When I was in Africa, almost seven years ago now, I took most of my wildlife shots with the Canon 70-200 f4.0L zoom lens. I really loved that lens. It was light enough to hold and the optics were phenomenal. When we decided to take this trip up the coast, I was all set to buy the same lens again (still available, still the same price) when I learned about the version with Canon's Image Stabilization. The lens automatically compensates for shaking, allowing one to expose the sensor for a longer period of time. The difference in cost was not prohibitive, and so I opted for the IS version. The optics are as good as I remember; even stopped down, shots are crisp. The IS allowed me to get some shots indoors that I'd not have been able to get otherwise; Canon makes a version of the lens, which sells for almost twice as much, as an f2.8 -- it is heavier, but for lower light situations, will certainly outperform this lens. Fortunately, all I want to do is take pictures of critters.

One of the best parts of having a camera is learning to see the way it does. This past year, I've stuck for the most part with a 50mm fixed lens. Some have argued, and I agree, that sticking with the 50mm is an excellent way to learn to compose interesting photographs. It has been quite challenging, as I've tried to use the camera/lens combo for every picture I've taken. This year, Kathy's parents bought me a wide-angle lens, allowing me to go from 20-35mm. The challenge, as I see it, is three-fold: to tell an interesting story where I can capture more image than I could before, to learn to capture interesting landscapes, and to do it all under more difficult lighting conditions. Here are a couple pictures I took today, while walking to or out at Ocean Beach.