In addition to the beginning of the regular baseball season, this time of year brings the beginning of the blog award season. Just last week, the Crescat opened it's (now 2nd) annual "Canonball Awards" for the more obscure Catholic blogs... for instance "blogs that aren't written by Fr. Z." Quite worth a look-see.
In addition, the awards formerly known as the "Catholic Blog Awards" have changed to the "Catholic New Media Awards," reflecting a major shift in online evangelization, and now reward any individual or group that has a presence online evangelizing via blogs, podcasts, etc.
When I bought the Nikon D90, I thought I would use the video functionality a bit more than I used it on my older digicams (S2 IS, various pocketable cams). As it turns out, I've used it a total of two or three times. The reason for this is not that the video functionality is bad... no - rather, the picture-taking features on this camera are so great that I don't even think to record moving pictures!
(Me with the base system: D90, 50mm f/1.4, and the Phottix Battery Grip)
After a few years' wandering in the land of Digital SLRs, purchasing a lens here, an accessory there, I've finally amassed a kit that I'm content with:
Nikon D90 Body (purchased body only to save a few $$)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF lens
Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-S lens
Nikon 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR lens
2x Nikon SB-25 speedlight
Nikon SB-24 speedlight
2x Bogen-Manfrotto 6' collapsible lightstand (the Strobist-recommended one, of course)
2x Collapsible shoot-through/reflective umbrella
Bogen-Manfrotto tripod + ball-head support (the heaviest one I could afford—I like rock solid)
And a few other essentials, like flash remotes, a Nikon IR remote, a polarizing filter, a couple of cases, and a willingness to learn more.
I'm thinking of taking on a few more events a year for photography—right now I typically don't accept offers to shoot weddings, as they can sometimes be a little too stress-filled for my liking, but accept portrait sessions and other special events—but we'll have to see how things work out.
This morning, the Archdiocese of Saint Louis announced via an SMS text message, as well as via Twitter, that the tenth bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis is the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson:
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. LORD, grant salvation! LORD, grant good fortune! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the LORD'S house. The LORD is God and has given us light. Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise. Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever.
