Well it’s the first full day at the track and as always I’m reminded how colorful the whole NASCAR scene is.  I challenged  myself for the first day of shooting to stay within 10 feet of our little building and since it’s 103 degrees outside today, I used the iPhone.

First this is the writers media center.

More to come, God bless,

 

the pilgrim

Nikon just released information about two new lenses that I believe will be a very welcome additions to the lens line.  Above the new 18-300 AF-S DX f 3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens is the 28-300 lens for DX, however with the 1.5 cropping factor of DX sensors it will be the equivalent of a whopping, 27 mm to 450 mm super zoom!  I have not gotten my sample yet, but based on the spectacular performance of the 28-300 FX lens, this one should be very special.  I can see it as a great all around lens for travel, sports and nature.  teamed with a 10-24 or 12-24 and you could cover from 15 mm or 18 mm all the way to 450 mm, what a range!

The other lens below is less expensive version of Nikon’s tremendously sharp, 24-70 f 2.8 lens, and this one will include VR II which will make the lens even more useful.  The AF-S Nikkor 24-85 f 3.5-4.5G  ED VR should be a wonderful FX lens for those folks looking for a midrange zoom that is more affordable, yet very capable.  I will test both lenses when I get them and keep you posted, I am expecting big things from both!

 

Stay tuned!

 

the pilgrim

Well, I’m in Sparta, Kentucky for the NASCAR races this week, Yypee!  O.K. it’s not that bad, I just am not a huge fan of cars going in a circle for 3 hours!!  But hey, I’m here, might as well enjoy it!  As is the case at most events of this length, the first stop is Target or Walmart to stock up on the supplies needed to set up a mobile media office.  Standing in a pretty long line at the check out I happened to glance down at the magazine rack and was struck by the theme of most of the magazines, self.  With titles like; Allure, Self, Fitness and more what would you expect.   I was even more intrigued by the names of some of the articles; “Look Hot – Feel Cool!”   –   “Summer Heats Up – What to Wear Now!”   “276 Hot Summer Looks!”  –   “Tone Every Inch!”  –  “Wow Hair!”   O.k. maybe I’m a little put off because I’ve never been “In” – “Hot” or had “Every Inch Toned!”   Actually that’s not it, I’m concerned about our societies over abundance of thought about all things, “self”.

 

I know that God loves us whether we are wearing the most fashionable, in, summer clothes, and I think He doesn’t want us to be so dependent on the opinions  others have of us.  In the wonderful book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren starts the whole discussion off by stating, “It’s Not About You!”   This is the first step in serving our Heavenly Father, letting go of ourselves, our desires, our needs, our desire for approval, and placing it all in His hands.  It’s hard to do because our world says your value and worth are all about what others think of you.  Not true, it’s about what He thinks of you, and He already loved you so much He sacrificed His Only Son for you.  How’s that for value?

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

Sitting in the terminal, and finding nothing better to do, came upon an idea, sum up my thoughts for today,  with oxymorons!

 

oxymoron |ˌäksəˈmôrˌän|nouna figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g., faith unfaithful kept him falsely true).

 

Here are a few of my new favorites!

 

Stable canoes

 

Delta Service Excellence

 

Nw England Hospitality

 

TSA sense of humor

 

Good English food  (why I’m thrilled to not be going to the Olympics!

 

New York city coridality

 

Agreeable Mexican food

 

Gas-less Pizza

 

Enough rest

 

Too much time at home!

 

 

Laugh a little, it’s good for the soul!

 

the pilgrim