Updates...
Quite a few things to mention in this one.
First, the previous post about the Sigma telephoto lens can now be disregarded, as I returned the lens a couple of days after that post in exchange for a Canon 70-200 f/4L. I took the Sigma out to the airport, where I found that, while it took good images while focused, the focus drive was somewhat inaccurate, and much too slow for my needs. Its replacement (the Canon), has razor sharp and nearly instantaneous focusing (thanks to the USM focus drive), and the pictures it produces are the sharpest and most saturated I've seen from my camera, so I'll definitely be keeping it.
The trip to D.C. went well, and Amy and I got a fair crop of photos. Since term is starting to kick into high gear, though, I really haven't had the freedom to just go around taking pictures like I did during the summer, which is unfortunate.
Interestingly enough, though, I've started to become more and more interested in the technical minutae of photography (specifically, lens engineering), and also the prospect of shooting film with a cheap SLR body (one of the great things about already being invested in a 35mm system--old bodies are really cheap, but its really the glass and your skill that determine the pictures you take, and I'm already invested in good EF-mount glass). It may be, however, that I just want to shot candid stuff more, which is frankly a bit tough with my current setup, as the only lens I have of appropriate length to do that is just huge, so I can't really justify carrying it around with me (truthfully what I need is a Rebel G or 1000F with a 50/1.8, but digital--oh well).
The First Earned Dollar...
I was looking over my User options panel on A.net, and I remembered that I'd forgotten to select the option to make the last four photos I'd had accepted as items which were up for sale as prints (at the time, it wasn't entirely clear to me why exactly I do this). I clicked on the button to change the "for sale" status of the photos, and immediately realized that I'd in fact clicked the button to view the sales statistics. Before I could hit the back button, I happened to glance at the sales statistics, and did a double-take when i saw what it said. Evidently someone purchased a print of one of my photos. Meaning that I get a cut (only twenty-four cents, but a cut nonetheless). I've officially been paid to be an aviation photographer. Plan C?...check (it
was plan C, right, Amy?).
On a slightly related note, I received the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO lens I ordered from B&H in the mail last night. Haven't had a chance to thoroughly test it out yet (haven't been to the airport recently, with Workweek and rush going on), but from the fewe initial photos I
do have, it seems to be every bit as sharp as my Canon 28-135mm IS, though slightly less saturated (easily correctable, though). Ray and I may head out to the airport tomorrow afternoon to try out our equipment (the weather's been pretty nice), but if we don't get a chance to do that, there's definitely the George's Island trip on Saturday (the boat travels directly under the pattern for runways 4L/R-22L/R at BOS). And even if that trip doesn't work out, I'll definitely have a chance to do plenty of spotting on the trip Amy and I are taking to Washington D.C. next weekend (which is, to first order, just a really extensive spotting trip).
Must get some sleep. I have a 9Am class tomorrow, and its also Bid Day, and I'm in one of the bid sessions.
