Life’s an ocean with too much commotion

A week ago, I decided to extend my photography material with a new lens and a new flashlight:

• Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8: A friend advised me this lens. It can be compared with the Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8. The difference is that the Nikkor lens is three times more expensive than the Tamron. The feedback from the Tamron lens is also very positive. The image is overall sharper and colors are more real life than the Nikon alternative. I’ll use this lens as my new main kit-lens, replacing my former Nikkor 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5. The picture displayed below has been taken with this Tamron lens, during my recent visit to the Bourgoyen (Mariakerke, Ghent, Belgium).
• Nikon Speedlight SB-900: I didn’t have a flashlight yet and I’m getting more and more interested in taking pictures with managed light. I chose the SB-900 because it’s of course the best and I could use it as a master to trigger other flashlights (e.g. SB-600’s or so), and as a slave that can be triggered from my camera built-in flash. I’m planning to take some pictures with this flash later.

I shot this picture below with my Sigma macro lens, while drinking a Gin Tonic. The distortion in the left lower corner is coming from the glas, with the reflection of objects behind it. There’s also a DOF in the bubbles. I like it

When you live near or in Belgium, you know the Ardennen from in to out and left to right… Yet, if you drive a little bit further to Luxemburg, more specifically in the region of Echternach, you’ll find some places you don’t find in the Ardennen.

I made benefit of the location and situation to take some close-up macro pictures. It worked out pretty well! If you walk for a couple of days through the forests, you don’t mind the little details. Bringing your camera with you can be a real burden to carry with you, but it forces you to mind the little details nature has to offer you

It’s a yearly habit of me to visit the Ardennen or Luxemburg with the family of my girlfriend, especially if you can combine it with some trappist (Rochefort, Chimay, …) and some good meat! As finalizer, a portert picture of my girlfriend with her brother.