Visions of a Better World
Lat Thursday, one of my favorite bloggers talked about being more open and less anonymous on the blog-o-sphere, and I’ve thought about that a LOT over the weekend. So I thought I’d share a little story from last week and end with a very personal revelation.
Last Thursday, I had an evening of revelry scheduled. I was off to go see the pod-person (i.e. the beautiful little girl that burst fourth from my ex-wife innards seven years ago) perform in her end-of-the-year musical performance.
As I had for several performances past, I brought along the Olympus point-and-shoot digital camera and settled in for an evening of excruciating-audio-torture and intense-parental-pride as my daughter’s private school attempted to demonstrate just what five hundred dollars a month is buying these days (and let me tell you, musically, not much).
As intense-parental-pride overwhelmed the excruciating-audio-torture and moved me to my feet, I pointed the little Olympus POS at the stage and clicked the shutter. A lot.
I got 28 of the BEST blurry images I could have possibly hoped for in this lifetime, or the next. As photos of my daughter, a performance, or…hell, even just a stage with humans on it, they sucked fetid dingo kidneys.
Blurry ones at that.
It was the last straw. I’ve had “take great pictures” on my personal goals list since some time in the early 90s. So on Friday morning I hit craigslist at work and hunted for a deal across every distinct area in three states.
That night, after three emails and a slew of phone calls, I secured a Canon EOS 10D with Battery Grip, two batteries, and all the caps, chargers, software and manuals it had when it rolled off the assembly line in 2004.
I then went to Fry’s Electronics and paid more for a 75-300mm EF lens and a 2GB CF II card then I did for the camera. FUN TIMES!!!
I spent all weekend shooting photos of the cats. Because everyone needs 302 RAW-format images (at 8MB a piece) of uncooperative felines. Seriously. It’s not even negotiable…people NEED this.
Things I’ve learned in the last three days:
1) A decent camera and a good lens really are worth every penny.
2) I need more lenses. At a minimum a good wide angle and a macro.
3) Downloading off a cardreader as opposed to directly off the camera is MUCH faster. Like AN HOUR faster. That should be printed somewhere in the manual. In RED.
4) I need two more batteries, and a 16GB CF II card.
5) Sleeping cats are surprisingly good test subjects. Awake cats are HORRIBLE test subjects.
6) Taking just one good picture of my daughter with her beloved pet is worth more than just money and time.
And so, in a spirit of less anonymity on the blog-o-sphere, I present the pod-person and her beloved Moe. You will never see a more loving and devoted cat EVER.
Just LOOK at that face. That’s his HAPPY face. If I held him like that I’d need more stitches than all the baseballs used in the major leagues. EVER. But I know why he lets her maul him…
…no matter what comes in life, she will always be “my brown eyed girl.”
