Vacation Photography

Whether you are a total beginner to photography or a seasoned semi-pro, taking vacation pictures can pose quite a challenge. It seems that good photos come about almost by random magic. This year your vacation photographs can be full of unique and attractive shots if you follow these simple rules.

Black And White Magic

Bringing back the magic of black and white photographs. It has been a long while since I shot in black and white.

Why I love the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens?

Ever since I bought the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens, I have been in love with it. I graduated from the Canon 50mm f/1.8 to the 1.4 a few months ago. The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a beautiful piece of glass and took my photography to a whole new level. The bokeh is so beautiful and creamy that I have become obsessed with bokeh these days. The 50mm on the crop frame of my Canon 7D cramps up my photography style a little bit but I guess that is good since I now tend to think about the shots I take, trying to find the best vantage point to get as much as I can into the frame.

A 50mm on a crop frame sensor has the same focal length as the 85mm, so you are not really getting the true 50mm experience. This lens is great for outdoor photographs and for filming video. For indoors – such as at home (family shots) or during a party, I find that the frame is too tight. To solve this problem I have now bought the Canon 35mm f/2 lens (I used to take the above photo). I will write another post about the 35mm.

For portraits and close up shots the 50mm f/1.4 is my favorite. I love the rich vivid colors and the beautiful bokeh that it creates. Skin tones are awesome and works superbly even in low light conditions. I never use flash when taking portraits at home with hardly any light.

Before going for the Canon 50mm f/1.4 which is a little pricey, I would suggest you get the 50mm f/1.8 – especially if this is your first prime lens. At less than $100, it will give you an opportunity to see if you are ready for the prime lenses and if 50mm is really your thing. The 50mm 1.8 is an excellent lens too – especially at the price.