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My name is Lisa and I'm a crafty girl with wanderlust working as an engineer by day. My blog chronicles projects in my home as well as pictures and stories from my travels.

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Friday
Oct122012

A Little Splurge

Wednesday I came home from work in the evening to find a package I had ordered on my front porch. After coveting a wide aperture lens and an external flash for a long time I finally bit the bullet and had decided to buy a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens and a Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash.

This past month I had a pretty rough schedule at working a ton of overtime to meet deadlines for my job. I was exhausted mentally and physically and I needed a little pick me up. Normally I am not one for retail therapy but in this case I decided to do it for a few reasons.

First, this was not an impulse purchase but instead something I had been thinking about for a while. Second, it fit into the budget I have set aside and save up for myself to buy fun things. Third, although the reality is that it is better to take photos in natural light I really don't have a chance to work on projects much outside of evening hours. I wanted to be able to take better pictures when I am working on things at night and I am hopeful this will help me do it. Fourth, after pulling a seventy hour work week a girl just needs something to look forward to and I felt a little splurge could be justified.

Now that I have the lens and flash I couldn't be more thrilled with them. I have been having fun taking pictures around the house and my neighborhood just to try them out. Next week I plan to post some pictures and results using my new set-up.

I can't resist sharing one photo now (this is just with the new lens, no flash) so here is a picture of a purple kale in my front yard. I have a lot to learn about using this new equipment, but I think it is going to be fun.

Have you splurged on anything recently? Have you ever rewarded yourself after a stressful patch at work?

Reader Comments (3)

Nice additions to your photography needs - you deserve. Oh my all those buttons on your flash. I look forward to all the experiments you are going to do. I like the close up of the kale - the colours are beautiful and I think this photo would make a great greeting card / blank note. I have not had a splurge in a while, but I did see some new Yellow Bicycle Christmas paper I think I need and at 3.99 a sheet that would be a splurge :) I am saving my loonies & toonies for a Cameo Silhouette, which I think I want, still doing lots of reading up on it.

October 12, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterMary-Lou

Great splurge! I just got a Jo Totes camera bag, but it was a birthday gift, I don't know that it should be considered a splurge ;) enjoy your new toys, I love using my flash instead of the on board one when taking photos indoors. I am not very good with it (need to use it still in auto mode) but I can bounce it pretty well so it's not a washed out photo.

October 12, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterHilary

Mary-Lou- Thank you so much for your compliments on my kale picture. You are so sweet! That paper must be gorgeous for the price. Sometimes a little splurge is worth it, though. I would also love to get a Cameo Silhouette someday myself...

Hilary- Thank you! The Jo Totes bags are beautiful. I am jealous! I am having fun with the flash but it is a little tricky. Bouncing does make of much better pictures indoors than the on-board flash. Hopefully I get the hang of it soon...

October 14, 2012 | Registered CommenterLisa

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