A new lens! A few photos. And a poem.
I asked my husband for a new lens for my birthday present this year. Today, he gave it to me, early, so I could practice with it. My birthday's next week.
It's an Olympus 60 mm macro. Andy had one and he did great photos with it. Now it's my turn and I am starting to learn. Emphasis on starting!
The poem:
The Torch
has passed.
His hands no longer capable of artistry.
His knowledge gone into the abyss.
His gifts live in those he
left behind.
I stand to inherit what I can.
He knew so much!
I will do whatever is in my reach,
however small.
I owe him.
I love him.
And I honor him.
The lens he used
is now mine.
I look into its depths
and I see his face,
his smile,
encouraging me.
It’s a new place
for me to dwell in,
but I will make it my own.
I owe him all that, and more.
I accept the torch.
He will live
through me.
November 21, 2024.
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And lucky us you asked for a fabulous new lense! Please thank your husband for our entire community! 
Thank you so much for your generous praise! I still have lots to learn with this one, but it'll come.
I will be looking forward to new pix from you!
I have another farmer's market this afternoon and I'm taking this lens!
Andy was larger than life. Me? Not so much. But I remember. And I'm still here.
Thank you again!
And THAT is the lens I'm talkin' about. Can't wait to see what the farmer's market cache will look like!
You'll be able to look into the innards of the flowers with that!
And Happy Birthday! 
Yup, this is the lens we talked about. It's tiny and light and it packs a wallop!
I was too close for these photos; all of them are ever so slightly fuzzy! That's something for me to tackle.
Thanks for the Birthday greetings! (It's on the 27th.)
Is the biggest challenge I had to tackle, I have a sharp eye but getting the fine line and distance just right has a narrow slice of range.
You'll have lots of fun, you'll discover tiny things you never thought were photogenic!
I'd say you take deliberate care in taking action.
From around 2010...
The rod looking things are slender pine needles. I found it among the likens one the north shore of one of the islands in the middle of Yellowstone Lake. I was using a Cannon PowerShot 120SX, it didn't have a viewfinder, just a monitor on the back so if something was at a weird angle, I had to guess at the focus, but I got pretty good after a while. For a cheap little point&shoot, it had a great lens and took nice macros.
Your poem is a touching tribute to your mentor and dear friend. Yes, make it your own, without regard to the approval and praise of others.
I'm looking forward to seeing your fresh market photos.
I will have the new photos up shortly.
One thing I've learned today: I have a lot to learn! I'm usually too close . . . but I can also be too far! 
I'm pleased that you liked my poem. I just wrote it today. I'd been thinking about it since I knew what my present would be. It worked out perfectly.
"Faint preview" is right!" There will be lots more as I grow more experienced.
