Miss My Dogs

Really missing my 2 dogs these days!

Jen sent me this today - Rolo 

I so want to run out and adopt this cutie hahaha.  

And then Jen took off and got another tattoo today, I want one of those too :-(   It's another nice one, hopefully she'll let me post a picture after it heals.  I'm never going to catch up if she keeps getting into the tattoo guy before me!  LOL.

Snowshoeing!

What a beautiful day in the Ottawa region.  Blue skies and temps above 0c.   As a result we had wonderful blue skies with lots of fresh white snow thanks to the storm the other day.   Santa brought new snowshoes to Jen and I at Christmas but we really haven't had enough snow to try them out.  Today was the day!   At the same time it was a perfect day to try out the 2 new lenses.   I've only had the Tamron 17-50mm for 2 days so this was it's first real workout and the more I use the Nikon 80-200mm the more impressed and happy I am with the purchase.  It has to be the best lens I've ever used.   Along the walk we enjoyed the company of 2 of the farms dogs.  Jessy and Monchique (I think I have the names and spelling correct).

Be sure to click the image to see full size.

Make note of the snowball at the top of the image heading
my way.
D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm

Jen showing off the new snowshoes ;-)
Made by an Ontario company called BIGFOOT
D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm

Wanted to see what would happen shooting into the sun.  It works!  Nice star burst at F32
D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm

A couple of shots of my pretty lady ;-)

D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm

A couple of horse portraits.  These are with the big 80-200mm

D200 w/Nikon 80-200mm

Jessy and Monchique (I think I have the names and spelling correct) playing with Jen.  They are her new best friends ;-)    Seems throwing snow for hours is something they enjoy.
D200 w/Nikon 80-200mm

Hope everyone else is having a great weekend as well!

Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 VC First Look

Happy Anniversary to Jen and myself today!   6 whole months and the future looks bright ;-)  Love you babe!

Received my new Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 this afternoon just as the sun was setting.  Not enough time to get outside and see what I can do but tossed it onto the camera, didn't read any instructions, and snapped a few indoor shots.   Not bad, not bad ;-)   First impressions are pretty good.  First, the price was right.  Got it though an E-Bay store located here in Ontario that is hundreds cheaper then Henry's on new Tamron products.  Ordered the lens late on Monday and it would have been delivered on Wednesday if the snow storm wouldn't have stopped the truck.  But got it today (Thursday).   The weight and feel seem really good and professional, not cheap plastic like I thought it might.  Considering the Nikon 2.8 is around $1300.00 and this is the third of the price, well lets just say no complaints from me.

Now that we have snow on the ground, Jen and I are planning on some snowshoeing this weekend, hope to take many more pictures to put this and the 80-200 F2.8 through their paces.

 My now famous icicle at sunset.  Notice it's getting bigger!  As you can see from the background, the DOF is going to be fun with this lens.

 My computer and desk in a dark room.  This was shot handheld no flash.  The VC works very nice.

And my front room in the dark.  Again handheld and no flash.   The F2.8 combined with VC is doing it's job.

But as I said, more tests to come.  But looking forward to trying it out.  Have to go on a road trip tomorrow and going to throw this lens in my bag.  Will see if I get anything to shoot.

Anyone interested in purchasing my  Nikon 18-200mm VR, or my Sigma 75-300mm?   I think my world now revolves around 2.8 glass ;-)