pics : then & now



Hi Everyone -

First, I was listening to NPR just about all day yesterday, including the BBC broadcast, and it was terrific to hear the positivity from around the world about President-Elect Obama and our democratic-process! People were inspired by his election and felt they could achieve anything even in their own countries. In addition to all of the goodwill and the potential for positive change, I'm looking forward to seeing his adorable children in the White House with their new puppy in tow ;). We have to be careful not to expect Obama to walk on water, though. He has an enormous task at hand and continued patience and support will be essential from everyone.

Now, on to business ;). After a few years of using my trusty Canon PowerShot S400 (4 megapixel point & shoot), I purchased a Nikon D60 about a month ago. It's pretty neat, but I haven't gone beyond using the automatic settings, yet. One of my projects is to photograph our collections. I wanted to do some of them over again with the new camera and was amazed at the difference. Now, I'm not saying I won't be calling 'do over' again, but these photos were taken in the same location at the same time of day. The top shot is with the DSLR and the second one with the point & shoot.

I'm working on something else with these photos and will have more details next week.

xo, Cindy








21 comments:

cupcake studio said...

Some really pretty shots...lovely teacups!

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

Most SLRs are superior. But I do love my point and shoot, too. Can't be beat for tossing in your bag when heading out the door on adventures.

Laura said...

isn't it marvelous having a real camera?!
i'll have to be giving mine back to the school soon & i'm just devastated.

Julia said...

Your teacup collection is breath taking, Cindy! I love how you're photographing them. They're so soft and luxurious! Can I come over and have tea with you? We can talk about the new President's puppy!

please sir said...

UMM...WOW! What a difference! Thanks so much for posting this because I've been wondering how much difference a DSLR makes. I've been trying to achieve a dreamy quality to my photos and just can't seem to get it. Guess it might be my dinky digital camera? Do you like your Nikon? I've been researching the new D90 or the Canon Rebel. Just need the money!

Anonymous said...

How delightful! Tea cups are so enchanting. Great shots too!

yasmine said...

beautiful shots cindy!

i'm now inspired to learn how to take photos!

Cindy said...

thank you everyone!

cupcake studio and rocket out - thank you both!

michelle - i agree, especially when you've been served the most delicious looking food in a restaurant and want to take a quick photo.

laura - save your pennies!

julia - of course! yes, new puppy. i want a puppy! i think i earned it ;)!

diana - my point & shoot was about to give up the ghost and i thought i got just about as much out of it as i could. i love my nikon, but the canon rebel received a better review in consumer reports, it's also more expensive. my brother insisted i get a nikon so we could share lenses, which i don't think i will probably do because my camera has a vibration reduction lense and is perfect for me since tripods give me a headache.

yas - yay!

Mrs.French said...

wow...this makes me feel better...the $$ in the end maybe worth it. I now have a D80...mabel took a nasty spill and died (too sick to blog about it)...anyway, not I want something bigger and better...grass is always greener and all that...however, after looking at your always stunning photographs your choice to go big paid off...xo t

Cindy said...

oh wow mrs. french! it seems like just yesterday you were telling me how much you loved mabel when i was considering getting an slr. rip, mabel ;).

Suzanne : : S.HOPtalk said...

Oh Cindy...these look great and I'm so glad you took the time to share your results. I'm currently saving for a DSLR {since my point and shoot took a spill in Lake Tahoe}. I'm so anxious to get a new camera that I keep going back and forth with saving and waiting, or just going for the P&S...I'm going to try and wait it out. Your shots are beautiful!

P.S. I'm with you...so excited there will be some new and young blood in the WH. We've promised our daughter a puppy within the next year, so she was thrilled to hear that the Obama girls are in the market for one as well.

Cindy said...

suzanne - thank you so much! i love how obama told his daughters in the speech that they 'earned' the puppy. i want a puppy, too!

as for the cameras, honestly, i feel i would like both types for different uses. it's cumbersome to carry slr around on a daily basis, but it has more capabilities. the point and shoots are so small and do take pretty darn good pics. why do i suddenly feel like gordon gekko from the movie 'wall street' with his 'greed is good statement' ;)?

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

first of all- the teacup is stunning!

secondly- you just informed me my powershot should be out the door! wow. great pics...

third- I can't wait for bush to get out of office. (That's a bit political for me, I try to not be, but I thought you should know how I feel :)

Cindy said...

krissy - thank you! don't throw it out the window! maybe, adopt a little sister that's smarter? i think bush can't wait to get out of office himself. i'm not really political, but this election was special. hope all goes well.

Anonymous said...

What an incredible difference!! Once I purchased my dSLR, I could never look back to my point-and-shoot, which does sometimes come in handy.

I too feel inspired by Obama, and it really touched me that the entire world was watching our election. I think that Obama represents what America should be about...a symbol that was lost for many years.

dee said...

Wow, these are AWESOME! I am getting that camera as a late bday present from Paul. All my favorite blogging photographers seem to use it, and now I can count you on that list, as well:)

julie king said...

i'm craving a dslr so very much!!!! i talked to bill about it on vacation and he is on board with me. i just need to do some research to figure out what i want/need. all of these photos are wonderful but the dslr ones are by far superior! i've been shooting with a sony cyber-shot 4.1 for sometime and feel i've outgrown it. i love that you're photographing your collections.

Elizabeth said...

It's funny how the top one is probably more true in color,but the second pics are pretty in their own way too.
I love collecting tea cups, and when I travel I try and look for ones that represent where I am. The best ones tend to be in museum gift shops. I also have a lot of cool ones my grandmother gave me, I'm a bit obsessed with them,but i'm running out of room!

Cindy said...

me too elizabeth! i bet the tea cups from your grandmother are as lovely as they are special.

Cindy said...

have fun melisa and julie!

we could grow up 2gether said...

how delightful!