photography

what's in my camera bag you ask?

well let's start with my actual bag:

Lowepro Micro Trekker 100

- this is a great bag, it's fits all my current crap PERFECTLY! if i ever get more, i'll need a bigger bag- but i've always stuck with Lowepro!

now, onto the goods: the camera

Nikon D90

- i lusted over this camera. i begged & pleased with the husband. i was rewarded with a resounding "NO!" over & over. so i gave up.

so imagine my shock when i pulled it from under the Christmas tree last year (christmas 08')

"...what!? no way!"

yeah- woot!

the lense:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens

-i have to thank the guy who sold my husband the camera for this thing. he told my husband to nix the crappy kit lense & buy me something nicer. so he did- and i'm happy!

the lense hood:Nikon HB-35 Lense Hood

- is it bad that i've never used this? nor do i know why i would? shame.

the flash:

Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight Flash
- i am ashamed to say that i've only used this flash...never. i'm sorry! i didn't realize how great it actually is. all the things you can do with it- aaaah! even now, after pulling it out last night, i'm so overwhelmed.
the girls on thebump photography board are experts. i sit under their table of wisdom & lick up the crumbs. hopefully i can figure this thing out & put it to good use- the husband will be grateful.


and there you go! in my humble opinion- i think i have some pretty top of the line stuff. the sad thing is that i really don't know how to use it. i've had all this for over a year & i'm just now starting to learn things. i've finally started shooting Manual instead of Auto and it's crazy.
i downloaded Lightroom & CS4 & i'm SO OVERWHELMED! i've got this awesome flash and no idea how or when or why to use it!!

i need a personal photography tutor. that would be awesome.
but i'll learn. i HAVE to!

IKEA!

so this weekened Manda finally managed to make it down to NH (yay!) so on saturday we trucked out to Ikea. woot!

good times were had by all. we found deals, nifty things, ate awesome food & all that jazz.

however there was one heart stopping moment- right after lunch as we headed towards the elevators, miss manda dropped my D90 (ie: my 2nd baby) right onto Ikea's lovely concrete floor. i literally felt my heart stop as i watched plastic pieces scatter across the floor. the look of horror on manda & my husband's face was proably only 1/10th of the horror on mine. omg- my camera.

poor manda- she apologized profusely as she started gathering up pieces. i shushed her of course, after all- it wasn't even her fault. the straps on my Nikon are faulty & i hadn't noticed her holding the camera by them alone.

the husband fished the last piece out from under some carts & as we assessed the damage my spirits lifted. what do you know?! my baby was fine! the only casualty was the plastic piece that covers the view screen & that is easily replacable. everything else popped back into place & there wasn't even a scratch to be found. i took some shots & everything seems pretty ok. i was obviously relieved- but i think my husband was even more so. he's the one that threw down mad $$$ for my baby & if it was broken...eek.

whew. dodged a bullet there. however, i'm going to get a better strap & possibly have a camera guy check the body/lense over- just to make 100% sure. i'll also need to order another view screen cover- but it could have been much worse.

anywho! here are some fab pics of our day. i'm pretty pleased with how they came out (after some Lightroom editing) i'm very muchly trying to get the hang of this camera thing...








manda & alex







alex trying some lingonberry- it may not look like it, but she was a big fan.


princess cake- eh.


chocolate cake- omg!





alex & daddy!

and because they're too presh not to share:



alex's new slippers. ZOMG! aren't they the most adorable things ever?! thank you oh mighty consignment store! they are so soft & fluffy ::squeee::

my only qualm- i'm 99% sure that's real rabbit fur. yikes- sorry little bunny :(
but they were only $3.75- how could i pass them up? she'll be able to wear them in the fall. i literally cannot wait!