spiffy tools — Minneapolis Wedding, Event and Portrait Photography by Austin Images

Canon 15mm Fisheye vs. Sigma 10mm Fisheye

June 17, 2009 By Susan Leave a Comment

Well, the Fisheye Lens simply got it’s name from it’s obvious
appearance. The way that these lenses protrude mimics
an actual fish eye thus giving spherical dimension to an image.

Here’s a couple of samples from my Canon 15mm 2.8

**Keep in mind that the closer you are to your subject
with a fisheye lens, the stronger the distortion.
It’s really a fun lens to have in your bag!

Now here’s a few from the Sigma 10mm 2.8

Oh, and the bottom 3 (of Boo) I had placed the Sigma
lens on my 10D so you can see a dark vignette around
the images. That’s because unlike my Mark 3, the 10D
does not have a full frame sensor therefore you get that
lovely (yuck) black vignette around your images. Not nice.

Well, they both run between $650 and $700 so be sure
that you get what you want/need. B&H was happy to allow
me the time to order the Sigma, test them side by side
and then return one. I chose to return the Sigma…for now!

Enjoy.

Filed Under: Technology/Tools Tagged With: spiffy tools

New Pro Site 4 Viewing/Purchasing!

June 1, 2009 By Susan Leave a Comment

WOW! It’s JUNE!!! WHAT?

Yay! I’m so excited to share with you my newest toy.
Well, first there was the fisheye lens a couple of weeks
ago but NOW I have a new site in which you can view &
purchase my stuff. I’m still playing around with it a
little but here it is ~ SmugMug.
I’d love to know what you think. I mean about things like
the functionality of it and all (well the images too, go
ahead and comment on them as well!).

I had the most FABulous time yesterday morning with
Jenn & Andy. I had them meet me in St. Paul Sunday morning
and we traipsed around for awhile and even ended up at
the Farmer’s Market. Jenn and Andy were so awesome!
They were willing participants and were open to suggestion.
We hit this grungy alley way and had some fun. LOVE St. Paul!
Well, I plan to work on their images this week so check back
in a few days I’m certain to put up some teasers for you.

Filed Under: Technology/Tools Tagged With: cool opportunities, fun sites, spiffy tools

About Face(book).

February 20, 2009 By Susan Leave a Comment

This will be the last time I talk about Facebook.
Having been in the news a lot, recently, regarding
their “privacy policies” just seemed to tip the scale
for me. That said, I made the decision, on Wednseday night,
to yank my account for the last time. I mean, really,
I can get across everything I need to right here on my blog,
you know, the old fashioned way! So, freedom once more!
If you need to know what projects I’m up to or planning,
just c’mon back here to my blog as I will attempt to
make a move in the direction of keeping this more about
my work than my life. With the wedding season just around
the corner, that should be easy!

I’ve also decided to give mobile me a go. It’s totally
awesome! I’ve kind of been lurking around it for a year
or so but decided, Wednesday, to take it for a spin.
This will simplify everything for me as it magically
connects my laptop, my iPhone and my desktop computers
without docking my phone!
I enter a meeting in my phone and it goes to both of
my other computers and vise~versa. TOtally cool!
I mean, I rarely pulled up my iCal on my laptop because
it wouldn’t be current…problem solved.
This is really a no brainer, I’ll be signing up in 60 days.
Thanks Apple!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: RANT, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY

More Snow.

December 7, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

More of the white stuff on the way.
Gary will drive right into it on his way
home from South Dakota. YIKES.

I’m officially done Christmas shopping as
of today. YAY! Well, that doesn’t necessarily
mean that I won’t shop more, I’m just done with
all the required gift buying!
Now it’s onto the fun stuff..ME!

Let’s see, I already got myself the flip video
camera which I am aDORing! But I think that’s
what everyone should do, just go out and get
themsELVES a little somthin’ somthin’ and call
it a day…I think that’s why the word “elves”
is in “themselves”..hmmmmmmmmm~ good one!

I’m posting a video that I shot with my flip.
It’s Boo and his first Christmas tree experience.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BOO, cat fun, fun companies, goodies, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY, videos

Kindle

June 19, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Do you own a Kindle?
I am a self proclaimed non-book reader.
I don’t know what happened to me but at
an early age I decided that books were for
school. Now, please don’t confuse not wanting
to read with not being able to read.
Rest assured I can read.

That said, I have to remark that I have
indeed read many books but
I also must add that they are never in the
“novel” category…I am most likely to read
a biography or a “how-to” or even a, oh, I
don’t know….a DIET book or 4 (who’s counting).
So I think that I’m not really convinced, at
this stage in the game, to shell out the $400
to just “look cool”. For now, I’d rather get 7
tanks of gas!

Moving on.

Today I am going to meet with an old friend
for lunch. His name is Dan Butter. Our families
grew up near one another and we attended then,
and do now, the same church. Dan has an interest
in photography and wants to discuss career moves
with me. I was flattered when I got the call.
I look forward to seeing him later today and I’ll
share more on that tomorrow.

How about Twitter? I love that application.
Do you twitter? Staja Studios just started!

So, here’s a shot I took of Pat Benatar at the Starkey Gala last Saturday.

My friend, Cheryl MacLennan, made mention that
one or more of my images would get published.
How cool is that (at the risk of tooting my
own horn!)??

Have a great day…we need the rain that’s coming
but Iowa doesn’t….Pray.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cool opportunities, Involvements, product information, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY

Kindle

June 19, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Moving on.

How about Twitter? I love that application.
Do you twitter? Staja Studios just started!

So, here’s a shot I took of Pat Benatar at the Starkey Gala last Saturday.

My friend, Cheryl MacLennan, made mention that
one or more of my images would get published.
How cool is that (at the risk of tooting my
own horn!)??

Have a great day…we need the rain that’s coming
but Iowa doesn’t….Pray.

Filed Under: Involvements Tagged With: cool opportunities, product information, spiffy tools, TECHNOLOGY

SQUARESPACE

March 18, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

My Pro Blog is up @ SQUARESPACE.

Ready, set, more!
More images, more ideas, more blogging, more me!
I’m really excited about this cool new tool.
I know that it will be another thing to do
but I love the idea of sharing information that
relates to what I do.

People ask all the time….
“what kind of camera should I get?”
“where do you buy your stuff?”
“why are my images fuzzy?”
“how do I get the background to blur?”
“I set it on auto focus, why is it not in focus?”
“who do you use for your developing?”
“what’s a good all purpose lens?”

I get jazzed and all fired up when I get to talk
shop with clients, neighbors and friends..
even family. I love all of it!
This will be a place for me to share all that.

If you ever feel that you want to ask, you can
always go there and ask.

Hey, I’m going to run out real quick and see
my sister’s kittens!

Have a great day.

Peace.

Filed Under: Involvements Tagged With: blogs of note, spiffy tools, Wedding resources

whose better than me today???

January 5, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

check this out…i grabbed this off my
Quitnet page~

My Stats:
Your Quit Date is: 5/5/2003 12:00:00 PM
Time Smoke-Free: 1705 days, 22 hours, 28 minutes and 39 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 34119
Lifetime Saved: 8 months, 20 days, 15 hours
Money Saved: $6,824.00

I quit smoking nearly 5 years ago!
Pretty amazing…Yay me!
On the anniversary day each month QuitNet
sends out a notice of accomplishment that
starts out…”Whose better than YOU today?!”
I like that….I like it ahlat (dumb & dumber)

Well, if you didn’t notice, I posted a blog
late last night so check the one that’s
just below when your done reading this one.

Today, I get to relax.
Gary and I have no plans. Feels so good.
Except that I almost feel like i must
be forgetting something….I MUST have to
be somewhere, right?
Nope, I triple checked. wheeeew!

I may dive into a new book that I got as
a gift from my friend Jacquie (notice that I
am beginning to capitalize for 2008!)
Anyway, it’s called Chazown (pronounced
khaw-ZONE), from the Hebrew, meaning a dream,
revelation or vision…I’m intrigued!

Heck, I may save it for the plane…

My amaryllis bulb that I received from
Gary’s mom on Thanksgiving had opened~
I think about a bloom a day this past week.
I missed the opening of each of them but
now it sure looks lovely… Thanks Bonnie!
I hate it when I’m too busy to even SEE
the flowers, let alone smell them!

Here’s some fun from New Year’s Eve at the
Airport Hilton in Bloomington, MN….

Check out the gorgeous ballroom at the Hilton!

Don Shelby was our Emcee for the night.

This is Kyle…he joined us this year.

Here’s Kyle a couple years back at one of
the MiracleKids Triathlon in Chanhassen.
He was going through treatment at the time
and was attending the event as a VIP!!
I’m so glad you were there on New Year’s Eve!

This is the gal that won the “birthday raffle” bike!

And the balloon drop at midnight!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: holiday, my accomplishments, parties, spiffy tools

last minute shopping…

December 21, 2007 By Susan Leave a Comment

anne & nicki are going to pick me up
around 10 today to head out and throw
ourselves to the wolves!
ordinarily i would say “let’s just
slit our wrists and get it over with!”
but today i think it will be more fun
than work.

ya see, i’m done shopping and just
simply want to bop around the southdale
area and the galaria. it’ll be festive
and alive and i could use that right
about now. i’be been in the house working
for too long and need to get out!

alright…i just got off the phone with
anne and she is up to her double d’s in
wrapping gifts. it’s the only time
she can haul the hidden treasures out
and get ‘em under the tree so the kids
don’t get a glimpse. i told her to relax
and get it done..no worries.
guess i’d better call nicki and change
the plan for the day.

here’ ben (anne’s oldest) giving me a
bed jump when i stopped over the other night.

baby eva…sheena’s niece’s daughter

frost from the other day…so beautiful!

momf board member gift boxes that i put
together the other day. inside each one
is a gift card for a portrait session.
thanks karen!

have i mentioned lately how much i absolutely
LOVE my iphone!???

gotta run…

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: spiffy tools

blog not?

November 3, 2007 By Susan Leave a Comment

i nearly didn’t get this opportunity but
i’m so glad i did. it’s really become a
part of my daily routine and i apologize
for posting so late on a saturday but
here goes…

after getting up and running out to get coffee
and cream and then cleaning, gary’s brother
came over to, among other things, install my
new leopard program on my G5, my G4 powerbook
and my imac. i know you are asking yourself~
“why does sue need so many darn computers?”
my answer is…i like them. happy?

well, soon after, i experienced a bit of
sickness and had to just lay down…3 & 1/2
hours later? a million bucks! i like napping
anyway so i got to, you know…kill 2 birds.

well, this operating system is quite amazing
and so far everything they said it would be.
and for me, lately, that’s a relief!
it’s very futuristic looking and the interface
is as well…so cool! i mean, it’s not a baby
like ian or anything but nonetheless, i love it!
i’m pretty certain that i will mention it again
so watch for a more in depth review from
yours truly!

okay, moving on…
i met two amazing families yesterday at the
airport hilton (the hotel with a heart!).
first a 15 year old young man afflicted with
cancer that can’t wait to turn 18 so that he can
marry his sweetheart (who was also in attendance)

then a bit later the other family arrived.
this little guy is quite the inspiration.
he’s 7 and a boatload of energy! he and his
11 year old brother were a little concerned
that we weren’t staying (that was totally aDORable!)
but before we left i had little “m” give me
one of his best “bed~jumps” for me…not bad
for a kid battling cancer!

megan flew to town from chicago and i told
her to pop by the hilton so we met in the
lobby and i had her follow me home where
gary was preparing a nice dinner.
we sat up late and talked and looked a photos
until she needed to head out (she is shooting
a wedding at the st. paul historic museum today).
she’s worried that i will take over all the
bella weddings in minneapolis now that i am
certified with them.
thanks megan, for making the time to get
together. i know you had a busy schedule.
we will be down to see you very soon.
(NWA has like $50 one way tickets to chicago).

well, now it’s about 8pm and gary and i just
got back from a lite dinner at the green mill
and we are going to venture outside for a
little bon fire. ron and cindy are going
to join us….good night.

Filed Under: Involvements Tagged With: equipment, spiffy tools