New Camera...New Possibilities

So, I'm now a proud owner of a Canon 1Ds MKII (yeah it's 5 years old but new to me). Initial impressions of this beast are extremely high. This thing does no sacrificing comfort or style for essential awesomeness.

A little background on my introduction to and expansion of photography. About six or seven years ago, a couple of my friends purchased Sony Cypershot point and shoot cameras. As I hung out with them, I got to play around with them a bit. And I liked the quality of images they were getting. I too was curious and decided to purchase a Fujifilm FinePix s5100 (I may be remembering the model number incorrectly). Shortly afterwards, one of my friends picked himself up an DSLR; specifically a Canon Rebel EOS 300D. As I experimented with my own camera, I found it was lacking a little bit of the customizability, and features I was looking for. This was prior to my understanding of the basics of cameras, I just knew this camera wasn't really cutting it.

Later on in 2005, I decided to pick up a DSLR for my own. At the time, Canon had just released a model replacing the 300D I had a small amount of exposure to from my friend. Since I had some experience with Canon's, that's what I bought. I ended up with a Canon 350D. It was the entry level, basic camera with a kit lens. Now, at around the same time as I got the camera, my brother decided to take a little trip to pick up a tuck and bring me along. This served as the break in period for me to get used to the camera.

Fast forward to 2011, I finally replace the six year old DSLR and pick up another one that's the same age, go figure. This one however blows the 350 out of the water. It is also a Canon, as I already had an EF lens and I'm used to the interface.

The new camera has spawned a whole new interest and drive to take pictures. I find myself thinking about taking pictures more often, and finding new ideas and ways to get neat shots. Now, if only I could escape the fluorescent box I'm in and go out and explore. That'll be the first step.

Coffee is awesome...

I'm going to come out and say it. Coffee is amazing. I've only been drinking it for about 2 years now, but the amount I've learned about coffee in this time has grown significantly. I've began drinking a local brand of coffee that roasts it here in Salt Lake, fresh! It tastes amazing.

Aside from Coffee, I'll bring some politics into this: I hate Starbucks. Upon getting into Coffee, I've learned about their business practices and visited a local coffee shop a couple of times. This specific coffee shop, picked a location that Starbucks had skipped out on a few months prior due to them determining it was a poor location. However, soon after setting up shop in the exact location Starbucks denied, the company bought a plot of the parking lot, and built a stand-alone Starbucks location. This was specifically to put the little local shop out of business.

That's not cool in my book; thanks to this they did me the favor of opening my eyes to their ways. I will never bring my business to Starbucks again. This unfortunately was at great cost, as I'm no longer able to frequent the little shop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee