So, after a couple of years of dreamin’ and waitin’ I’ve finally laid my hands on a proper macro lens. It’s that particular one from the shot on the left – Canon’s latest 100mm Macro with Image Stabilization and weather sealing. More on it you can read here.

It opens a whole new world before the camera, plus I have always been a fan of details. Additionally, the lens can work as a standard 100mm telephoto and thanks to the wide aperture of 2.8 I should be enjoying more of those as well.

Too bad that it’s a working day today (lens just got delivered ~2hrs ago), but I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of its capabilities as times passes. For now – only two more shots below.

 

p.s. More updates on how Petra and I are doing, the church’s work in Sofia and life in its other generalities will be coming soon…

Disclaimer: I just couldn’t resist but share how happy I am with a photo-related purchase. So bear with me, you’ll get to learn some new stuff too maybe.

A 50mm lens (or it’s 35mm equivalent) is the one that best matches the perspective of the human eye. This is why such a lens is also called “normal” or “standard”. I’ve just recently become a happy owner of the mid-range 50mm (non-zoom or “prime”) lens by Canon. As a matter of fact, it’s precisely that lens pictured on the left of the text.

It’s a lens that has a very large aperture opening (f/1.4, the smaller the number, the larger the opening). This means that photographing in low-light conditions has just become even more fun for me.

But so I don’t bore you to death, I’ve attached a few shots of Petra (with her new haircut!), pretty much the first ones I took with the lens. Having a non-zoom 50mm lens is a definite creativity pusher and eye-opener at the same time. The amount of blur on the background (known as depth-of-field) is just mind-blowing. Anyhow, enjoy the photos below and keep reading after them for some more on me and my photography.

Read more…

It’s a question probably dating back to the days when the first overhead projectors entered the church building on Sundays. Or, perhaps, it’s not a question dating to back then. Probably it’s not even a question today. Either way, I don’t care. I ask instead: What’s your image of God? Not so much how you imagine Him, but how you see Him visually at church, on the camp, while you read the Bible to your kids…

Being actively involved with photography for more than two years now, I’ve realized more than ever before how powerful a visual image can be. Moreover, how much an image can reflect and at the same time direct our perceptions of a certain subject. Take a bottle of Coke, for instance – it’s never advertised static, dry and lukewarm, with dull colors… ‘Cause, frankly, who wants a Coke like that. It more sounds like being British tea at 4pm – boring and a thing from the past (for most people, that is). The energetic and fresh Coke image also makes you wish the Coke be that way – it kind of sets the standard for you.

There’s so much thought going into graphic design when it comes to advertising. Sadly, though, there’s little thought put into the graphics and design accompanying our faith. Read more…

It’s a little over two years now since I first started uploading images to Dreamstime.com in hopes of making a few cents. Looking at how things have developed, it turned out I’ve made the better choice by sticking with that as a hobby. I’ve already made far more than I’d expected and the earnings keep increasing with each new month. In 2008 each month has been better than the previous, which is a rather pleasant trend. I can’t complain.

So, in view of the fact that in less than a year we’ll be moving out of our safe temporary habitation to a more independent and demanding life in Sofia I had to give some additional thought to my photo experience. Do I continue on a below-average level and make a few dollars, or do I take a step of faith and continue at a different level? Although exciting, it wasn’t an easy choice to make yet another investment and start working on improving my skills. Read more…

This an exciting thing – for the first time I was contacted by a person who bought one of my photos from Dreamstime to let me know where it’s going to be used. What’s even more exciting is that it’s being used as an Easter Greeting Card. You can find the wonderful Rila Monastery icons on this address: http://anunslife.org/2008/03/21/blessed-easter/

Out of over 730 sales this is the first one to know the use of… I hope that sale 1460 comes soon, so I can get one more message like that. Ha ha…

Just so excited… couldn’t help but let you know. Have a wonderful day!

Petar