within the last few months, i’ve shifted from primarily shooting with zoom lenses to shooting with two fixed lenses. and that’s pretty much all i prefer now when i shoot digital.. canon’s 24mm f/1.4 L and their 50mm f/1.2 L.

not only do i gain a simplified and expected perspective, but the images are tack sharp at 100% and have a quality of light and color that can’t be beat for this range of equipment. i used to load myself down with 2 heavy cameras with zooms and often would be fighting with my gear. i now have to physically move in and out a lot more but it keeps me and my eyes active and i like traveling light. i feel i can focus on the picture making process much more.

one of my professor’s in my master’s program, homer sykes, has frequently reminded me to slow down and not shoot like i’m handling a machine gun, to be more thoughtful and purposeful with my images. and i think the switch to fixed lenses has helped me do that. i don’t feel like i need to shoot every detail, interaction, etc. anymore. and visually, i’m giving myself a little more breathing room.

the switch to film has helped me slow down even more (partially because i pay a few dollars for each image in film, developing, and scanning)  i should be getting the film back from the texas-mexico border shooting in the next two days and will share some of that shortly.

in the mean-time, enjoy two images from a recent wedding from my two favorite lenses

Canon 5D, Canon 24mm f/1.4 L:1/200 sec at f/2.0

Canon 5D, Canon 50mm f/1.2 L: 1/400 sec at f/1.8