Don't buy it, Rent it!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/ TC14e II, ISO 400, f5.6, 1/2000, +1/3ev, SB 800 for fill

I'm not sure I need to say this, but here goes anyway. Photography is expensive! Most if not all photographers lust over the latest and greatest gear on the market. Whether it's to upgrade a camera body or get the newest version of a lens we all want the gear. Listen, I'm not different than anyone else that wants something new, but I have come to the realization that I just can't go and buy what ever I want.

For example, the somewhat new Nikon TC20e III retails on Amazon for $650. I can rent that same item from an online rental such as borrowlenses.com for $46 for 1 week. This fall, I am hoping to head to either to Yellowstone or stay a little closer to home and spend some time at Badlands National Park and Custer State Park in South Dakota. Since I'll have to pay an arm and a leg for gas to get out there and back it only makes sense to rent the Nikon TC20e III rather than buying it.

If you are in the same boat as I am renting is a fantastic option! Online sources such as borrowlenses.com and lensrentals.com are only two options out there. Be sure to check out your local camera store as well.

Photo of the Week! Sanderling

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, ISO 400, f5.6, 1/2500, +1/3ev

Since I haven't been out shooting much lately, I've been going through my old files to see if I had left something behind. This photo was from my trip to Pensacola Beach, FL last April. I did flag it as something I liked in Lightroom, but never got around to processing it until this last week. What I like about this photo is the inclusion of the other birds that are out of focus. Almost every other bird photo I have is a single bird in the frame. I thought I would change it up a bit with this one.

Photo of the Week! Fawn

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 w/TC14, ISO 640, f4.5, 1/1000, +1/3ev

Earlier this week I saw a couple of fawns in a field near my house. I went home grabbed my camera and heading out to the field. As I was walking through the tall grass I told myself to watch out for poison ivy. Well, of course I ended up with poison all over my knees and shins! I am happy with how the photos turned despite getting poison ivy.

Photo of the Week! Loon Part 2!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 500, f/7.1, 1/2500

This is the next photo in the loon series that began last week. I like this photo because of the head and beak angel and the clean background. It also shows some great behavior from the loon. It's also noteworthy that this is one of the very few wildlife photographs that I have where you can't see the eyes.