Well I finally did it.... Got new camera and lenses

I had a 30D and 17-55IS for a little while and loved it. Then about a year ago I sold it. Worst mistake ever, but needed the money at the time. Been wanting another camera for a while now. I have been scouring the forums, reading every review possible trying to make a decision on what to get next. I wanted whatever I get to be all I need and be able to grow into it. So heres what I ended up with

Canon 5D Mark II ~ 4k clicks
24-70L
50mm 1.8

Mainly will use camera for pictures of my kids, family, vacations, parties, etc. I really love the blurry background and bokeh. I also like doing HDR photos. Not really into doing wildlife, birds, etc so the long telephoto isnt a huge necessity for me.

Im so glad to finally be done reading reviews and beating my head trying to figure out which lenses are best, etc... Im now ready to just SHOOT! I think I have a very good understanding now of everything from ISO to metering. My biggest thing now is trying to learn composition. I know the rule of thirds and feel like I can take good portraits (pretty easy)... but I have a hard time with other shots... whats best for backgrounds, what angle to take pics from, etc..

anyone recommended a good book for that alone? Have a confession, i have been looking at alot of pictures online and found ones i really like and basically want to take my kids out and "copy" them because it just doesnt come natural for me... I get out there and dont have a clue what to do.

Anyway, heres my stuff (taken with my phone camera) and my very first picture I took of a leftover tulip from valentines day my daughter saved and put in a coffee cup.... lol, was just a quick snapshot, but its #1 of many to come!!

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Congrats! You will love FF as well.

OpticalPrime wrote in post #11891557
Have a confession, i have been looking at alot of pictures online and found ones i really like and basically want to take my kids out and "copy" them because it just doesnt come natural for me... I get out there and dont have a clue what to do.

Can I confess to doing this too?:o

You'll love your combo - go and get the shots you've seen!

Fantastic combo! Congrats!

With regards to composition - when you line up for a shot, take it, but explore the scene. Move up, move down, tilt the camera, go up and look down, go down and look up, be zoomed in, go wide etc etc - and take the shots as you get each looking good to your eye.

As you start to use your eye to explore the scene more, you'll develop your eye and your tastes for things that work and you like, and it will start to develop your personal style.

The thing is to force yourself to explore lots of composition options - after a while, you will get used to doing this without thinking and be able to offer a range of different looking shots within the same scene.

A good little practice of this is the exercise of taking 100 (yes, one hundred) photos *from where you stand*. If forces you to find interesting compositions without stepping to a different location.

Also, and this is one I'm personally working on - consciously examine the background - it's really easy to focus on the subject, but get a really distracting background in the shot. Always think about the background until it becomes a subconscious/automatic thing to deal with. Still working on that one for me...

Nice camera - congrats - you'll have a lot of fun shooting with that!

If you like HDR, be sure to pick up a decent tripod.

Ya I would like to eventually get a tripod and flash. Then down the road maybe a longer zoom like 70-200 F4 IS

OpticalPrime wrote in post #11891977
Then down the road maybe a longer zoom like 70-200 F4 IS

ooooohhh! got mine today!

Congrats !!! on both the 5D & L-Lens. Think waiting paid off for you with the right choice. Cant go wrong when you have the best

OpticalPrime wrote in post #11891977
Ya I would like to eventually get a tripod and flash. Then down the road maybe a longer zoom like 70-200 F4 IS

A 70-200mm lens is great for photographing kids. I love mine when with small children. They have enough space to be themselves and not watch the camera. Don't wait too long and miss some precious moments that can never be repeated.