RIP 50mm

My camera's 50mm lens met it's demise this weekend. We were at Long Beach Island, walking around exploring, when I just taken this picture and I went to place my camera on the stroller momentarily, and it literally just slipped through the crack, landing right on the lens, popping it open, guts spewing out, dead. Well..perhaps not guts, but it's pretty neat to see what is inside a lens! Of course, I was devastated, and I didn't even have my standard backup 18-55 with me. I was camera less! I watched several moments unfold where I would just think to myself "Ooh, that would make for a great picture!" I suppose there will be more...but for now, I'll survive..B and H ships really quickly. Just two more days and I should have a new one! Thank goodness!

Last Night I hooked my camera up to my Macbook knowing full and well it had been a while since I'd uploaded pictures from the camera. I was kinda sad actually. I have very few from the last month. It's gone, and I can't get it back! I feel like I've spent so much time working and getting ready for the holidays that I just don't have enough quality pictures of my beautiful child! I did, however, get a few from Christmas tree hunting two weeks ago...I'll post those if I get a chance later!

Chance of snow tonight! Anyone?!

New Lens Fun (and Irises too!)




Joe was a good husband and picked up the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II for me for Mother's Day. Wow, I think this changes everything! So much fun already! I took it out yesterday for a spin, but unfortunately my battery died before I even got warmed up! Considering these are "cold start" pictures..I think I'm in for a lot of fun!



Every year, here in Bordentown, we celebrate the Irises. Perhaps the reason we do is because Franklin Carr, famous hybridizer of irises lived right here IN Bordentown!

A free concert? Let's Go!



As we wandered in from an afternoon of illegal apartment pool swimming, Joe was checking his email.

"awe...Ween is playing for free in Princeton tonight!"

I could hear almost an heir of disappoint in his voice.

"Ween? for Free?! Let's go!"

I ran upstairs and quickly got changed and dragged a brush through my chlorinated hair. Before dashing out the door, I grabbed my camera. I couldn't very well head off to a free show without practicing my newly found photog skills! The last time I did this, I ended up with a picture on http://www.amfibian.com!

We quickly drove up to Princeton. I knew where the park was. I'd driven past it many times before. Did we actually think we'd be able to park in the lot? What a joke! No worries! It was only 7:45...we had a grand total of 15 minutes to find parking and get into the park to find the amphitheater...

As soon as we got in, we spotted our friend Gary up on the amphitheater steps. Thank goodness we had some time to catch up before the boys went on.



The stage was a makeshift deal. The backstage, nonexistant. It was just a cool place to be. As soon as they started, the area in front of the stage began to fill. I got itchy.

"Hold my bag, I'm gonna snap some shots before it gets too crowded down there!"

I headed down, plunging ahead through the crowd. "Scuse me...scuse me!" When you are short, noone seems to complain. They let you go..further through the crowd..and before I knew it, I was standing directly in front of the stage! The lighting was weird, just a few basic old school lights. But I was there! In front of the stage!

I ended up bumping into an old PB friend of mine, Heather, who was also right up front. Before I knew it, the show was over, and I never headed back to the bleachers. Joe came down to meet up with me..

Once you get there..you don't want to leave. It's just a fun place to be!

Miss me much?

It's been a while..you'd think, with summer upon us, I'd have a whole lot to post..and it's not to say that I don't...I probably have a lot more going on in my head than usual..but alas, I can't really post about it all..My brain is mush, going crazy perhaps waiting...but alas, afterall, you really never know who's out there reading...sad that I feel like I have to keep anything to myself, you know?



Anyway, Disney was fun..You'd think after spending a week there, I'd find myself all bleh about being back in good old Bordentown. Oddly, I'm OK with it. I feel like I got my fill of Mickey. It's so easy to get wrapped up in all the magic that is Disney. Staying IN Disney was a whole new experience though, and I'd do it again! Imagine being able to decide on a whim that you'd like to hop on the boat to the Magic Kingdom, or head over to Epcot only an hour before closing and end up eatting tropical pizza at the Polynesian! When I walked into the Wilderness Lodge, I was overwhelmed. It was absolutely stunning and breathtaking. I really did start to cry. I remember watching the Disney channel as a kid and seeing all that Disney was becoming. I never really got to experience it. I went when Epcot was new. Then there was a brief stop at the Magic Kingdom after Big Cypress, but never to MGM or Animal Kingdom!! Disney is an empire these days! In the end, Joe and I still found ourselves at the Magic Kingdom most of all. There is just something undeniably special about Mickey's place that tops all the rest. Walking in to the Electric Light Parade on the first night and closing out our trip nicely by walking out of the Magic Kingdom on the same note 6 days later really is special..

Before I left for Disney, I found myself on a great adventure. Lori and I headed back to see some old haunts. Many of them were just as we remembered them. It was nice to spend that much needed time with her doing what we always did best as teenagers..



It's amazing isn't it? Pacem in Terris is the place..a host to creativity..a tribute to peace..and always a pleasurable afternoon!

Braver




So two weeks ago, right before Page hit the stage at the TLA, I bombarded my buddy Adam for a quick lesson on concert photog. After all, I take mostly pictures of flowers and things around town, but this camera is multifunctioning and I have every intention of making the best of it..at least for now :) He gave me some advice..and I've taken to bringing the toy everywhere..I don't hesitate to bring it with me to venues that say "NO cameras", like World Cafe Live last night..for Amfibian's new debut. Now I'm an old fan of these guys..in fact, it isn't the first time I've showed up with a camera..and if you know what you're doing, you can even find some unlisted amfibian pictures on a page here right on this site..with CC of all people! God she was hot! Anyway, I had a bit of fun last night. The music was good, the lighting was interesting, and noone seemed to care that there was a guy shooting video front and center the entire time!

Page McConnell - Fillmore at the TLA, Philadelphia, PA



So I don't get much time to shoot shows these days. Seems like not a whole lot of good things come along around here. Or maybe I'm just picky..or too shy to bring my camera to a show. As you can see, I often find myself photographing nature or still lifes. None the less, when you've got a camera that costs a small fortune, it's time to expand your horizons. I was very persistant yesterday afternoon, calling the TLA several times to find out their camera policy. I was left with a "small cameras are OK, but nothing big"

uhm, ok..so where exactly does that leave me? hiding a lens and making my Canon Rebel look like a "small camera". Yeah, right..none the less, it did the trick! And Adam thought I was being silly! HA!

Anyway, I got some practice in last night, and I feel like I took some really decent pictures! You can check out the rest here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esthergirl/sets/72157600305633653/

Flowers in Time

Summer has this tendency to go way too fast. Here we are at the end of May and the Irises are in bloom. They won't be for long, so I took some time today to capture them. I present to you this years Irises.