champir

Well,  It has been just on a year since my last journal.  The new year has started and it seems that 2011 is the year sent to test Queenslanders and Australians as a whole. After a thoroughly wet XMAS, the new year started with flooding in Rockhampton and areas of Central QLD.  What was already pretty bad flooding has been extended across 2/3 of this huge state. Toowoomba and the small town of Grantham in the Lockyer Valley have been particularly hard hit.  A dozen or more people have lost their lives in flash flooding with many still unaccounted for.  The scenes of destruction are truly distressing. The last few days it has been Brisbane'

I hope to get out and do some more photography this year. Last year seamed a little lean camera-wise. Aim to develop my macro skills this year and would like to progress up from extension tubes to a dedicated macro lens (like the Sigma 105mm/Tokina 100mm/Tamron 90mm). Notable activities for the year will be:-   Jan/Feb - Create a photo project for a special present for my Mum's birthday.   April   - I have been asked to shoot a wedding (we'll see how that goes).   May     - I have an x0 birthday - might need to treat myself for reaching a milestone.   June    - 5 week trip to the UK including a week in Snowdonia in Wales. Maybe I

I finally succumb and splashed out on a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 HSM EX. Although the new model f/3.5 has been announced, I decided to grab the existing lens. This was mostly due to the increased filter size of 82mm on the new model.  I would need to buy larger (& more expensive filters) to suit that lens and I already have a couple of 77mm filters in my bag. I still would like to move to a Cokin style set of filters but 82mm would have forced me into the Z-Pro series. I am fairly excited as to what I can achieve with the 10-20mm so - Stayed tuned for some shots coming shortly.