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11-22-06


I shook as I handed the guy the credit card at Camera Corner, but I also couldn't
WAIT to get home and give this new lens a shot. I had read many rave reviews and
looked at thousands of unbelievable pictures taken with the same lens, so I knew I
was into something good. Basically, the whole night I shot at f/4 (its highest aperture
setting) to compare the softness to my other lenses. Well, there was hardly ANY
noticable soft edges, and that is absolutely incredible. I called up my cousin Mike
again to see if he wanted to head back out, and he agreed. Well, I made the mistake
of turning the tv to Comedy Central when I got home and there was a few Southpark
episodes on, so I got a little carried away. Finally, around 9:30 I set out to give it
a crack. This first shot is on a back road in Barstow. This is the very first picture
ever taken with this lens...but certainly not the last.
                         

                                                                                                               















There was also some railroad tracks along
this back road. I thought I could FINALLY
get the picture I've been wanting for the past
three weeks. While we were waiting, I wanted
to take a few more shots. This is also at f/4.


                                                                                                                         














Still waiting, I decided to see how some
little star trails would look through this
lens. I really didn't give it much time,
but they are definitely alot more crisp
than my other lenses.


Still waiting, I was still wanting to fool around with the high f/4 aperture
so I found the North Star and used the light pole as a prop.
                     

And then...we hear it, the sound of a train coming from the east. I closed the
cable release on the last picture, found a spot on the other side of the tracks
and set up. Everything was perfect. I finally thought I was going to get the shot.
Well, as it neared, it was starting to cast a slight flare over the face of the lens,
so I ran back to my truck, grabbed a lens hood, ran back and screwed it on.
As MY LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, it was still locked on autofocus and when
I went to go take the picture, it couldn't find a focal point....hence, NO PICTURE.
I was so irritated I wanted to just give up the rest of the night. I scrambled to find
the AF/MF switch, but I am brand new to this lens so when I found the switch, it
was already too late. I did get the tail end of it as it passed though. Yay. Anyway,
I just don't think I was ever meant to snag this shot. Oh well.

                       

So, we drove around town again, just trying to find something. I honestly didn't really
care at this point, but I did still want to test out the lens. So, we went back to River Drive
in Moline and tried the Isle of Capri again. The boat is still blown out, but I really just wanted
to compare the differences in detail from the other night. They are much more crisp, that's for
sure. This was the only shot I took of this.
                 

                                                                                                                 













It was getting pretty late at this point, so I
decided to snap on last pic and call it a
night. I wanted this one because the
Big Dipper was visible again and had
its handle right over the towers across
the river. So, all in all, I was pretty
happy with the results. Much more
detail and crisper shots. I just can't wait
until I can stop forcing some pictures and
actually have something worthwhile to
shoot. I'm actually really looking forward
to snow.

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Nature, the way it was intended!