Help in finding a low light wide angle zoom lens

[SimpleKindaEye]

Thank you all for your help, this place is so awesome and with such great advise.

I have never purchased a 3rd party lens but after the suggestions. I looked at the Sigma 17-70 and the 17-50 and went with the 17-50 for its continuous F/2.8 when zooming. AND I was able to purchase a Canon 430 II speedlight and still have 80.00 dollars in my pocket. Bonus!

Guess I will have to take the $80.00 and purchase a few books to learn off camera flashing. THIS will be a whole new concept to my photography.

Thanks so much for all your help and suggestions.

Great group here!

 

[Jonathan Brady]

Congrats! And enjoy!

 

[SimpleKindaEye]

Great suggestions here and thank you all for your help and taking the time to post.

Need to throw out something here; I am thinking I will need a bit more on the zoom end. I will need to get a bit close from where I will be positioned; I do not have the luxury of moving about too freely. I can crop the picture but fear when I do that I may lose quality and clarity depending on just how much I have to crop.

The Sigma 17-70 that was mentioned and the Canon 17-55 look promising. The Canon 17-55 from what I just read; some of the post complains of dust being a bit problem. Lens creep was one too but I can handle the lens creep, it’s the dust I am concern with. Also if I were to try and use the on camera flash with the canon 17-55, the barrel of the lens is quite large it blocks some of the flash. I would then need to purchase a flash then we are getting into weight issues with both that lens and flash and not to mention it then goes over my allotted $900.00. But from what I have read from the reviews, it’s a super lens.

Will read up on the Sigma; I have never purchased outside Canon products before. BUT for the price, this lens has sparked some interest and I could also afford to get a flash. Have only used the flash that comes on the T3i; will have to have a quick study course on how to use one. I am primarily use to working with natural light and no flash. But it never hurts to have one in the ole camera bag.

If you all have any more suggestions, throw them my way.

Thanks!

Dust in the 17-55 has always been a cosmetic issue for practically everyone (I recall seeing one person post that it was out of control and affecting images).

Regarding cost, pick it up refurbished from Canon on one of their 15-20% off sales and it's less than $600 before tax ($704 less whatever the discount is). That leaves plenty for a 430EXII, again, look for good sales! Or even a used one. Plenty of people buy flashes and then never use them.

However, if you're going to use flash, then a fast aperture doesn't matter as much unless you're going for creative and thin depth of field. So, either the 15-85 or the 18-135 STM + a great flash would be an excellent use of money. You'll get a much more effective zoom range at the expense of a slight bit of image quality.

Thanks for your post, it helped me to make the move to get the 430 II flash. I did need to bite the bullet and get one.

For your other post, I do have an old T3 body, I know its not the best per many here but I got some amazing shots. I guess it all depends on skill. I have the 50 F/1.4, I will attach this lens to my old T3 and see what I get. I had the usual kit lens with this camera and when I updated to the T3i, I got a few more lens for it and put the T3 in the closet. Glad you suggested having another body for the 50 1-4. I will dig out the old body and see what I get. Cant hurt...

 

[Jonathan Brady]

Great suggestions here and thank you all for your help and taking the time to post.

Need to throw out something here; I am thinking I will need a bit more on the zoom end. I will need to get a bit close from where I will be positioned; I do not have the luxury of moving about too freely. I can crop the picture but fear when I do that I may lose quality and clarity depending on just how much I have to crop.

The Sigma 17-70 that was mentioned and the Canon 17-55 look promising. The Canon 17-55 from what I just read; some of the post complains of dust being a bit problem. Lens creep was one too but I can handle the lens creep, it’s the dust I am concern with. Also if I were to try and use the on camera flash with the canon 17-55, the barrel of the lens is quite large it blocks some of the flash. I would then need to purchase a flash then we are getting into weight issues with both that lens and flash and not to mention it then goes over my allotted $900.00. But from what I have read from the reviews, it’s a super lens.

Will read up on the Sigma; I have never purchased outside Canon products before. BUT for the price, this lens has sparked some interest and I could also afford to get a flash. Have only used the flash that comes on the T3i; will have to have a quick study course on how to use one. I am primarily use to working with natural light and no flash. But it never hurts to have one in the ole camera bag.

If you all have any more suggestions, throw them my way.

Thanks!

Dust in the 17-55 has always been a cosmetic issue for practically everyone (I recall seeing one person post that it was out of control and affecting images).

Regarding cost, pick it up refurbished from Canon on one of their 15-20% off sales and it's less than $600 before tax ($704 less whatever the discount is). That leaves plenty for a 430EXII, again, look for good sales! Or even a used one. Plenty of people buy flashes and then never use them.

However, if you're going to use flash, then a fast aperture doesn't matter as much unless you're going for creative and thin depth of field. So, either the 15-85 or the 18-135 STM + a great flash would be an excellent use of money. You'll get a much more effective zoom range at the expense of a slight bit of image quality.

Thanks for your post, it helped me to make the move to get the 430 II flash. I did need to bite the bullet and get one.

For your other post, I do have an old T3 body, I know its not the best per many here but I got some amazing shots. I guess it all depends on skill. I have the 50 F/1.4, I will attach this lens to my old T3 and see what I get. I had the usual kit lens with this camera and when I updated to the T3i, I got a few more lens for it and put the T3 in the closet. Glad you suggested having another body for the 50 1-4. I will dig out the old body and see what I get. Cant hurt...

NICE! That sounds like a GREAT setup!

 

[Jonathan Brady]

Guess I will have to take the $80.00 and purchase a few books to learn off camera flashing. THIS will be a whole new concept to my photography.

I just recently decided to start experimenting with using flash myself. In the past, I only used it when absolutely necessary because I didn't know how to get the most from it, didn't know it's capabilities, didn't like the "flash look", and was honestly pretty intimidated to learn.

I've had the 430EXII for 5+ years and maybe used it for 300-400 shots. CERTAINLY not getting my money's worth. So, I decided to start learning from YouTube. :-D

Here's a video that was just recommended to me this morning in an email from YouTube that might be really helpful to you. I haven't watched it yet, but definitely will. B&H's videos are generally FANTASTIC and this one covers how to use a Canon speedlight.

I bookmarked this next video because I enjoyed it so much and learned a TON from it. It's not specific to Canon or even using flash (although it's definitely a covered aspect). There's a really important part about how to affix an inexpensive "shield" (black textile material I can't remember specifically) to keep from blasting out people's eyes around you with flash and also to create more pleasing light/shadows that I thought you would benefit from given you primary setting for using flash. It's a GREAT video and it really got me thinking about light and specifically, which direction it comes from. I've already implemented many of the tips from it and seen an immediate improvement in my images.

Here's a really short video to show different ways to use bounce flash and the effect you get. I watched this one recently as well. It's not nearly as in depth as the others but it's probably the best place to start thinking about this stuff - so watch it first -

I'm not saying don't spend the $80 on books, but at least start with the free stuff above. These videos will probably help you determine which books will help you learn the most!

On a related note, I've just started experimenting with "HSS" (High Speed Sync) and I LOVE IT! It's a feature that allows users of certain speedlights (including the 430EXII) to go beyond whatever the fastest shutter speed their camera allows when using flash (my camera is 1/250, the 6D is 1/180, and your T3i is 1/200). Say for instance you're outdoors and without using flash, your settings are 1/2000, f/2, and ISO100 and you REALLY like the look of the depth of field of your well exposed image. Now, you want to use flash to fill the shadows of your subject because they're backlit by the sun. If you attach your flash, you'll have to lower your shutter speed to 1/200 because that's all your camera will allow. If you do this, your aperture will change to f/6.3 to maintain a consistent exposure and your pleasing depth of field is GONE! Shot ruined... right? NOPE! You simply use HSS.

By using HSS (which is easy, just press the button on the speedlight that has a lightning bolt/"H" and 3 arrows on it until what shows up on the display is the lightning bolt and H and set your camera to manual with those same settings (1/2000, f/2, and ISO100), you can now use the flash and the ambient exposure (ie, background, etc.) will be the same as it was before but you can also use the flash to fill the shadows on your subject. Personally, I like to use FLASH EXPOSURE COMPENSATION to dial back the intensity of the flash and depending on the scene will usually use between -2/3 and -1&2/3 of a stop.

Dialing in flash exposure compensation (FEC) is easy too. You can either do it directly on the speedlight (press and hold the center SEL/SET button until the lightning bolt and +/- starts flashing, then press the - button to the left of the SEL/SET button until you reach the setting you want) or on the camera through the menu settings.

It's INCREDIBLY easy to do this and provides GREAT results! This can be great for freezing action as well where 1/200 wasn't enough of a shutter speed but you wanted to use flash. Look into "overpowering the sun" for a different way to use it. You're not really overpowering the sun, just underexposing your ambient picture and then adding HSS but that's what everyone calls it.

To test it out for myself, I just took my dog outside, plopped her in the grass with the sun behind her, shot in manual until I got the exact exposure I wanted (but harsh shadows on her face and eyes), then I turned the flash on, dialed in -1 stop of FEC, and took the picture. PERFECT! I still had a slight shadow on her face (thanks to the FEC - without FEC there would have been no shadow which I think looks odd - but that's just my personal preference) but it was no longer harsh and I also had "catchlights" in her eyes which is usually a desirable thing in portrait photography.

So, HSS is VERY simple to use and can make a WORLD of difference in your outdoor photography!

Hope all this info helps!

 

[SimpleKindaEye]

You are a wealth of much needed info. And you got all of this just from those links you posted? I forget that YouTube has vids on the subject. Surly this will help me get my feet wet and increase my knowledge on something that is so new and is intimidating. You say its easy and simple… that is what I need about now… Nothing too complicated. Sounds like you have mastered it well.

I use my built in flash for filling those shadows or when the subject is back lit and I use the feature in the camera “Highlight Tone Priority” But this off camera flash will open up a whole new world.

I did go online last night and ordered 2 used books; one is David Busch's Guide to Canon Flash

And Understanding Flash Photography: by Peterson Bryan

The HHS sounds interesting as I do like shallow depth of fields in some of my general photography, so your explanation is and will come in handy and I can see this in my mind’s eye just how to set the flash settings. With this new Sigma lens ( lens and flash that will be here Thursday), it will be interesting to see just how good that lens is in low light and to test how low I will be able to keep the ISO’s. One of the things on my wish list is to have a better camera with higher ISO capabilities. My T3i struggles to keep the noise down over 800. But I know I will never be able to afford my wish of Mark III so I will have to settle on what I can and push everything to the limit.

I will be in cramming mode for the next few months learning all that I can, but nothing will prepare me like being in the actual setting to put all of this to the test.

If you come across anymore info, please shoot it my way.

Thanks!!

 

[Jonathan Brady]

You are a wealth of much needed info. And you got all of this just from those links you posted? I forget that YouTube has vids on the subject. Surly this will help me get my feet wet and increase my knowledge on something that is so new and is intimidating. You say its easy and simple… that is what I need about now… Nothing too complicated. Sounds like you have mastered it well.

I use my built in flash for filling those shadows or when the subject is back lit and I use the feature in the camera “Highlight Tone Priority” But this off camera flash will open up a whole new world.

I did go online last night and ordered 2 used books; one is David Busch's Guide to Canon Flash

And Understanding Flash Photography: by Peterson Bryan

The HHS sounds interesting as I do like shallow depth of fields in some of my general photography, so your explanation is and will come in handy and I can see this in my mind’s eye just how to set the flash settings. With this new Sigma lens ( lens and flash that will be here Thursday), it will be interesting to see just how good that lens is in low light and to test how low I will be able to keep the ISO’s. One of the things on my wish list is to have a better camera with higher ISO capabilities. My T3i struggles to keep the noise down over 800. But I know I will never be able to afford my wish of Mark III so I will have to settle on what I can and push everything to the limit.

I will be in cramming mode for the next few months learning all that I can, but nothing will prepare me like being in the actual setting to put all of this to the test.

If you come across anymore info, please shoot it my way.

Thanks!!

I've never read those books, but I've heard great things about both authors so I'm sure they're fantastic!

Also, I deleted all of the pics I took of my dog with the sun behind her (goofy faces - lol) but I did a similar experiment with the sun creating a shadow on part of her face. Here's the resulting image...

70D with 85mm f/1.8 USM shot at 1/2500, f/2.2, ISO100 - High Speed Sync and no flash exposure compensation. But, I did have a softbox attached to the flash which is about the equivalent of -1 stop.

As you can see, there's still a shadow, but it's SUBSTANTIALLY lightened. The shadow on her face would look more like the background shadow had I not used HSS/fill flash and the softbox. BIG difference, huh?

Like I said, as long as you're in manual, have ALREADY determined a proper exposure for the scene, and have HSS enabled and dial in FEC when appropriate - it's hard to mess up. And again, this is for VERY brightly lit areas like outdoors. Indoors there's probably no need for HSS which means you also don't have to be in manual.

Glad you found the info helpful. Wish I could claim to be the originator of the knowledge but I'm just passing it along.

EDIT: OH! I forgot a handy little tip. When I'm trying something new, I'll type it up really small and tape it to the inside of the camera body where the articulating LCD folds in. That way, I only see it when I need it by just opening the articulating LCD. In this situation, you could type something like:

Determine proper exposure using Manual, Av, or Tv

Switch to Manual - dial in same exposure from above

Attach flash - enable HSS by pressing lightning button

Dial in Flash Exposure Compensation on flash by pressing Sel/Set and then "-"



Hope that helps too

 

[SimpleKindaEye]

You are a wealth of much needed info. And you got all of this just from those links you posted? I forget that YouTube has vids on the subject. Surly this will help me get my feet wet and increase my knowledge on something that is so new and is intimidating. You say its easy and simple… that is what I need about now… Nothing too complicated. Sounds like you have mastered it well.

I use my built in flash for filling those shadows or when the subject is back lit and I use the feature in the camera “Highlight Tone Priority” But this off camera flash will open up a whole new world.

I did go online last night and ordered 2 used books; one is David Busch's Guide to Canon Flash

And Understanding Flash Photography: by Peterson Bryan

The HHS sounds interesting as I do like shallow depth of fields in some of my general photography, so your explanation is and will come in handy and I can see this in my mind’s eye just how to set the flash settings. With this new Sigma lens ( lens and flash that will be here Thursday), it will be interesting to see just how good that lens is in low light and to test how low I will be able to keep the ISO’s. One of the things on my wish list is to have a better camera with higher ISO capabilities. My T3i struggles to keep the noise down over 800. But I know I will never be able to afford my wish of Mark III so I will have to settle on what I can and push everything to the limit.

I will be in cramming mode for the next few months learning all that I can, but nothing will prepare me like being in the actual setting to put all of this to the test.

If you come across anymore info, please shoot it my way.

Thanks!!

I've never read those books, but I've heard great things about both authors so I'm sure they're fantastic!

Also, I deleted all of the pics I took of my dog with the sun behind her (goofy faces - lol) but I did a similar experiment with the sun creating a shadow on part of her face. Here's the resulting image...

70D with 85mm f/1.8 USM shot at 1/2500, f/2.2, ISO100 - High Speed Sync and no flash exposure compensation. But, I did have a softbox attached to the flash which is about the equivalent of -1 stop.

As you can see, there's still a shadow, but it's SUBSTANTIALLY lightened. The shadow on her face would look more like the background shadow had I not used HSS/fill flash and the softbox. BIG difference, huh?

Like I said, as long as you're in manual, have ALREADY determined a proper exposure for the scene, and have HSS enabled and dial in FEC when appropriate - it's hard to mess up. And again, this is for VERY brightly lit areas like outdoors. Indoors there's probably no need for HSS which means you also don't have to be in manual.

Glad you found the info helpful. Wish I could claim to be the originator of the knowledge but I'm just passing it along.

EDIT: OH! I forgot a handy little tip. When I'm trying something new, I'll type it up really small and tape it to the inside of the camera body where the articulating LCD folds in. That way, I only see it when I need it by just opening the articulating LCD. In this situation, you could type something like:

Determine proper exposure using Manual, Av, or Tv

Switch to Manual - dial in same exposure from above

Attach flash - enable HSS by pressing lightning button

Dial in Flash Exposure Compensation on flash by pressing Sel/Set and then "-"

Hope that helps too

I dare say your husky is strikingly beautiful, she is quite a photographer’s dream model, looks like she loves the camera. I like a bit of shadow for if there was not, the face would look a bit flat. Great photo, the white in her fur is not all blown out either in the harsh sun.

Great TIP! I have just copied all the info and am saving this to my computer to look back on. You state “it’s hard to mess up”.. Well with me... if there is a will… there is a way I “will” screw it up.

Also I did get a soft box for the flash and a TTL cord so I hope I am good to go.

If you think of anything more, keep them comin'.

 

[Jonathan Brady]

You are a wealth of much needed info. And you got all of this just from those links you posted? I forget that YouTube has vids on the subject. Surly this will help me get my feet wet and increase my knowledge on something that is so new and is intimidating. You say its easy and simple… that is what I need about now… Nothing too complicated. Sounds like you have mastered it well.

I use my built in flash for filling those shadows or when the subject is back lit and I use the feature in the camera “Highlight Tone Priority” But this off camera flash will open up a whole new world.

I did go online last night and ordered 2 used books; one is David Busch's Guide to Canon Flash

And Understanding Flash Photography: by Peterson Bryan

The HHS sounds interesting as I do like shallow depth of fields in some of my general photography, so your explanation is and will come in handy and I can see this in my mind’s eye just how to set the flash settings. With this new Sigma lens ( lens and flash that will be here Thursday), it will be interesting to see just how good that lens is in low light and to test how low I will be able to keep the ISO’s. One of the things on my wish list is to have a better camera with higher ISO capabilities. My T3i struggles to keep the noise down over 800. But I know I will never be able to afford my wish of Mark III so I will have to settle on what I can and push everything to the limit.

I will be in cramming mode for the next few months learning all that I can, but nothing will prepare me like being in the actual setting to put all of this to the test.

If you come across anymore info, please shoot it my way.

Thanks!!

I've never read those books, but I've heard great things about both authors so I'm sure they're fantastic!

Also, I deleted all of the pics I took of my dog with the sun behind her (goofy faces - lol) but I did a similar experiment with the sun creating a shadow on part of her face. Here's the resulting image...

70D with 85mm f/1.8 USM shot at 1/2500, f/2.2, ISO100 - High Speed Sync and no flash exposure compensation. But, I did have a softbox attached to the flash which is about the equivalent of -1 stop.

As you can see, there's still a shadow, but it's SUBSTANTIALLY lightened. The shadow on her face would look more like the background shadow had I not used HSS/fill flash and the softbox. BIG difference, huh?

Like I said, as long as you're in manual, have ALREADY determined a proper exposure for the scene, and have HSS enabled and dial in FEC when appropriate - it's hard to mess up. And again, this is for VERY brightly lit areas like outdoors. Indoors there's probably no need for HSS which means you also don't have to be in manual.

Glad you found the info helpful. Wish I could claim to be the originator of the knowledge but I'm just passing it along.

EDIT: OH! I forgot a handy little tip. When I'm trying something new, I'll type it up really small and tape it to the inside of the camera body where the articulating LCD folds in. That way, I only see it when I need it by just opening the articulating LCD. In this situation, you could type something like:

Determine proper exposure using Manual, Av, or Tv

Switch to Manual - dial in same exposure from above

Attach flash - enable HSS by pressing lightning button

Dial in Flash Exposure Compensation on flash by pressing Sel/Set and then "-"

Hope that helps too

I dare say your husky is strikingly beautiful, she is quite a photographer’s dream model, looks like she loves the camera. I like a bit of shadow for if there was not, the face would look a bit flat. Great photo, the white in her fur is not all blown out either in the harsh sun.

Great TIP! I have just copied all the info and am saving this to my computer to look back on. You state “it’s hard to mess up”.. Well with me... if there is a will… there is a way I “will” screw it up.

Also I did get a soft box for the flash and a TTL cord so I hope I am good to go.

If you think of anything more, keep them comin'.

Thanks! She is gorgeous! And about the sweetest dog you'll ever meet. When my wife and I got her (before we were married) we knew we'd have kids one day so from day one we were pulling her fur and her tail, grabbing her paws, sticking our fingers in her eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, stealing her food while she ate, taking toys away, etc. to get her used to it. Our plan worked well, she's INCREDIBLY tolerant of our daughter whom we've taught to be VERY gentle with dogs and let them smell her before she touches them.

Maya (our Husky) is SERIOUSLY ENERGETIC though! lol Even at 5.5 years old. She has the energy of a 1 year old puppy. It's nuts. In this shot, she was zeroed in on a squirrel on the other side of the yard, hence the intense stare. I think that's the difference between 1 year old Maya and 5.5 year old Maya. The younger version would have TAKEN OFF after that squirrel!

Regarding flash, I think that's about the extent of my knowledge/experience with flash. Like I said, I really just started messing with it in the last 2 weeks or so - prior to that all I ever did was bounce it off a wall or ceiling with no real purpose and little understanding of what I was doing and why. I've taken more flash pictures in the last 2 weeks than I have in the prior 5 years.

Definitely check out those videos, you'll learn a TON!

Good luck!

 

[SimpleKindaEye]

You are a wealth of much needed info. And you got all of this just from those links you posted? I forget that YouTube has vids on the subject. Surly this will help me get my feet wet and increase my knowledge on something that is so new and is intimidating. You say its easy and simple… that is what I need about now… Nothing too complicated. Sounds like you have mastered it well.

I use my built in flash for filling those shadows or when the subject is back lit and I use the feature in the camera “Highlight Tone Priority” But this off camera flash will open up a whole new world.

I did go online last night and ordered 2 used books; one is David Busch's Guide to Canon Flash

And Understanding Flash Photography: by Peterson Bryan

The HHS sounds interesting as I do like shallow depth of fields in some of my general photography, so your explanation is and will come in handy and I can see this in my mind’s eye just how to set the flash settings. With this new Sigma lens ( lens and flash that will be here Thursday), it will be interesting to see just how good that lens is in low light and to test how low I will be able to keep the ISO’s. One of the things on my wish list is to have a better camera with higher ISO capabilities. My T3i struggles to keep the noise down over 800. But I know I will never be able to afford my wish of Mark III so I will have to settle on what I can and push everything to the limit.

I will be in cramming mode for the next few months learning all that I can, but nothing will prepare me like being in the actual setting to put all of this to the test.

If you come across anymore info, please shoot it my way.

Thanks!!

I've never read those books, but I've heard great things about both authors so I'm sure they're fantastic!

Also, I deleted all of the pics I took of my dog with the sun behind her (goofy faces - lol) but I did a similar experiment with the sun creating a shadow on part of her face. Here's the resulting image...

70D with 85mm f/1.8 USM shot at 1/2500, f/2.2, ISO100 - High Speed Sync and no flash exposure compensation. But, I did have a softbox attached to the flash which is about the equivalent of -1 stop.

As you can see, there's still a shadow, but it's SUBSTANTIALLY lightened. The shadow on her face would look more like the background shadow had I not used HSS/fill flash and the softbox. BIG difference, huh?

Like I said, as long as you're in manual, have ALREADY determined a proper exposure for the scene, and have HSS enabled and dial in FEC when appropriate - it's hard to mess up. And again, this is for VERY brightly lit areas like outdoors. Indoors there's probably no need for HSS which means you also don't have to be in manual.

Glad you found the info helpful. Wish I could claim to be the originator of the knowledge but I'm just passing it along.

EDIT: OH! I forgot a handy little tip. When I'm trying something new, I'll type it up really small and tape it to the inside of the camera body where the articulating LCD folds in. That way, I only see it when I need it by just opening the articulating LCD. In this situation, you could type something like:

Determine proper exposure using Manual, Av, or Tv

Switch to Manual - dial in same exposure from above

Attach flash - enable HSS by pressing lightning button

Dial in Flash Exposure Compensation on flash by pressing Sel/Set and then "-"

Hope that helps too

I dare say your husky is strikingly beautiful, she is quite a photographer’s dream model, looks like she loves the camera. I like a bit of shadow for if there was not, the face would look a bit flat. Great photo, the white in her fur is not all blown out either in the harsh sun.

Great TIP! I have just copied all the info and am saving this to my computer to look back on. You state “it’s hard to mess up”.. Well with me... if there is a will… there is a way I “will” screw it up.

Also I did get a soft box for the flash and a TTL cord so I hope I am good to go.

If you think of anything more, keep them comin'.

Thanks! She is gorgeous! And about the sweetest dog you'll ever meet. When my wife and I got her (before we were married) we knew we'd have kids one day so from day one we were pulling her fur and her tail, grabbing her paws, sticking our fingers in her eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, stealing her food while she ate, taking toys away, etc. to get her used to it. Our plan worked well, she's INCREDIBLY tolerant of our daughter whom we've taught to be VERY gentle with dogs and let them smell her before she touches them.

Maya (our Husky) is SERIOUSLY ENERGETIC though! lol Even at 5.5 years old. She has the energy of a 1 year old puppy. It's nuts. In this shot, she was zeroed in on a squirrel on the other side of the yard, hence the intense stare. I think that's the difference between 1 year old Maya and 5.5 year old Maya. The younger version would have TAKEN OFF after that squirrel!

Regarding flash, I think that's about the extent of my knowledge/experience with flash. Like I said, I really just started messing with it in the last 2 weeks or so - prior to that all I ever did was bounce it off a wall or ceiling with no real purpose and little understanding of what I was doing and why. I've taken more flash pictures in the last 2 weeks than I have in the prior 5 years.

Definitely check out those videos, you'll learn a TON!

Good luck!

Isn't that just like ageing, we mellow out and kinda' let the world go by a bit before we decide to act. She sure was fixated on that squirrel... As for you training her, you did the proper training before you had a family, great thinking and you have a superb dog too.

Well you have sure learned a lot in these short weeks. I do thank you for the vid links. I was just watching them and will have loads more to follow when the house is quiet.

God bless you and yours.