![Along a street in Charleston, West Virginia](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9160-600x400.jpg)
Kathy & I spent this past weekend in Charleston, West Virginia. Why Charleston? We met up with friends from Ohio with whom we are planning a vacation this summer, and it is roughly half-way for both of us. It was a planning weekend for us, easier than trying to talk on the phone, or Skype, or send e-mails back and forth. A friend of Kathy’s remarked that “only we would take a vacation to plan a vacation.” Well, duh! 🙂
![Investment Opportunity](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9130-600x400.jpg)
It wasn’t really a photography weekend, but I did take a camera. I almost always have at least one camera with me, and although I didn’t carry it to dinner, when we went out for breakfast or lunch, or just for a stretch, I took it along just in case I saw something interesting. I don’t think I came back with any prize-winning shots, but it was good exercise.
![Random photos while walking around Charleston, West Virginia](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9141-399x600.jpg)
I’ll eventually get around to writing more about it, but I’ve been on sort of a “one camera, one lens” kick the last couple of months. I bought one of the Canon 50mm 1.4 lenses a few months ago, and I don’t think I’ve taken it off my camera! I just love the simplicity of the single focal length, and have really enjoyed the discipline of having to work a little bit to refine a composition, rather than just twist the zoom ring. It really makes me think about what I am shooting and what I’m trying to show. At first I was afraid the 50 would be a little wide, but I’ve gotten used to it.
![Sculpture at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, Charleston, West Virginia](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9183-399x600.jpg)
I think I could have represented Charleston in a more favorable light had I gone a few weeks later, but things were still pretty brown there. The trees were just starting to show some buds and the grass – what little we could see downtown – was still pretty brown. And the whole place had that “could stand a good rainstorm” look that cities get when the snow has just finished melting. Not that they’ve had a lot of snow, but that was sort of the look it reminded me of.
![Close-up of the sculpture at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, Charleston, West Virginia](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9174-600x400.jpg)
In just a little over a week, Earl and Paul & I are going to go shoot some birds at the Carolina Raptor Center. I suppose I’ll have to take the 50 off for that, but I’ll probably put it back on as soon as I’m done!
![Along a street in Charleston, West Virginia](http://tomdills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/00C9144-399x600.jpg)
Tom, now you could leave that 50mm on at the Carolina Raptor Center but I’m thinking if you want a close up you’d better be packing some good protective gear! 🙂
Looks like you had some pretty decent weather in Charleston, WV…even a few light clouds in the sky.
Good point, Earl. I’ll be sure to come properly equipped!
It was actually a very nice weekend in Charleston. A little on the cool side Friday (by Charlotte standards) but it warmed up nicely Saturday into Sunday.
“a vacation to plan a vacation”, makes sense to me, although I don’t do that. 🙂
“but I did take a camera”, smart man.
And, nothing wrong with toting a nice prime lens and working with it, that is a good exercise. I did that a while back with me D300 and the 35mm f1.8. That for me is a nice setup.
Hmmm. Come to think of it, I think that I might have to rent a lens for a few days just for our little morning at the raptor center. The longest lens that I have for my D700 is a 100 mm. I might want something a little longer. I’ll have to go back into Earl’s archives and see what he shot those other photos with. 🙂
Paul, my last PhotoWild I shot handheld using a Nikon 28-300mm zoom lens on my D700 and I believe most of my “close-ups” were shot at, or near. 300mm. You’re limited to approaching any closer then 20-40 feet depending upon the individual bird. I’ll probably bring that lens again and my old Tamron 200-500mm as well since I’ll be shooting from the tripod this time. Now I’ll be happy to share whichever lens I’m not using at the moment. 🙂
Once in a while I’ll go out with a single prime – great exercise and in some ways very liberating.