Just like WORDLESS WEDNESDAY only with, you know, Words...

Mama just got some new toys for her camera, so I am pleased as pie to show off some of the goodies and what you can do with them. :)

Before I do that, though, have I mentioned that I am going to a week-long photography seminar next month? I will be going alone to Montana to work with a photography teacher and a bunch of other intermediate-level serious amateurs (at least I'm assuming they will be enthusiasts/amateurs, like myself, and not professionals) for seven glorious days. We will be going out to shoot pictures for about eight hours a day and then reviewing our work and critiquing our efforts.

I have been feeling stymied with my photography lately, as I have hit a technical wall with my knowledge of f/stops, shutterspeed, and the other MANY functions that a Nikon D300 offers. I look at somebody else's photographs (like this guys's) and think, "Now, HOW did he get the light to look like that?? It can't all be Photoshop and light boxes!!" So, as a last hurrah, of sorts, for myself while still here in the USA (and collecting on a present Daddy-007 offered me several years ago), I am off to the Wild West to learn me some photography! YeeeeeeHaaaaw!!!

So, I found this site called Gadget Infinity that sells camera supplies for insanely cheap prices. The package arrived from Hong Kong, so I'm guessing there's a a connection there. ;)

To put the price in perspective: Nikon's extension tubes cost $85.99 per tube. This set is basically THREE tubes. For $14.95!!! And, let me tell you, they work well enough for me! And for those photography buffs in house, these extension tubes are the niftiest things! I just found out about them because the "recommended equipment" list for my class said to bring "a macro lens or extension tubes" and I had never heard of an extension tube before. Basically, it is just this little space ring that goes on your lens and then you screw the lens onto the camera body, like usual. That extra space forces the lens to change it's depth of field, so you end up creating a macro lens. But without an expensive new lens. :)

Here are some examples of flowers around my house that I shot with the tubes on:

Bridal Veil Spireaea

Creeping Phlox

And this one is my personal favorite:

Bleeding Hearts


Wordless Wednesday brought to you by 5 Minutes for Mom.