So, I am feeling a little bit bummed. I've spent the past couple of hours looking up newborn photography. Tips, advice, equipment, etc. I've found some really good suggestions and I can't wait to try them out. I am even thinking about going out and buying a baby doll to practise with so that I can get the best photos of my little man when he gets here. I am really excited.

What, then, am I feeling bummed about, you ask?... Well, I desperately want a 50 mm f/1.2 lens for my camera! The problem is that the price tag on one is over $1500. Closer to $1700, in fact. Unfortunately, I have much more important things to buy than a fancy lens, especially with the little one on the way. Things are pretty tight as it is and I really can't afford a frivolous purchase like this. I don't think I will be able to afford it for a very, very long time... maybe in time for the next baby... or the one after that.

Do you think Santa would be willing to dish out that much? Probably not, huh? Well, in that case I will just have to wait and slowly save up for it. 

I know that the equipment doesn't make the photographer. I am sure that once I get the hang of it I will get some very good pictures with my basic kit lens. However, there are certain things that a kit lens just can't do. One of the major things is that my current lens only has a max aperture opening of 4-5.6 (usually closer to 5.6, 5 if I am lucky). Workable for your basic photos, but they won't allow me to get those beautiful, focused shots of his tiny, little toes and fingers, and it won't blur the background the way I want. It's quite frustrating and disappointing when you can't get the photo you want despite having tried everything your camera can give you.

It is something I am just going to have to work with, I suppose. I know that I will be able to get some really great photos, especially if I keep practising. I like the baby doll idea. I am definitely going to grab one the next time I am in town. Hopefully it will help make my pictures even better and prepare me for the real deal as far as knowing how to set my camera to get the images I want. I'm no professional, but I think I can manage to take some decent newborn photos, even without the fancy equipment that I long for.

The dogs will also have to do for practise subjects...

A bit over-exposed, but not horrible. I actually really like this picture.

Black and white makes almost anything better...

Meh, I think anyone could take this photo.

(P.S. - Connery is so much easier to take pics of than Leia. Even though he moves around a lot more and is harder to get to stay still, it is still harder to get a good picture of Leia. She is surprisingly elusive when I pull the camera out.)