Travel Wishlist & Lens advice.

Starting this blog has got me jonesing for some new photo equipment before I move to France. Here's a little background:

 * I don't know a damn thing about the numbers on a lens or what they translate to. Every time I look into it I get overwhelmed and decide to look at dessert recipes instead.

 * I have a Canon AE-1 Film Camera that is my baby. The lens: 50 mm 1:1.8

* My DSLR is A Canon EOS t1i. The lens is pretty sad, this camera has been launched all over the place. It still takes pictures, but it has seen better days. It's an EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS

* I am a poor college student. I cannot afford to spend $3000 on a lens. Or $1000. Or even $500. When I ball hard I plan on getting an entirely new body and starting fresh. But for now, the body of my camera functions and it will get me by. 

*A lot of what I would like to take pictures of are close-ups. You know the type. The beautiful blog close ups that make photos of trash look like masterpieces. Because I'm going to be sight seeing, I am also interested in a lens that will help with beautiful landscape photos. Have you traveled and found a particular lens useful?! Aaaaaand because I can afford to window (browser window, that is) shop until my little heart's content - here is a collection of things I have deemed essential to my trip. Shoes, travel journal, luggage, photo stuff, yada yada yada (Seinfeld, anyone?) My birthday is in a couple of weeks and then Christmas after that so I am hoping to not have to dig into my savings too much before I go.

Move to France by unefleurdelavande featuring uttermost home decor

Have you been on a huge adventure before & found that there are other things that I should add to my list?!

xoxo,
Fal.

Holga Lens & Delicious Chai

So we have all heard this old Bukowski quote, "Find what you love and let it kill you". I love Bukowski except when he makes me depressed. This is the most depressing way I can think of phrasing "find what you love & make it the center of your world." So whether you let it kill you or you just enjoy doing it, make sure you are doing what you love. (But for the record, I am willing to die for candy.)

This weekend I took some time to do what I love. While I probably could have spent the entire time studying & still not been caught up, I've finally realized that balance is important.  I saw friends I don't see often, I dyed my hair purple, and I took photos.

My boyfriend & I like to go and take pictures together. He told me about this abandoned train station in the Naval shipyard in Bangor, Washington. This weekend we made it a point to go out there and take photos. I recently bought a cheap holga lens for my Canon & Figured this was a perfect opportunity to try it out. My favorite part was how the little delicate flowers contrasted with all the old crummy junk. It was such a neat place.

I also made time to go to a coffee place in the University District in Seattle. It's called Trabant and it has the best chai I have ever had. Ever! And they do beautiful latte art that will make your whole day. I haven't been to the U-District since I left UW 4 years ago. But if you ever find yourself in seattle, do yourself & get a sweet chai from Trabant.

I'm so glad that between all of the things I am trying to juggle, I made some time for things that make me genuinely happy.

Oh, and proof that I actually changed my appearance for once!

I am in the process of doing a lavender ombre with my hair. For now, it's this magenta-ish dark purple which is a huge step up from the urine-like shade I had to sport for a few weeks. I also got my nose pierced again this weekend because I was feeling wild. Go crazy.

What have you done this week that made you happy?