Winter blues, anyone else?

I've been looking through my past photos and others that were taken in the winter and am looking at lenses to buy with some money I saved up. Yet, I can't help but feel a little depressed this year, maybe it's mild winter (barely any snow, just fridged cold weather), maybe it's that I'm worried that I won't get out as much when our baby comes (not that I'm not excited for her to come) and maybe it's just the early setting of the sun.

I have the next two days off that I'd normally work, so I think for at least one of them I'm going to drive around the country side and see what I can find. I hope the weather report is accurate since it's been reported that it's going to snow.

Does anyone else feel like this? I mentioned that I'm looking at buying a lens (100mm Macro f/2.8 L) and I'm usually cautious when I spend a lot of money and always feel a little guilty when I do but with these feelings of "blues" it's worse. :S

I'm sort of in the same boat. Out here winter means flat, brown fields all the way to the horizon in all directions. It gets depressing.

I was thinking my next lens would be the Sigma 35mm f1.4, but the more I think about it, the less I think I'd use it often enough to justify the cost. I've also been looking at the 100mm f2.8L macro. But again, not sure I'd use that very often either. What I'd really like is a looooong lens, but there's no way I could afford the fast IS versions. The 400mm f5.6 might be doable, but again, it's a lot of dough for a limited use lens.

I need another vacation, I think. :cool:

Feel the same - ordered up the 2x III TC. JRW was in Orlando a few weeks back - and other than I proved my complete lack of photo guiding skills - let me try out his 1.4 and 2x TC - I am going w/ the 2x as the DLO in DPP really cleaned up the image very nicely (not that it needed much before I started).

Hope to get some interesting bird shots in the coming weeks.

Mike

Ah Yes....seasonal affective disorder combined with G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome)...not serious except to the health of your credit cards! That's why I fell for the Amazon deal and bought a 1DX:p

I have a very acute case of G.A.S. The 6D brought temporary relief, but my G.A.S. symptoms respond much better to new glass, I think.

80 deg f here with over 90% humidity :(
I would welcome some of the cold weather. We get so very little each year and this is when we are usually getting it.:confused:
Everything here is brown. Not much to shoot either.
I also have G.A.S.
Been trying to sell my wife on it.:o

Winter depression is hard to beat but here is a tip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi3IsdcpR10 Is it just me or is anyonelse having problems using Internet Explorer 10 on the forum pages? I can`t use "enter" anymore. It is annoying because I can`t make new paragraphs. Anyway, new glass would be nice. Either macro or a Close-up lens.

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Ah Yes....seasonal affective disorder combined with G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome)...not serious except to the health of your credit cards! That's why I fell for the Amazon deal and bought a 1DX:p

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LOL.... I like the seasonal affective disorder. Our yearly acquisition syndrome, thanks to retirement, generally results in a Caribbean cruise. We leave Feb. 11

Larry

I decided to head to a nearby river today and try to get some photos of the colliding sheets of ice during the golden hour as I always look out of my office at work and wish I could be out there. The route I took wasn't the best, I think next time on Tuesday I'm going to try it from the other side of the river that allows me a little more height. The photos came out alright, not as sharp as I'd hope, hopefully next time though.

I treated GAS with a new tripod recently. For a while I refrain from buying more stuff and focus on shooting more on special little day trips instead of just going for an hour whenever I can


Arnt

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Originally Posted by ahab1372

I treated GAS with a new tripod recently.

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So did I - needed a travel tripod that would fit in my Storm im2500 carryon hard case without removing the head, for an upcoming trip. So I picked up an RRS TQC-14 and BH-30.

As for SAD, I'm actually on the aforementioned trip, and in sunny, warm California (well, warmer than Boston, at any rate) as I write this, after using the aforementioned tripod for some nighttime shots in San Francisco. :)

Dude,
you are in my hood :-)

for winter blues and photography, i came across this....

http://www.thisweekinphoto.com/2013/...on-komarechka/

Add me to the list that have added a tripod system over the winter. Really, there are a few good winter photography activities, but mostly, it is a great time to get ready for the other three seasons.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ahab1372

... refrain from buying more stuff ...

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Well a TC maybe, or a lensbaby. Those are so small (the latter is even a baby) that they don't count, do they?



Arnt

Here in Norway we have come to that part of the winter where you don´t get inspired by just seeing snowy landscapes anymore, so time is spent indoors going through all the shots from last year and think through what I should have done differently. And of course, doing things differently means more equipment. I had a TS-E 24mm f3.5L II, which I sold a year ago. I probably should not have done that and I may get one again on a trip to NY in early February. I´m not happy with the perspective correction available in post processing and the ability to tilt the focus plane in landscape/nature photography is a very nice feature. And the lens is just incredibly sharp.

On other tempting lens is the 8-15mm f4.0L fisheye. I have never had a fisheye lens before and I probably don´t need one. But it looks fun. Has anyone any experience with that lens? Is it just a toy you have fun with the first week and then just carry it around as extra weight?

I don't know what was the cause of my Gear Acquisition Syndrome, but I received a shiny new EF 17-40 f/4 L and a Speedlite 430 EX II. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for the weekend before using any of them.

I tend to shoot random walls and bookshelves in situations like that :)


Arnt

Oh I'd happily shoot my wall during the whole evening but I won't have access to my 6D before the weekend. And a lens alone tends to be quite useless, except for staring at it, maybe.
Well, Saturday will be an even better day after the wait.

Lots of chuckles reading this thread, although I have to say SAD hits me a bit earlier.....in December.

This isn't to be confused w/the Holiday Blues (non issue for me), but is caused by lack of bird photo ops. The migrations are over and the American Bald Eagles (ABEs) and Snowy Owls haven't returned in numbers yet.

About the 2nd week in January the ABEs, Snowys (although not this year for the Snowys) and other Owls start reappearing consistently. The ABEs have been putting on quite the show the last few weeks and the weather has been cooperating....relatively....as much as weather will around here.

Understand for those of us in northeast Massachusetts, we never saw ABEs, they have only recently returned to our area in the last few years....very exciting.

I also start seeing Bluebirds and Goldfinches at my feeding station in approximately this same time period....a sure sign we have turned the corner and are heading back towards spring. I'm also treated to regular visits by Cooper's hawks....they have a different food on their menu when they visit my feeding station area.

GAS; I have to say this isn't a seasonal affect, it is a contant, year 'round affliction. Hmm, a new backpack for hiking w/my equipment, or a new travel/hiking friendly tripod, but wait, I have to remain focused....the 5D MKlll, yup, this will be my next GAS purchase. I'm not in a hurry, I'm savoring the foreplay ;) before purchasing it in another couple of months.

Bill
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29409592@N03/