New Macro Lens

Second entry in a row boasting a new lens. 
I promise no more. I was fortunate to have enough insight to spend my bursary on something worthwhile - A Canon 100mm f2.8 macro.
Already I am loving the results, and it is so much fun to play with. Also proving a very versatile walk-about lens, particularly for street photography. These are the best results so far on the true macro scale.

New Tamron Lens

I have replaced my Sigma 70-300, after being recommended the tamron 70-300 VC USM, its quality compared to a high range 70-200 f2.8. The USM is consistent and steady. Its VC is boasted to improve vibrations by 4 stops. I tested this in the published shoot below... holding the camera in 1 hand (over a kilo and a half) at full 300mm extension, to my eye, focus on a bird, fling bread causing great shaking through the lens, try to point where the bird was leaping and hold shutter. The sharpness is fantastic. Shot at ISO500 and between 1/500 and 1/800.

I was just wandering with this new toy, and met a couple and a toddler throwing the birds bread. They then went off but left me the remains of the loaf as bait. So I proceeded to coax the ducks and kittiwakes to skid over the thin ice on the pond to get at my offerings.

Pigeons were then gathering all round me picking off crumbs, as I was glued to the viewfinder and not noticing them. When I did, after having my fun with the rest, I drew them over into better light with a line of crumbs and switched to the 100mm macro for some closeups. It was hard to focus on their bobbing heads, but I was determined to get the white pigeon. It actually became a little camera shy as I was tracking its every move and I had to coax it back twice.

Prohibition Party Shoot

To welcome everyone back to Bath for the new semester following christmas, a 1920's, prohibition-style fancy dress party was held at Fat Cumner's Grand Slam Speak Easy on South Avenue. A large range of illicit beverages were imbibed from out of teacups, and the stops were pulled out on a delicious selection of food courses. Everyone was dressed to the nines and I managed, through catcalls and whispered compliments, to lure the entire party piece by piece up to the attic, where varios light experiments using photosensitive technology and compact flourescent bulbs attached to shiny umbrellas were conducted upon them. The results are below...
Seriously though, it was a fantastic opportunity and everyone was fantastic in front of the camera. It seems dressing up makes all my already creative friends lose their reserve somewhat. Using brand a new lighting rig and backdrop purchased from the marvellous Mr Peer at the Pawnbroker shop on Lower Bristol Road, a flash and the faithful tammy 17-50 which serves me so well, the results from this, my first posed studio style photoshoot, were unexpectedly well received. 
Thank you to everyone who was involved. I hope the 'old photo' rendition of the originals fits the bill.