Another new lens.

I ordered a 50mm lens a couple of weeks ago on eBay and it arrived today. I am slowly getting used to this whole manual focus thing, and having fun with the wide aperture on this lens (1.4). Which is why most of my pictures have shallow depth of field and are slightly out of focus. ;) We had a fun trip to the park and for ice cream today, so here are some photos:

New lenses! Whee!

I bought some new (to me) Pentax lenses a few days ago. Kijiji, I love thee. Naturally, I had to try a few out on Charlie yesterday. I bribed him with the promise of blackberries and the playground.

Woman in a hat.

This is my beautiful best friend (and cousin) Kris. We had a day of shopping last weekend and had a picnic in the park. I brought along my camera and snapped a few quick pictures of her gorgeous smile and her awesome hat. Beauty doesn't get much more natural and awesome as this.

Around our community.

We live in a small community just outside of a slightly larger community. I don't have a lot of opportunity for urban shots as a result - but I do have some pretty places to take pictures nonetheless. Peterson's Rock, Gaspereau falls--even my own backyard has opportunities if one looks for them. I can't wait to try some in the city sometime, but in the meantime, I like what my area has to offer.

The Nason Family

I was so thrilled when Dave's sister, Patti, asked me to take some family pictures of them for Mother's Day. More beautiful nieces to photograph! (And Patti and Roger, of course.) These are particularly special since Violet was adopted from China in March. She is a long-awaited gift, that's for sure! What a fun family to photograph. They were great sports despite the windy day! And one of the results was one of my favourite pictures ever - the one of Violet on Tori's back, laughing. Thanks for the opportunity, Nasons!

Photo shoot with two beautiful girls!

By the time early May rolled around, my kid was tired of pictures and I was looking for some fresh inspiration. So I asked two of my beautiful nieces to let me take pictures of them. Lindsay (17) and Candice (almost 15) happily obliged and let me order them around in inclement weather (check out those clouds!) for an hour and a half until rain drove us inside. Since they're pretty much natural-born models, I got lots of fun shots and some practice under my belt. Aren't they gorgeous!? Many thanks to my in-laws for letting me use their property.

Expert in the art of coaxing.

Do you have any idea how long it took me to convince Charlie to please, PLEASE sit on the old washtub!? Poor kid. The things I make him do.

That washtub has been upturned under an old tree in my parents' backyard for as long as I can remember. I saw it one evening and the begging commenced.

As you can see, I bribed him with bubbles.