Several Things:
1. It's not really as big a deal as it sounds to have one of my photos appear on the cover of a book. Remember: I work for a publisher. I know people. In fact, I am people. The way it happened was that one of our designers found a good cover photo on the web, but when she contacted the photographer about using it, they discovered he'd trashed the high-res original and no longer had a file that would print in an adequate size and resolution. Without getting specific (Attention stalkers: My boyfriend just bought me my very own pepper spray, and I know how to use it) the photo in question was of a particular kind of "artifact" that we wouldn't be able to find any other photos of. So we ordered one of those artifacts from the website on which the photo appeared and I spent an afternoon carting it around the office, shooting it against various backgrounds and in different kinds of light. The final image is a close-up of the artifact in a patch of early evening sun on our conference room carpet. Magical! (I'm credited as the cover photographer inside the book, though, so that's cool.)
1a. My second career as a cover girl spreads far and wide; an oil painting of my decoletage will soon appear on the cover of a CD. How in the world did that happen? I told you: I know people.
2. I am going to be taking pictures at a Very Important Event this summer, and it's high time I learned to properly use my camera. Any helpful websites, books, words of advice, etc., are most welcome.
3. My camera is a Canon Digital Rebel XT, a.k.a. the 350D. I forwent(?) the crap kit lens and got meself a 17-85mm all-purpose lens with image stabalization and full auto and manual capabilities. The casbah, it is rocked. I think I might want to get a new lens soon, though (it's my birthday and I'll buy if I want to), but I don't know which direction I want to go--wide or zoom. Since I'm more into getting good candid people shots than anything else, I can safely rule out a macro, but beyond that, I'm really at a loss. I love the challenging photojournalism look of a wide-angle with gentle fish-eye distortion, but I'd also like to be able to snap faces from across the street as well as from across the room. Simon says I should do it his way--do a whole bunch of careful research and then one day just go out and buy something completely different on impulse because it's on sale and you've convinced yourself you can't live another day without it. But I am my father's daughter, and thus I will be starting a file folder of articles and reviews and price comparison charts that will ultimately help me, the consumer, make an informed decision when the time is right and not a moment sooner.
4. The Element. At first I thought it was the dorkiest of all motor vehicles, but it came with a good boy inside, so I got over that pretty quickly. In the last year, though, I can't think of anything that's been more practical and handy to have around. Simon moved all his furniture in it, including a double bed, a mid-sized couch, several ladders, a big tv, and an organ. Recreation-wise, we can take out the stern seats and put our cruisers in the back, or lay down the bow seats and have our own personal drive-in theater. (Note the use of nautical terms in the previous sentence because, yes, the car feels LARGE.) If you're in the market for a boxy SUV, the Element comes highly recommended, although there really should be a passenger-side armrest. But hey, when your other car is a 1989 Toyota Corolla that has done nothing more than rot in your driveway for the past three months because the undercarriage is rusting into oblivion, you can't be too picky. Marisa--is there room for my car on the shelf with your Campbell's mug?
4a. I need a new car. Suggestions? Wealthy benefactors?
4b. Unless we're moving to Chile, in which case, muuuuuuuhhggghh.
I love my CRV - small, cute and scrappy (dare I say, just like me!). And my boy loves loves loves his Prius.
I have the EXACT SAME CAMERA! Matthew got it for me for Christmas. And I have the 55-200 zoom lens, which is great for taking portraits of people (mostly, my kids). You can take great close ups, while being far away :)
Well - I have an Olympus C730 with 10x zoom...and I've done a bunch of different photography courses but never went up a notch into removable lenses and the `serious' stuff. Aside from the macro setting, I mainly shoot in Auto mode which I hate to admit because I should be more experimental but I can't be bothered at this point :P My main pet peeve is that it doesn't take photos fast enough...it goes into a three photo sequence mode which is good but sometimes you need 10 shots all close together to choose from. Anyway, I don't know enough about it all to offer advice...suffice to say that it rocks you're being published on a cover but I can't say I'm suprised because I love ur photos :)
we love our volkswagon, passat. and i would love a golf diesel...
Forget all car crap - there are important questions to be answered!
1) Did you/will you get a photo credit for the book cover?
2) Are you getting paid (extra) for the photo cover?
You are such a rock star!
I have the opposite lens problem; I've got a 28-105 and a 100-300 (love them both). I need a good wide angle. I also need to spring for my own DigiRebel, as the one I use belongs to the paper – which I may be leaving soon. Why settle on one lens? Buy one you fall in love with, and then have an affair with another in the future.
As for the car, one Element between the two of you is enough. A great vehicle, for sure, but it is beyond dorky to have the same car (trust me on this). If you want practical, get a small wagon (Subaru); if you want fun, think sporty (convertible). If you want cowboy, think pickup truck.
I have to add – although I'm the only one who cares – that I had some photos (and a credit) published in a book titled, "Your first horse? No problem!" I had to take details of bridles and how to mount/dismount. The latter changed my love life forever.