After pondering my trip to Alaska it became quite clear that I would be wanting to take a ton of photographs. And that's the thing, I wanted to take photographs not just pictures.  I just knew that my little Sony point and shoot would not be up for the kinds of photos I want to take. So after thinking about it for quite some time and talking with my friend Lotte in Denmark who was considering a new camera at the same time decided upon the Canon EOS Rebel XTi.  In Europe its known as the Canon EOS 400D but its the exact same camera.  Besides it will be fun to learn this new camera and rediscover photography together with someone who's bound to have the same questions in figureing this thing out.  I also have Chris and Diane for help as they have the Canon Rebel XT which is effectively the same camera and they've been using it for quite some time. 

So I bought this digital SLR along with two upgraded lenses.  I purchased a Canon 17-85mm IS USM and a telephoto 70-300mm IS USM to take pictures of wildlife from afar.  I don't think it to unreasonable to want to be a fair distance away from a bear while taking his mug.  I've no desire to end up as a couple hundred pounds of bear dung.  I'm like that you know.

So here's my set up the way it stands now:


In addition to this I'd like to get two additional lens prior to the trip.  I'd like to get a Canon 100mm macro lens for those close up shots and a Canon 10-22mm wide angle lens for taking landscapes.  My current equipment is just fine for the time being for learning about the camera and photography again. 

I say again b/c I took some courses in college and really enjoyed it but that was quite some time ago.  I recall some of the basics regarding shutter speed, aperature settings and depth of field but have a lot to rediscover and learn.  That's one of the great things about digital though is that the learning is easier b/c you don't have to wait hours or days to see your results.  You get them right away and can adjust right then and there.  So while the initial investment is rather substantial the ongoing costs are very reasonable. 

So for my first use of the camera I went up to Little Talbot State Park to try it out.  I have to admit I had very little idea what most of the buttons, dials and gizmos did but it was still fun to get out there and try things out.  This is one of my first pictures.  Lotte said it reminded her of a womans stomach and I didn't think of that until she said it but I see her point.


I then took this shot down on the beach that the trail leads out to.  I sent the original to Chris and she showed me what Picasa can do.  Here's my original.


After Chris worked with it for a bit on Picasa this is the same image she sent back.


Yeah you can say there's a huge difference there.  Thanks Chris!!!

So the following weekend I went to the zoo.  I figured since I'll be taking photos of animals in Alaska the zoo might be a good place to start.  Going back to the benefits of digital, I took over 250 pictures inside of about two and a half hours.  I never in a million years would have done that with film.

Just a couple of shots that I like.


And this one I really like.


Two more.



OK that's the end of this post.  You can go about what you were doing before now.