I used to worry about stuff like getting the right aperture, getting the right shutter speed, what ISO for this and what mode should I use, in other words, I worry too much about getting the perfect photograph, and sometimes, it can be overwhelming. Then I realized that it’s all about expression.

Don’t worry too much about technical stuff, just relax, slow down, think of what you’re doing, and remember, Expression Over Perfection.

Gear:
Canon EOS 20D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM

Gear:
Canon EOS 20D
EF 85mm F/1.8

Once again thousand march through the street of Washington DC to commemorate the anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington in 1963 and in support of Rev. Al Sharpton’s Reclaim the Dream rally which included a five-mile march that culminated at the Mall.

Gear:
Canon EOS 20D
Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC Zoom Lens for Canon

There is beauty in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that object provides.

I am way behind in this project, still struggling to keep up.

Day 238(Aug. 26, 2010), just the usual. I just got back from my morning run, enjoying my morning coffee and reading an issue of Wired Magazine, still thinking of what photo to make for today. While looking at what’s in front of me I decided to continue on the light and shadow for the rest of the week, and took a snap at my coffee travel mug.

Gear:
EF 50MM F/1.8

Day 237(Aug. 25, 2010), it was 8AM. I just got back from my morning workout, I pour coffee into my mug and sat down on the kitchen table, I was about to grab a magazine when I remembered I still have no photo for today. Hmm. Then I noticed the window blinds were fully retracted and the bright light coming from outside was hitting this hanging tray, that’s when I saw this photograph in my mind come to life. Took a couple shots and here it is, the photo of the day.

Light illuminates shadows define.
In photography we need light, without light there can be no photograph, without shadow there is no definition.

Gear:
EF 50MM F/1.8

I was enjoying my morning coffee in the backyard when I noticed the grass, “cool” morning dew. I immediately went back inside and grab my camera with a my 50mm 1.8 with and 31mm extension tube, I then took the shot crawling way below the ground.

Gear:
EF 50MM F/1.8
Pro Optic Budget Auto Extention Tube Set for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Part of the 2010 Daily Photo Project. I went to a nearby forest hoping to find some small creatures, and luckily I found one. Thank God.

Gear:
EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Pro Optic Budget Auto Extention Tube Set for Canon EOS SLR

Spent an hour in the pond nearby, I just sat on the bench looking afar, I suddenly noticed that I was staring blindly looking at nothing. I walk around, but cannot find anything that inspires me. Then I saw this hanging upside down just beneath the leaves of the tree infront me, and I new that I finally found the perfect picture for today.

Gear:
EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Pro Optic Budget Auto Extention Tube Set for Canon EOS SLR

The more I do macro the more I get hooked. Maybe because macro gives me a new way of loooking at things, it gives me a chance to see things the way I have never seen before. Likfe for example the photo of the dandelion above, years ago, I pretty sure I would have never notice it, but now, lots of things or shall we say vision comes to my mind when I see these lovely creations.

Gear:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
Lens : Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro
Exposure Program : Aperture-priority
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 400

There maybe times that you felt there aren’t any good subjects around you to take pictures of, or maybe you’re bored because you already have pictures of those, don’t worry, maybe all you need to do is move a little closer, or move back a little further or maybe you just have to Make Pictures.

The photo above was taken using a Sony DSC-T20.

Don’t let the rain stop your creativity, and don’t worry too much about your gear getting wet. There are a lot of subjects that you can photograph that will convey the meaning of rain, like for example the photo above. I took this photo earlier today, as soon as I notice that the rain has eased up, I went outside with my Glad DSLR rain cover and took a few snapshots, yes it was still raining. But my handy glad dslr rain cover allowed me to take this photo. I’m glad there is Glad.

While I was inside watching the rain from the window I thought of taking this photo of rain drops.

Details of the Top most Photo:
Taken with a Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 90 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: +2 EV
Exposure Program: Shutter speed priority AE

Details of the Second Photo:
Taken with a Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Exposure Program: Shutter speed priority AE

Here’s a photo of a bird in flight, taken with a fast shutter speed, of 1/500, because of the fast shutter speed, I was able to freeze or stop the action.

So next time you shoot just remember, if you want to stop the action, use a fast shutter speed, if you need to show motion in your photos, use a slow shutter speed.

Taken with a Canon Rebel XS with the EF 70-210mm F/4 Macro Lens

Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 202 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Mode: Manual

Another photo taken from our backyard. Birds are active during spring time. You can find them playing around in the morning between 6 AM to maybe 10:30AM and in the after noon when it starts to cool down around 4:30PM until sunset.

Camera : Canon Rebel XS
Lens : EF 70-210mm F/4 Macro
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 210 mm
ISO Speed: 800

Exploring the World of Macro. Still trying to get a hang of it. I need more practice.


Taken with a Canon Rebel XS with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens.

Truly patience is your best friend when dealing with fast moving subjects while using an old lens.

Taken with a Canon Rebel XS with the EF 70-210mm F/4.

I was impressed with the performance of the EF 70-210mm F/4, with it, I was able to take photos that wasn’t just possible with the Tamron 17-50mm, because of the distance.  All the photos on this post are of the 70-210mm and none of them were post processed, they came straight from the SD Card imported to my lightroom library and uploaded to flickr.

While I was using this lens, I realized that, truly the best lens is the one you have.(Got this phrase from Chase Jarvis.:-))

Despite it’s old age (Manufactured 1985), some floss and limitations (no is, slow) it was impressive. I must tell you, IS and a fast F/2.8 really makes a difference. My Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP VC (Vibration Compensation) did an excellent job, but because of the limited focal length, I needed to use a Telephoto. I wish I have a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens or a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS. Maybe next time.

Most of the photos were taken with an ISO 400 to 800, Aperture of F/4, shutter speeds vary from 1/60 to 1/125.

Here are some of the photos taken using the Canon Rebel XS and EF 70-210mm F/4 Macro

You can get a Canon EF 70-200mm F/4 L IS USM from reputable stores like Adorama.Com and Amazon.Com .

Have you ever felt bored about your pictures? Sometimes I do, until I disovered that there are a lot of things down there. Like many others I use to take photos on the eye level standing height, I only take photos of those things I can see, I don’t bother to check my sorroundings, and I rarely look down.

So next time you go out to take pictures, try to go down on your knees, you will find out that there is a beautiful world down there. Freeze the moment with your camera and cherish it for a long time.

Taken with a Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.
Exposure : Aperture-Priority
Aperture : F/10
Shutter Speed : 1/160
Focal Length : 135 mm

I was confined inside the house all week because of a heel injury. It prevented me from moving and doing a lot of things, including taking photos, but yesterday, when I look at the window I saw the this tree right out my windows and can’t really resist the beauty of the flowers that are full-blown. Last week when I last saw them they were just tiny little buds and now they look so beautiful especially with the color of the afternoon sun shining at them giving them this beautiful color of life.

I shot 2 sets each with six photos under different exposures, I use bracket metering because the sun is setting down so fast I can’t afford mess with the camera settings, and it’s really kinda hard to it while standing with crutches.

I use the second set and and all six photos in making this simple real-life HDR Photo.

My Gear:
Camera : Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera
Lens : Canon EF 70-210mm F/4 Macro
Focal Length : 210mm
ISO : 100
Aperture : F/5.7
HDR was process using PictureNaut.

Camera : Canon Rebel XS
Lens : EF 70-210mm F/4 Macro
Exposure: 1/100
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 210 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Program: Aperture priority AE