Selected for Google Earth!

I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of my pictures made it into the latest update of Google Earth.

The GP-1 GPS unit for my Nikon D90 was well worth the investment. It is especially handy when you have no idea where you were at the time you took a picture. It is fun to go back and see where you were exactly on the map. When planning my trip to Japan I relied on the Panoramio photos on Google Earth to get feel for different areas I would visit. Since I got back I have been geotagging points of interest around the area I live in for others to explore.

Tilt Shift Gifu City

Sometimes I think I may be living under a rock. I am always finding cool things that have been around forever, that I have never seen before. Regardless, here are some nice tilt shift photos of Gifu City, by Pinboke. Please check out their other tilt shift photos here.

Tilt Shift Time Lapse of Japan

Who doesn't like the effect of tilt shift? This is the first time I have seen it in time lapse. Great find by The Awesomer.

Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM

Picking a camera body for my trip to Japan was easy, lenses are a whole nother story. After reviewing 4 different lenses I have decided on this one.  The only thing missing on this is OS, but it makes up for that in other areas.  It makes up a little for this due to it's f/2.8-4.5 aperature range.  Having the 2.8 at 17mm is really nice for indoors if you like to minimize flash, althouhg a boost in ISO is still  necessary if your subect is moving. Bokeh is decent, and it is very close to true macro at 70mm.  The picture below was taken at 70mm - f/4.5 - 1/25sec. shutter- ISO 200 - Hand held - Nikon D90. Lighting was from my desk lamp.

It's not the best out there and build is about medium, but the focus is fast and images are relatively sharp and I like the close focus.  For the price it's a very nice lens in my opinion.   If it had OS it would be the ultimate midrange lens.  I got mine from Amazon - Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC HSM Macro Lens for Nikon DSLR