my head is ringing

not mine of course (despite my numerous ads in various foreign country clubs). Today I was booked for a wedding in August and I am very excited. The couple is very interested in a more unique and modern look to their wedding photos, so it is understandable that I am doubly excited about the prospect of shooting this wedding. Of course my mind has been buzzing with the prospect of new equipment. I'm constantly reorganizing my priority list.

On my wish list are several items, but most prominently is a quality wide angle lens. I have two that I'm trying to decide between, both expensive, but one considerably more so than the other. Making investments in such things is a difficult thing, especially when I am trying to take my photography seriously. Obviously the better lens is the more expensive one, it would work better in lower light conditions because it has a larger aperture and slightly wider angle. Add to that my newest wish list item, the Sekonic L-558 Light Meter and a more powerful flash like the Metz Mecablitz 76 MZ-5 digital for walk around wedding photography... and my desire to one day have studio lights... well, it all just becomes way too overwhelming. Even more so when I wish that I had a Macbook so that I could run Aperture.

Why does everything have to cost so much money? Sometimes (like now) I wish that I could just pursue photography full-time. But that's just not practical. I need to have the "back-up" plan to make sure that I can survive. As some might say, I have too many mistresses.

But back to my dream of prime lenses (the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM in particular)... I've always liked the look of wide angles in architectural and travel photography. Perhaps it's the cimeatic scope... but I just like to see the sweeping vistas and towering buildings. Like so many other paupers I get a lot of my kicks out of magazine travel, looking at the shots in various magazines of far off and exotic places. Today I chose my newest ideal vacation spot, the Algarve. The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal and is well known for glorious year round sunshine and excellent sandy beaches.

Lonely Planet has this to say about Portugal:

Portugal has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage sites and graced by one of Europe's most relaxed and attractive capitals, it also remains refreshingly affordable.

Savouring life slowly is a Portuguese passion, and much of the best is humble - traditional folk festivals; simple, honest food drowning in olive oil; music that pulls at the heart strings, recalling past love and glories; and markets overflowing with fish, fruit and flowers.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll be flying off to Portugal for photography assignments... with my faithful Sherpa of course, who will help me carry my equipment.