Last Friday I received my Christmas gift for this year. After shopping and comparing and researching for over two years, I now have a lovely 70-300 mm VR Nikkon lens. Photography nerds get that; to the rest of the normal population--an EXCELLENT telephoto lens. A lens that I would never haphazardly even consider unless I felt sure it was worthwhile. And it is. To use the cliche, "It was an offer I couldn't refuse." The quality was excellent and the price was astounding. So...all my family has my Christmas gift for this year covered. And, since I'm not 10, I won't be pining away come Christmas when my stocking is empty. (I'm planning on wrapping and re-wrapping for each place we visit to celebrate Christmas--that sounds good now, but come Christmas I have a feeling I'll dismiss this silly idea.)
The beauty of this lens is that it puts everything into greater perspective. I stood on the deck this morning and was able to zero in on my in-laws' back porch--they can now wave at me from there and I'll have a lovely picture of them. It brings our old barn and the grain bins from far across the field into a close range. It brings the various bushes, shrubs, and trees into unbelievable proximity. It brings cats, dogs, birds, and all other manner of creature that roams around here into remarkable range. It even makes my food blog pictures look completely different in the most pleasing way (see the pork and shrimp noodles blog for the first picture with the new lens--WOW).
Greater perspective--a new view of all things. What a great place to be. This hit home with me as I was marveling at the initial pictures I took. Oh so many ways we can put this analogy into perspective every day. Using greater perspective can only lead to great understanding and greater tolerance and, ultimately greater love for our neighbors and ourselves. It all simply comes down to that.
So, here's an example below of the ability of the new lens. I hope to share more such pictures with you throughout the future. I'm immensely thankful for this lens; I'm more thankful for the greater lesson it reminded me of this morning.
Cheers!
woodpecker atop an electrical pole
