can anyone recommend me some new camera gear?

My dslr is going to be 2 years old on Dec. 26. Last year I bought it a 50mm lens to keep it company. I was thinking maybe a new friend might be nice.

Unlike last year, I’m really not sure what I want to try though. I was thinking of looking around for maybe a nice flash, since lighting equipment seems a bit frivolous at this point considering I don’t have a definite space I shoot in. The Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash seems pretty radtacular, albeit a slight bit pricey for my poor ass…

Aside from my 18-55mm and 50mm I’ve only tried a couple 70-200mm lenses and I don't feel that I’d need them for my own work. I only use them for action/sports photography at work and it’s not really my thing personal work wise.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! I’d put them on my christmas list, but I know it’s not something the fam would go for, and I like to work towards/make my own big purchases myself. Plus it’ll give me something to research! =D

Thanks pals~

26/52

apprehensive, originally uploaded by avalilly.

So 26 of 52 is the half way mark. Considering I started this on the first week of 2010... lol.

The moral of the story is, if you have a scheduled plan of sorts, stick to it. I missed one week because of my final finals of university and felt like I failed... and then I didn't take another self portrait until a month later. So it's definitely gotten casual. That's okay. I'll probably still keep going either 'til I get to 52 or until the end of the year just to see how much I did do.

I think I just don't like having to do things, so I enjoy it a lot more when I'm just taking photos because I want to. I do like the challenge though.

I'll try harder, I promise.

e-newspaper

Random thing, but my cousin was in town briefly while travelling with her new job and so I met up with her. She is travelling with a couple of people across Canada to teach artistic robot making in schools. They got me to take a photo of them in front of their crazy robot beaver bus and now it's in the Milton news... online?

http://www.insidehalton.com/community/milton/article/894826

That's the article there.

So I guess I have a news photo credit to my name. Something like that! Sounds like a fun adventure.

25/52

warmer climate, originally uploaded by avalilly.

Alexander McQueen designed a gorgeous monarch butterfly inspired dress for inclusion in his 2011 spring/summer collection. When I say inspired by, I mean it's entirely comprised of monarch butterfly wing patterns. It's awesome.

Thus, I had this terrible urge to own feather monarch butterflies. They're a little more cooperative than the real kind. I've actually been meaning to find some for various other reasons as well, but I guess that was just a good kick to go out and get them. It's strange how reminders show up like that.

They'll be a fun prop to play with for now until I get around to making something out of them.

more news!

I guess I've had some good luck with galleries this week! I was just notified that I'm a selected finalist in the RMGexposed juried photo competition. I will be donating a print of this photo for their silent auction:


I'm not normal, originally uploaded by avalilly.

I don't think there is going to be an extended exhibition of the finalists work, but my print will be there on the evening of November 13th, 2010 at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery if you're interested in joining the festivities. There is a ticket purchase to get in, all proceeds going to benefit gallery educational and public programming.

Hope to see you there!

news!

I recently entered a couple pieces into the 30th Annual Juried Exhibition at my local gallery. I found out yesterday that one of my pieces was chosen to be a part of the show! They chose Knitwit:


knitwit, originally uploaded by avalilly.

I'm really excited. I get to exhibit with a group of varied artists that I haven't met before (well, maybe some I've met)! It's nice, because most of the shows I've been a part of have been basically with a good number of classmates from university, so this is a nice step towards getting my work more exposure.

The show is at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington and it opens on October 17, 2010 with the reception from 2-4pm and it runs until November 7, 2010.

Please stop in if you're in the area! :)

24/52

condolences, originally uploaded by avalilly.

That's me again, hanging out on the ceiling. I'm having fun with these. They are incredibly time consuming, what with getting the furniture to stick to the ceiling and all, but it's worth it in the end.

I may have to print these out soon and see how they look when they're all tangible. I guess with being digital and all, it's hard to tell if my computer screen is hiding anything I may have missed. Sooo many pixels.