Wow, has it really been since October that I updated this Blog?Yikes!!!
NYR (new years resolution) #1 - Keep up with the blog at LEAST once a month!
The good news is that most of the blogger slacking has been caused by lots of photography, both for clients and just for us as a family. Several Weddings ending the year as well as some Senior and Newborn portrait sessions with even a few Product sessions thrown into the mix...great people met and lots of fun, interesting images captured. Since the next couple of months are generally a slow period, hopefully I'll be able to share a few photos and stories that captures at least a little of the things we've learned and experienced since October, before the onslaught of Spring Wedding fever overtakes us.
One quick review I would like to throw in is for the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens that Heather and I purchased a couple of months ago (which the above image of Talon was taken with). We had owned a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 for probably 6 months and though I did like the images and bokeh it produced, it was just so slow to focus after being use to our Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 and our Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 (which grabbed focus so quick they were almost scary) I just hated using the thing. I ended up just giving it away with our old D80 when I sold it.
I still wanted a good 50mm prime that would give us that creamy background that all of us photographers crave, so after reading a few reviews and comparisons between the Sigma and the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4's, we chose the Sigma...and absolutely couldn't be happier.
First off, it grabs focus almost instantly! Even in the lowest light, it can find and lock in focus better than any other lens we have...period! The bokeh is creamy and soft as butter...a blur to die for. The only negative to some would be it's size...it's a pretty big lens compared to the 1.8's and other 1.4's (mostly because of the HSM motor that gives it it's focusing speed) but if you're already use to the 2.8's it is absolutely no issue.
Can you tell I love it? It is actually on my camera most of the time now. If it's something very serious and I am under the gun to get a good photo in varying conditions and distances I still will put the 17-55mm f/2.8 on first...but if I have the time and no distance constraints to keep me from moving around, the 50mm is probably going to be my "go to" lens. Just too much fun...
Well, here's hoping this coming year is good for all of us, both photographically and personally. Keep your sensors clean and your imaginations free and hopefully we'll talk again very soon...
Jeffrey
