Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

I set this goal last October. I made the purchase last week. And now, it has finally arrived!

My first digital SLR camera is a Canon Rebel T2i:

With a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens:

Which happens to make the camera look much bigger and scarier than it looks above with the kit lens. I handle it gingerly and cradle it like an infant. A very expensive infant.

But I've already accepted the fact that despite how impressive my newbie camera looks, someone will always have a bigger lens than I:

Jerk. I snapped this with my phone, by the way — I don't have a camera bag yet, and I'm too afraid to lug my unprotected infant all over Seattle like this guy does.

Just kidding about Aaron being a jerk, of course. He's the expert who recommended this camera and lens, and who found great deals on both through a photography forum he belongs to. He's also helping me learn how to use it and doing a great job as a (reluctant) model. Here's the first-ever shot I took, completely unedited for your viewing pleasure:

Hmm, there's clearly some progress to be made!

Even though I have much to learn, I'm so thrilled just to have the camera. I've been thinking about getting into photography for about two years, but only started taking the idea seriously when I realized that life is too short to waste time thinking about something when I could be doing it!

I had been stuck thinking that I needed a good reason to invest so much money into a new hobby. I didn't feel like I deserved to get a camera if I knew nothing about how to use it or if I wasn't planning to use it for anything more than just fun. I was also afraid I wouldn't be good at photography, and that the whole thing would be a waste of time.

Then I realized I didn't need a good reason to do it. The very fact that I wanted to do it was reason enough. Also, the question, "Why?" is nicely countered with, "Why the hell not?"

For a person who has struggled with self-doubt and a hesitation to try new things, "Why the hell not?" is a very helpful mantra.

For example: Here's a photo of asparagus!

WHY THE HELL NOT?

I promise I'll take some more interesting, non-green-vegetable photos as I figure out how to use this thing. I'm looking forward to a nice, sunny weekend day so I can take pictures of the townhouse in its full glory, and I'm also planning a jaunt around my new neighborhood to try to capture its quirky north-Seattle personality.

But for now, I leave you with asparagus.

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