Spring

A couple more recent pics, both with the 135mm f/2 L - very pleased with this lens, which is frankly let down by my talent behind the camera.

James

More lens testing, this time the EF 135mm f/2 L

Nice weather on the Friday of this past bank holiday weekend, coupled with an ideal location (a lake behind the garden of my sisters now old house) and a very willing subject in my Nephew James.

I'd hoped to get some of my Niece too, but she was far less interested!

Contrast

Another photo from Barton-On-Sea this past weekend. I quite like the contrast of the bright sunlight on the sea against the dark rocks.

I'd really wanted to get some cloud movement, but with the sky almost completely clear (for once) I had to do without!

At 17mm the lens provides an incredibly wide view which is not given justice in this shot. I really look forward to using this lens and trying some other new things, like light trails.

Something new (for me)

So I thought I would try something different photography wise. For some time I've liked the idea of trying long exposures, something I attempted while on holiday in Wales a couple of years ago (and failing due to the amount of light). The first thing I needed was an ND filter to reduce light in to the camera (and therefore reduce the shutter speed). Second I wanted a higher quality lens capable of wide angles since the 24-105 f/4 L is weak in this area (to me at least).

I toyed with the idea of the Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L, but in the end decided to go for the 17-40 f/4 L since it was almost half the price, and at the apertures I intend to use very similar in performance, and better in some areas.

A trip to Milford-On-Sea and Barton-On-Sea this weekend provided the opportunity for me to try them both out. It's something quite new to me, but I'm pretty happy with my initial results.

Sadly Milford was a no go due to recent storm damage, they'd closed most of the beach. But with Barton just down the road I had some other options.