Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II zoom lens – I’m in love!

I bit the bullet and upgraded to Canon’s 70-200 f/2.8L IS II professional zoom lens. From everything I have read, this new-and-improved Mark II lens is not only Canon’s finest zoom lens ever, it’s perhaps THE highest quality zoom lens ever made by any manufacturer. Tack sharp. Vibrant color. Improved image stabilization enabling hand holding at slow shutter speeds.

So as soon as it arrived today, I grabbed some shots outside of my home for 30 minutes or so before it began to rain. (Why is it that it always seems to rain on days when I receive new camera equipment?). I am blown away by the lens and image quality which more than justifies its 3+ lb. weight and $2,000+ price tag.

Here are some of my favorite test images – straight from the camera with the exception of basic post processing of RAW files in Adobe Lightroom (similar to what cameras do for JPEG files automatically).

I can’t wait to use it for portraits of individuals, children, and small families. The lens will also be great for covering concerts and events. What do you think? A keeper?

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Falmouth Cape Cod Photography class begins February

Smartphone cameras have sure come a long way!  My iPhone 4S (always with me) has enabled me to capture some pretty good pictures I would otherwise have missed. But anyone with more than a mild interest in photography knows that taking WOW pictures more consistently means having a real camera, and knowing how to use it.

If you want to move off Auto mode and start taking control of exposure, depth of field, and motion, sign up for my next Basic Photography class  at the Cape Cod Conservatory in Falmouth beginning Saturday, February 4th. After 6 weeks, you will be amazed at how much more artistic control you have over tricky situations… learned in a fun and supportive environment. Take a look here for more info on my Basic and Intermediate classes.

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Cape Cod Photography Classes in Falmouth

I’m happy to announce that my Intermediate Photography class is scheduled to start on Saturday, April 2 at 9 am at the Cape Cod Conservatory, Falmouth campus. The class is limited to 12 students.

This course is designed for students who have a basic understanding of how to use aperture and shutter modes, and are ready to get to the next level – artistically and technically.  Seeing creatively, composing artistically, and taking control of light – the paintbrush of photography – will be the core focus. We’ll cover a variety of genres, including landscape photography and portraiture. Two of the classes will be actual photo shoots.

Information on the Basic and Intermediate training classes, scheduling, and registration is here.

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Basic Photography class

Winter is a great time to catch up on projects and goals. After several people asked me last year if I offered training for beginners, I’m thrilled to be able to finally say “yes!” I’ll be teaching a Basic Photography class on Thursdays, April 22 to May 27, from 6 to 8:30 PM in Woods Hole. The class is for beginners who want to learn how to use their digital SLR camera to capture well-exposed, artistic images more consistently.

Besides essential camera functions (aperture, shutter, etc.), we’ll cover creative photography concepts, including lighting, perspective, depth of field, and composition. Through weekly lectures, demonstrations, handouts, assignments, and photo critiques in a friendly and supportive setting, I’m sure students will have lots of fun learning how to confidently move beyond automatic mode. The current class schedule and training info is here.

 

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