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Canon T1i

Macro Garden Delights

April 9, 2010

I screwed my Canon 52mm Close-Up Lens on to my camera (Canon T1i) today and went out to the garden. I’m too lazy to ever think about a tripod, so I don’t really go about macro photography the correct way. But then, I don’t really go about anything the ‘correct way.’ This is as close to a macro lens as I am likely to get for a long while. And I’m a total spaz with the auto-focus. I’ve still got a lot to learn, I know that.

But it was fun to lay on the ground and take these close up shots of my itty-bitty goings on in the garden. Nights have still been dipping into the 20’s here in my neck of Minnesota, so only the hardiest things are in yet.

YES, the shriveled red potatoes sprouted! Almost each little divot where the bulb planter did its work shows a little green tuft like this:

The next thing I planted were the peas. Not the sugar snaps (those are in now, too, but were planted about a week after the shelling peas). I neglected to soak the pea seeds (because I’m both lazy and impatient), so they took their sweet time sprouting. I think the snap peas are going to catch up to them. Aren’t they pretty?

This is that tenacious Johnny Jump-Up (violet) that was blooming the first time I did a garden walk through at the end of winter. I can’t help but wonder if it survived all the -30 nights and sub-zero days and was blooming under the snow? So cute, even if a little blurry.

The Black Seeded Simpson lettuce seeds have just sprouted. The red lettuce variety, not at all. And now, my very faded memory is remembering that none of my red lettuce sprouted last year. Why do I never throw away bad seeds? Only to continue to plant the damn things and waste my time?!

And these are the shallots that should have gone into the ground last fall. A few are up. Many are not. I suspect I will have many holes to fill and that this bed will irritate me all year…

And this… This is a… Maybe I should have contest and see if you can guess! Should I give away an iPad? No, that is so unoriginal. Everyone is giving away iPads. I will give away my love. — for that is a much rarer and precious gift. Just ask my family.

Filed Under: Garden, Tech Tagged With: seedlings, canon 52mm close up lens, macro, vegetable garden, pea sprouts, potato sprouts, lettuce seedlings, Canon T1i, camera

Bit the Bullet and Bought Canon T1i

June 27, 2009

squirrel-tail-grassI researched and obsessed, it’s true. After pulling the trigger, I have small amounts of buyer’s remorse, which is common for me with a high ticket item. Did I really NEED it? Will I really USE it? Is it as GOOD AS the Panasonic Lumix GH1 that I was set on? Time will tell. What it HASN’T done is get me off my fat ass and update my blog with tidbits of useful information and stunning photos. For that, I need to purchase an ASSISTANT (another high ticket item that I am NOT currently researching).

I think I knew this already, but buying a camera is a slippery slope comparable to what? Gambling? Drugs? By that, I don’t mean it’s addictive — tho I’m sure it can be — but EXPENSIVE. No sooner do you spend a cool thousand on a camera, than you want a new lens. And not just any lens, but a good one. A spendy one. Besides that, what do we learn makes a good photo? A tripod. But not just any tripod, but a CARBON FIBER tripod. Etc., etc. So far I have resisted most of these temptations. Well, that’s not entirely true. I DID buy Kelby’s book “The Digital Photography Book, v1” (where I learned about all the stuff I needed to buy) and I did buy a 50mm f2.8 lens for the whole blurry background thing, which is the reason I wanted a DSLR in the FIRST place. That’s not so bad, is it? Oh, wait. One more: NIK Software’s Color Efex Pro that I had been looking at for over a year now, but that was bought with birthday money, so it doesn’t count.

Anyway, like I said, I did it. I bought the camera and I’m trying to use it as much as I can. I’m in a blogging rut, having decided that nothing I have to say is really all that earth shattering or important, and therefore not worth the time it takes to do it. Surely this will shift and I will feel my worth again, regaling you all with blurbs of stunning alacrity and usefulness. However, until that time comes, here are some of my pretty pics from the new camera.

And for all you Lumix GH1 buyers, I don’t want to hear from you. I saved LOTS of money with the Canon, and even IT was still $899. It was a responsible decision that I am happy with.

I think…

snowball-viburnumsingle-peony1buzz-fisherdog1chamomile1charlie-the-chef1

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Canon T1i, DSLR, photography, Lumix Gh1, camera

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About Me

Jen menke

I’m a mostly-retired, pretend graphics and web developer (but don’t judge my skillz by THIS site!). We sold our dream home in Watertown, MN and downsized to a “Villa” in Excelsior, MN and built a home in our dream location of Eagle, CO and now split our time between the two states. It is truly a dichotomous life of absentee gardening and getting together with friends & family while in MN and playing hard and hermitting while in CO. I’ve let the blog go but a trip to Alaska has me resurrecting the Road Warriors series. My beloved brother is my biggest fan and I am doing this just for him.

Latest Reads:

Jennie's bookshelf: read

Trail of Broken Wings
2 of 5 stars
Trail of Broken Wings
by Sejal Badani
Started out strong and dwindled off for me. I wasn't enamored of the writing and -- maybe it's just me -- but the secrets!? I understand that you have to be willing to swallow a fair amount of incredulity when enjoying a lot of fiction, ...
The Girl on the Train
3 of 5 stars
The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
Audible book. Good, mindless listen. Pretty good action and twists. Not as good as all the hype, in my opinion, but I did enjoy. --Not enough to choose for my bookclub though: it would have been carved up by those English-teaching wolves...
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America after Twenty Years Away
4 of 5 stars
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America after Twenty Years Away
by Bill Bryson
Not my favorite Bryson book. However, it's been several years since I last read one and I was -- once again -- astounded by his writing style and voice. I just love him. I think this book is mostly compiled from columns he wrote over a c...

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