I Must Confess – First Post for August!

Around my home & garden

By minsmash on August 11, 2014 • ( 22 Comments )

I must confess that I have not blogged in a while and in fact this is my first post for August and it is already 11 August!!

I have not been sitting around doing nothing though.  I have been working hard on my photography studies.  I submitted my second last photography assignment and was relieved to get good marks back.

My final photography assignment is a big one which requires me to submit six of my best photographs in one particular field of photography as a portfolio (+ writing up and answering questions etc) and I really want to be able to submit top quality photographs that I am proud of for it.

During the research process for recent assignments, I decided on which particular lenses I would need to do the type of photography I love, and that an upgraded camera would be required.  The camera I have been using is a Nikon D3100 – no longer even entry level as it has been superseded so many times.  The camera I decided on was a Nikon D7100 – a huge improvement on the D3100 and affordable.

The great news is that I recently got my new camera and lenses and I am absolutely thrilled!!  I am very lucky and extremely grateful to now be far better position to move forward with my goals.

The bad news is that I have been sick with a temp and a tummy bug so have not been able to get out and about and have a proper play with them all yet.

I am planning some field trips to acquire a heap of shots with my new gear and hopefully my final six will be within them.  I’ll be going to Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Southbank, Brisbane City, and on my own doorstep – the Wynnum Manly waterfront (Moreton Bay) and possibly some day trips away somewhere on some weekends if I can manage it!

In the meantime, here is a sneak peak of what my gorgeous new camera can do … and this is when taken by sick me – just snapping – not really trying – who hasn’t even read the manuals for the camera or the lenses yet (yes each lens comes with its own little booklet of info!).  I am in love!  The difference in quality of photographs is amahhhzzzing!!  I also have a new wide angle lens which I have not had a play with yet.  I can’t wait to see what images I can capture with my new gear!

Some snaps with the macro lens attached:

Snapdragons in my garden

A succulent in my garden

Red Geraniums about to flower

A snap from my sick bed with the 50mm prime lens attached:

My dressing table snapped from my bed. 
The window reflects the Sunday afternoon sunlight through the window.
L to R:  A beautiful scarf I won in a Sportscraft competition.
A pot made by the hands of my BFF’s mother for my 50th birthday.
Containers from Asia for my jewellery (my sister was an ex-pat in Asia for 10 years). 
A photo of my daughter aged around 3.  The clock part of this frame has not worked in many years. 
Slipped into the mirror is some information on the Japanese vase and cups my brother brought back for me from Kyoto.
The rest is jewellery etc (nothing fancy LOL).

Today I have been trying to pretend I am better but I must confess that I am not quite there yet so I will get this published and then toddle off to pop some Panadol and hope that I can get some things done today with a rest or two thrown in! 😉

Today I’m linking up today with Emma of Five Degrees of Chaos for I Must Confess.  Kirsty from My Home Truths who usually hosts is taking a well deserved break.

Ciao for now,

Categories: Around my home & garden, General Mish Mash

Tagged as: #D7100, #flowers, #garden, #geranium, #macro, #nikon, #photography, #snapdragon, #succulent