Fixed Versus Zoom Lens

I had the opportunity to test out the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens. I absolute love the fact that it’s a fast lens and would love to have kept it. This is a great lens for portrait and food photography, but I don’t have that much money to buy lens just for that.  I need a walk around lens and this fixed lens is not working out for me, I realized after shooting a few shots that I have very little control of what’s in the frame and have to move myself around just to get a shot.  I knew that this will become a problem if I’m in a tight space and can’t move around like at the temple. The two photos below were taken with the EF85mm lens.

Canon T2i, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens, Manual, f/1.8, 1/1250sec, ISO 100, focal length 85mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens, Manual, f/1.8, 1/1600sec, ISO 100, focal length 85mm, evaluative metering

Then I decided to purchase the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens. I think it’s perfect for what I need, it’s lighter than my old lens. Since I have a crop body camera the 17-40mm focal length extends out to 27-64mm. These are the Ice plants in my front yard taken with the EF 17-40mm.

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/800sec, ISO 100, focal length 33mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

The beauty of the ‘Krinkled White’ Paeonia is fading fast with time.

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/2000sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/1600sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

Flowers at my dad’s house.

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/125sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 100, focal length 29mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/160sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering

Harvesting Bamboo Shoots

Our family went to the local temple Wat Greensboro to Tum Boun (merit making) for our mom on Mother’s Day.

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/6sec, ISO 100, focal length 70mm, evaluative metering

I knew it was bamboo season also, so we took the opportunity to visit the temple ground where we knew there were plenty of bamboo shoots. We asked the monk for a permission and headed toward the back after they performed a Buddhist ceremony for our mom.

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/30sec, ISO 100, focal length 70mm, evaluative metering

If you are thinking about growing the bamboo trees in your back yard do think twice because they spread like wildfire and will appear in your neighbor’s yard one fine Spring day.  I don’t think they’ll be singing Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood theme song.

• Television’s Greatest Hits – Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/250sec, ISO 100, focal length 70mm, evaluative metering

Freshly cut bamboo shoots, I’m thinking of bamboo soup at the moment.

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 100, focal length 75mm, evaluative metering

My niece helped her mom harvest the bamboo.

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/250sec, ISO 100, focal length 98mm, evaluative metering

It’s been a long time ago since I last saw thorns in the bamboo bushes.  Back in Laos and Thailand the bamboo bushes that are in the forest have thorns, and those that grow near the village don’t have thorns.  They are called Gor Pai Banh, loosely translated as the village bamboo. So these are a village bamboo, no thorns in this bush.

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 100, focal length 70mm, evaluative metering

Canon T2i, EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/5.6, 1/160sec, ISO 100, focal length 73mm, evaluative metering

And my sister made a bamboo soup today, must be my lucky day. The photo was taken with the new lens.

Canon T2i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens, Manual, f/4, 1/10sec, ISO 100, focal length 40mm, evaluative metering