”  sweet mia, gemma’s first lab partner.

it may not seem like that big of deal.  it is just a jar, so what if she had to share a jar, but i come from professional mom stock.  i was raised by a mom who just knew how to mom.  i am pretty sure that she never forgot a jar and there were always little notes in my lunch.

so with things getting even more busy for my work (look here for the great news about my book with peta mazey) now, i am going to have to get organized.  my poor brain (i am not known for my calm organization skills), but for gemma’s sake,so she is not that kid with no jar, i am going to do my best.

so excuse me while i go do some dishes, paint toenails a pretty sparkly color and have another cup of coffee…it is the weekend here in aus!

i answered 5 questions on my life for the new PortraitAllure blog and you can read the interview here.

since the ratings on this site have been reset, it would be great if you took a moment to click on the banner below…does not cost a thing, takes you to the top baby blogs site and registers a vote for my site in doing so!

if you photograph her at a wide open aperture eating only plain crackers in just the right light and up against the white blinds she just looks cute and only slightly crazy.