Behind The Butter

Oat Fail, Lens Win

Mornin’!

Look at these beautiful oats:

IMG_0953
Ugh, they weren’t good! I hate it when that happens, don’t you? For some reason, this oatmeal just didn’t do it for me today. I used 1/3 cup oats, 1/2 cup soy milk, 1/4 cup water, 1/3 cup liquid egg whites, a few dried cherries, 1 T chia seeds and some almond butter. But….no good. The only thing I can think of was the fact that the egg whites have now been open in my fridge for about two weeks, when the back of the label says you must use them after one.

IMG_0952
I ate about half and then called it quits. I’m not really in the mood to make anything else so I’ll probably just have a snack in awhile. Meh.
Tamron_60mm_macro-001.jpg
Love, love, love, love, LOVE
I never would have thought to go with Tamron, but while at the camera shop here a few days ago I just fell in love with this guy. I shot around with both Canon and Tamron lenses and, in my opinion, this was the overall winner. It’s a 60mm macro, which means you can get up close and personal with your subject, but you can also use it to shoot lovely portrait shots. The best part though? And the part that sets this lens apart from its Canon cousin? The fact that this guy has a incredibly sexy 2.0 aperture, which provides for a very shallow and delicious depth of field. The lower the aperture, the more light is let into the camera….the Canon version of this lens is F/2.8, which is one stop SLOWER than the Tamron, resulting in a darker photo.
I actually got this lens used on Amazon. It was still in excellent condition, but was more than a hundred dollars cheaper. Plus, I got free two-day shipping. What what??!
Okay…need to go bring my blood pressure down now. Goodbye!

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  • Camille
    August 3, 2010 at 8:32 am

    Oooh, gorgeous lens!
    I am sure it will serve you well!

  • Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine
    August 3, 2010 at 8:36 am

    Congrats on getting a new lens! 🙂 … I feel like it’s a celebration or something. I know I’d be excited!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers
    August 3, 2010 at 8:37 am

    WOOHOO yay for an exciting new lens!!! Seriously, sometimes used is the way to go. Especially with camera stuff, because it usually means someone upgraded and it’s still in good condition!

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
    August 3, 2010 at 8:38 am

    Wow that’s awesome about the Lens!! <3 AMAZON!!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    August 3, 2010 at 8:38 am

    woohoo! awesome that you got that killer lens…you gotta love the ones you can use for ANYTHING!

  • Laura
    August 3, 2010 at 8:42 am

    I did the oats this morning too and mine were off also. Not a good oats day apparently.

  • Marilou @ Mostly Healthy
    August 3, 2010 at 8:42 am

    Like chinese to my hears 🙂

    One day, one day, I will put more focus on photography for sure 🙂

    • MichiganPete
      August 3, 2010 at 9:52 am

      more focus on photography… That’s funny!!

  • jenna
    August 3, 2010 at 8:45 am

    this lens looks like a really good one.

    I love that you still use your green up even after breaking it. 🙂

    i bet it was the liquid whites that ruined your oats….i’m not a fan of that sort of thing in my oats!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
    August 3, 2010 at 8:46 am

    Nice! A $100 discount is always nice. Ebay has lenses and sets for pretty cheap, too.

  • Amy @ Amy Starts to Run
    August 3, 2010 at 8:46 am

    I hate when breakfast turns out to be a bust. It sets the mood for my whole day!

    Good thing you had a fancy new lens to turn your day around!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    August 3, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Congrats on the new lens!!! I love that one!

  • Danielle
    August 3, 2010 at 8:49 am

    Yea for a new lens! I just got my 35mm prime and I love it!

  • Cara
    August 3, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Egg white in oatmeal sounds gross ! Sorry but looking at that oatmeal is nauseating.

  • Lauren @ louisianagrown
    August 3, 2010 at 8:51 am

    I order everything like that on Amazon. Excited to see the photos you take with this new puppy. 🙂

  • Marina
    August 3, 2010 at 8:51 am

    Oats look great, but I’m sure the egg whites made them yucky! Sorry about that :/

    But new lens made it all better, right? 🙂

  • Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies
    August 3, 2010 at 8:53 am

    Ohh – can’t wait to see the photos that lens produces!

  • Scargosun
    August 3, 2010 at 8:53 am

    Beautious lens! I am researching cameras. I had lots of fun with my brother’s on vaca.

  • Amanda @ Vegacious
    August 3, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Awesome rawesome! I know, I’m a dork. 😀 Lens looks fabulous!

  • Amanda @ Vegacious
    August 3, 2010 at 9:01 am

    Awesome rawesome! I know, I’m a dork. 😀 Lens looks fabulous!

  • Justin Thor Simenson
    August 3, 2010 at 9:01 am

    I recently bought a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens. New lenses are just so much fun! I also remember when I got my Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime, I was so excited. Keep up the great images and writing!

  • eatmovelove
    August 3, 2010 at 9:04 am

    It’s funny -your not just a writer…do you ever think of yourself as a Photographer as well? Cause your photos are stunning!

  • Kendall
    August 3, 2010 at 9:06 am

    Sometimes oats just won’t do it for me either. I’ve finally mastered my perfect bowl though – I use the same amount of liquid as oats. Makes a really dense, bread pudding-like oatmeal.

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
    August 3, 2010 at 9:06 am

    I’ve been lusting over a 60mm macro for so long now. I hate when my 50mm shudders when I get too close. It makes me miss the macro on my point and shoot. Can’t wait to see your pics with this guy!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    August 3, 2010 at 9:07 am

    I hate when food disappoints! Especially oatmeal because usually it is SO GOOD so when it isn’t it is especially sad. Congrats on the new lens!!

  • Courtney (Delightful Devours)
    August 3, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Congratulations on the new purchase!
    I especially hate when oatmeal isn’t very good and you go through all the trouble of making it! ugh!

  • Sami
    August 3, 2010 at 9:18 am

    I’m hoping you could at least salvage the delicious almond butter off the top! 🙂 Would hate to see that go to waste.

    Congrats on the lens! Your photos look beautiful without it though, too!

  • Lauren
    August 3, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Don’t you just hate when the oats turn out not up to par. I think to most people, these would have been a perfectly fine bowl of oats, but being an oatmeal snob and having been use to the most delicious and indulgent bowls of oats, anything less than perfect is just not worth it! 😉

    Great choice on the lens!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
    August 3, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Oooh, I just ordered a new 50 mm lens on Amazon…don’t you just love their bargains?! 🙂

  • Laughter-Loving Stacy
    August 3, 2010 at 9:31 am

    lol congrats on the lens!!! And I’ve never considered adding egg whites to oatmeal… interesting… lol

  • Tina
    August 3, 2010 at 9:39 am

    I want that lens!!! My brain can’t process anything else to comment on. LOL

  • Danielle
    August 3, 2010 at 9:43 am

    Beautiful lens! Glad to hear it’s looks aren’t as deceiving as those oats right there 🙂 happy Tuesday, Jenna!

  • Lauren @ 40Apples
    August 3, 2010 at 9:49 am

    Now that’s a lense. I anticipate some sexy food glamor shots 🙂

  • Laura @ youngDCliving
    August 3, 2010 at 9:52 am

    I just bought a Canon Rebel Ti1 for my birthday and I am in love–so glad to hear that Tamron is a good lens option, I’ve definitely been looking at ideas/dreams of lens to buy in the future.

    So glad you had a good experience with Amazon used product, I would have been worried about that, but it seems like you got an awesome deal.

  • Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches
    August 3, 2010 at 9:56 am

    I’m so jealous of your lens! Happy shooting….I can’t wait to get a legit macro lens. My 50mm gets cranky whenever I get too close to my food subjects, which gets old pretty fast.

  • Amanda
    August 3, 2010 at 10:11 am

    Sorry about the oats fail! But savings lots of money is ALWAYS a win…. gotta <3 amazon.

  • theemptynutjar
    August 3, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Maybe a banana and more nut butter could have saved the day? (and some chocolate chips?)

  • Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
    August 3, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Nice job on the lens selection! I find something with a low aperture setting works best for food photos, particularly indoors. I loathe using the flash for food, it makes the food look sweaty and unappetizing. Can’t wait to see what snaps you take with this new camera gadget!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
    August 3, 2010 at 10:33 am

    That lens looks awesome! Just got my first DSLR and I am so intrigued.

  • Nancy @ The Wife of a Dairyman
    August 3, 2010 at 10:39 am

    Oh my! That lens is getting my heart a pumpin’!! I may need to buy myself a B-day present:)

  • Jenny
    August 3, 2010 at 10:42 am

    Hey Jenna!
    I have been obsessed with your photos for EVER but can’t seem to get the same quality/lovely shots as you with my rebel. I attribute this to the fact that I only work in the automatic modes. Any chance I could bribe you in to doing a post with some tips and tricks of the trade for a photography newbie?!

    • jenna
      August 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

      It took me a solid six months to finally feel comfortable enough with my camera to venture into the world of manual mode. I feel like I know absolutely nothing still though and learn basically by trial and error. I’ll work on a photography post though–that would be fun!

  • katie
    August 3, 2010 at 11:12 am

    I’d love to see an ELR blog series on food photography! (Or, all photography)

  • Tyler Clark
    August 3, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Sorry to hear about the oats, they sound and look delicious. Cant wait to check out the your pics with the new lens!

  • Phyllis
    August 3, 2010 at 11:17 am

    So glad you got the Tamron! I have 2 of their lenses and I love them. Hopefully I’ll have one someday soon 🙂

  • Kacy
    August 3, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    I need to buy a new lens, but it’s so hard to shell out that kind of cash. Can’t wait to see the great pictures.

  • Richard
    August 3, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    Many many years ago, in the days before autofocus, I had a Tamron 28-200mm zoom, to go with my Nikon F3. I absolutely LOVED the Tamron. It didn’t have the sexy aperture of your new lens (I think it was around F/4.5), but it was the most versatile lens I have ever had. It was small and easily transportable, shot beautiful crisp pictures, and the range of the lens allowed for very flexible compositions. Tamron makes really good lenses, and I applaud you on your new baby.

  • Lauren @ Fun, Fit, and Fabulous!
    August 3, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    I have never tried egg whites in my oatmeal. Can you taste them?

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
    August 3, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    You’re supposed to use open egg whites after a week? I’ve been using an open container in my fridge for about a month now… Whoops!! 😛

  • Jessica
    August 3, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    I love your bowls! Are they from Anthropologie? I have the creamy white ones but that green is beautiful! Food tastes so much better on pretty plates and bowls (except in the case of your oats this morning- oh well, becoming a master chef is all about trial and error, right?) 🙂

    • jenna
      August 3, 2010 at 7:14 pm

      yes—I love those Anthro latte bowls!