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Ode to my daughter.........

My daugheter Eloise The photo you see was taken by my 2 year old daughter Adeline. It is the last image that my Panasonic Lumix Digital will ever take, may it rest in peace. I was downloading photos from my camera onto the computer the other day when my daughter chimed in that she wanted to ‘take a picture of weezy' (her 6 month old sister Eloise). How cute! So I gave her the camera and she took the shot like a pro. Then she threw the camera on the ground and jammed the *!%&* lens.

As soon as my frustration subsided, I suddenly realized that this was a blessing in disguise. Although I love my 35mm, it's use has dwindled over the last few years, to the point where it now just collects dust. I am going to get back into photography and this time I'm going digital! I have to admit I've been drooling over the digital SLR's for quite a while; now my time has come.

Especially since the Staging business demands that I have a decent camera for the "After" shots. A good quality wide angle is needed for interior shots and digital SLR's are the only way to get em'. Reading Craig Shiller's blog on photo editing and how critical good photographs are inspired me to go all out and get a really nice getup! Now I'll be able to offer as an added value to my service amazing shots for the realtor to use in their MLS and flyers. Now I just have to figure out how to use the camera and the photo editing software!

So without further ado, I would like you to meet my new best friend. A Canon XTi with the 17-85mm f4/5.6 USM *IS* lens!!! AND I got the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5 - 4.5 USM wideangle lens. I will be posting some shots as soon as it comes in the mail! With the uv filters, hoods, memory, etc it cost a pretty penny.

I would like to formally thank my daughter Adeline for breaking my camera, Craig for inspiring me & my dear husband Stuart for letting me spend the money!

I am so excited!!!!!!!!

P.S. Adeline, you are not allowed to play with mommy's new toy!!

Posted by Jessica Hughes on 12/06/2006 09:07 PM

Comments (17)

photography, colorado, home staging, ambiance staging, jessica hughes

17 Comments on Ode to my daughter.........

DEC

2006

How adorable! And congratulations on that new camera. We'll be looking for some of those photos soon!

You will love 17mm wide angle! You will love the IS! And the XTi is a fabulous camera.

What photo editing software do you use now? If you are not already using it, you will want to try Photoshop, Photohop Elements, or Paint Shop Pro.

Come visit the Compuserve Photography Forum sometime. There are several Canon users there. I have learned an amazing amount of Photography stuff by reading posts there for the last umpteen years.

Thanks Cheryl!

I hope I will love it! I wasn't sure if if was worth the money to get the XTi over the XT, I have been spending HOURS and HOURS over the last week reading review on cameras and lenses.

I was really torn between the D70 and the XT(i), but it was the Canon 10-22 that finally won me over.

I am getting Photoshop Elements (3.0) with the camera so we'll see. I'm not willing to fork over the extra $$$ for PS, at least for now. I might upgrade to Elements 5.0, but I've read mixed reviews whether it's worth it. Let me know if you have any opinion on this.

Jessica ~ you are going to love the new Canon! My son just bought one, I had my hands on it just yesterday...very nice!

The baby is adorable...nice post!

DEC

2006

New cameras are such a breath of fresh air!

They are my favorite hobby. Enjoy! :)

Jessica, your daughter is such a cutie, Thx for sharing...

I love a happy ending! Best of luck with your new camera Jessica! You have peaked my interest - I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures!

I purchased a Kodak V570 because of the wide angle capability. I am ashamed to say that I don't know what most of the features are or what they do...you see I hate to read manuals! I am totally a visual person, but alas, there is no one that I know who can show me how to use it! I even have problems downloading pictures onto my computer (I've been known to erase an entire segment!).

I'm thinking of hiring someone to take my pictures for me! Too bad you don't live closer!!!

P.S. your girls are adorable (I remember seeing Adeline's picture on another blog)!

DEC

2006

Jessica - cute post and really cute picture! Funny how something sorta bad happens and the result is something good - a NEW camera to learn and play with. Have fun exploring with it. I've been toying, ever so slightly, with the notion of a new camera, but it all is so intimidating to me because, like Val, I don't know much about most of the features.

Ann

Clouds with silver linings - just compare your response to someone who would get angry with the child and perhaps abuse the child.

Enjoy the camera - and your daughter.

Hi Jessica

the picture is priceless and one you will treasure for years to come. Getting a new camera is definitely something my husband has been bugging me to do, but I am afraid to make the move just yet because I do not want to get something that will be too complicated for me. Let me (us) know how this camera is and how easy it is to use..

Thanks Phyllis Pafumi

DEC

2006

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

I will let you all know how easy/difficult it is to learn to use the camera. Amazon said I should recieve it on the 14th of December!!! I will post some shots soon thereafter.

Sharon, I don't even want to think about it!! She certainly had no intention of doing harm, I could hardly be upset with her. It didn't stop me from feeling annoyed, but one must NEVER act on those feelings.

Wow, what's with the gold stars! Thanks to whoever tagged mine with one! I appreciate it! What a fun new tool......

Jessica,

You are going to love that 10-22! I also recommend the 17-55 as an all purpose lens on the XTi.

I am using Photoshop now. Usually, one a year Adobe offers an upgrade to Elements users for $299. I figured I couldn't loose with that. I have a number of friends who have upgraded Elements from V3 to V5 and they are all telling me that it's a great upgrade.

Norm! I am SO FLIPPIN EXCITED to test out the 10-22! One of the reasons I opted for the Canon was because it's lighter weight than the Nikon and I want to take it on hikes with me in the Indian Peak District where I live! I want to see what kind of panoramas I can get out of it on mountaintops!!!!

Thanks for the advise on the Elements upgrade! I will be getting the 5.0 now! Amazon is offering a rebate for upgrades.

It's great for panoramics as well. The other day, I did about a 150 degree pan of a river vally with three images for a VT. Camera was in a horizontal orientation. They fit together in PS beautifully.