Daisy seems skeptical in every photo, doesn’t she?

And Badger is just the opposite.

I tried to learn how to use the Canon yesterday, going through documentation and instructional videos. Upon reaching the section pertaining to quality I went out and shot in RAW format.

Which was fine.

Until it came time to look at the RAW images I’d transferred over to my computer… Only a slight hiccup… My PC pretended to not know what they were, as did all my photo-editing programs.

Fast forward to 20 different downloaded codecs later… and Windows finally saw them. Turns out since they’re Canon, they’re different from a regular RAW; they’re ‘camera RAW’, CR2. Whatever. The quality was phenomenal, but my Adobe software turned up its nose at them. Turns out… and you’re going to love this… turns out Adobe only updates codecs for its latest version of software… so if I wanted to be able to import them into the program for editing, I’d have to upgrade. Well, my software is so old it could vote, so that means no upgrade; full price.

Not happening.

I did download a test version of Lightroom 4 and that’s how I was able to edit the two images above. It’s pretty cool in that it has all the codecs for all formats built in… along with filters for individual cameras and lenses. Lightroom will cease to function after 30 days, so I’ll enjoy it and then switch to JPG…. unless I come up with 150. Like Daisy, I’m skeptical.

Oh, the quality of the images themselves are awesome with RAW. Notice I didn’t claim the same for anything I can directly influence… although gingerly moving some of the settings and shooting in full sun didn’t blow everything out. For once.

Not sacred, not burnt. Just some more shots I thought were sort of cool…

I missed Bree… by a mile! But still like this shot…

The sweetsop is still growing and at an accelerated pace, due to all the rain. This is true, by the way: “You might live in S. Fl if you can plant a houseplant outside, give it one growing season, and it turns into a tree.”

I have taken at least 200 shots of the bird bath, but none have been this good. I’m beginning to LoVe this camera!

Banana frond. Just thought it looked… silky. Milky. Velvet-y.

And yes, this will probably continue to be a daily thing…

Another sampling of shots with the Canon.

There was a double rainbow this morning but I only captured one.

I love this shot.

Tree trunk…

…and the top fronds of the same tree as I stood under it.

Daisy was ‘looking for a spot’, if you get my meaning.

I won’t tell you what Bree was doing when I took this, but in my defense, she doesn’t stay still for long unless asleep or taking care of business.

Some recent images from the new camera. I am learning, it’s just that… it’s like looking at a English to Japanese guide when all you know is pigeon English.

I’m thinking of taking the concrete barrier out and merging the pit back in with the yard.

Horrible image, as I didn’t use the tripod, but this is Mike flying over the house this morning. He claims they were at 2,000 feet.

Mike, who is prone to astonishing acts of gifting, surprised me with a new camera last week. This one. Plus two lenses!

A combination birthday/anniversary/just because I wanted you to have it thing. I love him for thinking of me, really. Unfortunately having a better camera has just enforced how really terrible I am at taking pictures.

First shot, on Auto of course. Wasn’t too bad, just not great.

Everything else? Sucks stagnant pond water. The spider was the only other shot worth looking at, and it wasn’t very good.

My hopes, raised by all the reviews around the net that it performs magnificently on Auto, were dashed, and fast. No it damned well doesn’t. Not this one, anyway.

I obviously have much to learn. And apologies all round to my first two digital cameras, which are sitting alongside the new one on the desk. It’s not you, it’s me.
A plethora of cameras and no one to use them properly. Well, other than macros.

Grrr… I’m just frustrated right now. And I feel like a right idiot.

ANYway, got a new camera and I have a wonderful husband. Not an ungrateful bint, I know how very lucky I am. If he never brought another gift home, I’d still consider myself the luckiest woman alive just to have him.

Love you, honey… and thanks!

Just took this shot of the corner of my yard… with the iPhone. Not bad for a phone shot; sometimes it surprises me.

Why, yes. I have been up since 3:30a, why do you ask?

Just some random images that I came across while continuing to load the frame.

I like ‘em… and they’re better than the last post.