Football with a New Camera Lens

I got a new camera lens this week!! Woo Hoo!

A zoom lens; 70-300mm. And boy did it come in handy this week at the boys flag football game. It's been an awfully fun lens to use because I can get photos that, otherwise, I'd only get if I were right up in the subjects face. The only thing I'm still learning about this lens is how to focus. My other lens, the 18-55mm one that came with the camera, has an auto focus so it's not something I've had a lot of practice doing. Focusing manually becomes instantly harder when the subject is running too. So forgive me any blurry photos today. Besides...it's football, you get the idea blurry or not.

HA! The only photo they are both in. These coaches are smart....they don't put Yip and Yap near one another or they'll end up tackling one another!

Yip, #6. Go get em!

I'm not sure what this look is for he's giving me but he's awfully cute with that mouthpiece jammed in his jaw!

Yip down in his stance.

Yap...I think it's against the rules to hold on to his shirt.

God Bless Coach Mike! He sure is positive with all the kids.

He's giving Yap some encouragement here.

Yap, I DEFINITELY know a straight arm to another guy's face is against the rules!

Geez, I kind of wish they had pads and helmets!

Panning at the Park

The kids, one of their friends and I went to the park the other day. Good thing I brought my camera because it was the perfect opportunity to practice panning!

Slow shutter speed + moving camera with the moving object = in focus subject, blurry background.  

Well, the blurry background was easy to get but my subject wasn't much in focus.

I was really happy with the bright colors though especially our friend's turquoise shirt and shorts.

The kids enjoyed looking at their blurry selves on the camera screen, especially when it looked like their legs disappeared! Cool!!

Then we jumped on the merry go round. This was a bit easier since I didn't have to move the camera. But 5 minutes round and round and I was ready to toss my cookies! How do kids do this all day long???

Panning....deceptively simple....especially on the merry go round!

I have a new.....

......CAMERA!!!!

That's right! DR surprised me with a Nikon D3000 last week!

 I've been taking pictures left and right and trying really hard to figure this thing out. You would not believe how many different settings there are on this camera...hundreds! I'm learning histograms, white balance, aperture and shutter speed. I'm having so much fun!!

Most days I can't wait to find some free time to get this little baby in my hands.

Of course the first few hundred pictures I took were of my kids. Nothing great, just playing with my camera trying to learn.

As I was reviewing a bunch one night some of Yap's expressions cracked me up and I thought I'd share.

I asked the boys to jump and pose for me.

Hi-YAH!!!

What is that Yap? I tell ya, this boy is one goofy kid.

I'm not sure what is going on here....but he LOVES getting his picture taken.

Why are you hiding that gorgeous smile?

There it is!!

What are you Yap, a werewolf? Sorry, Halloween is still a couple weeks away.

Hopefully my photos will just get better from here on out.

Okay photo experts out there, I want advice! Anything and everything! Tips, hints, books to read, photos to take. I want to dive in headfirst!