Guess what!??!?!?!!
Meet my new Canon 35 mm f/2!!!
Lots and lots of research. Setting of priorities (wide angle, high quality "magical" image, macro-ish, low aperture, price). Lots of in-store playing, I came home with this guy.
Some of the playing:
It has the ability to get super close to objects
30mm
50mm
More gratuitous ring shots!
Knuckle hair anyone!?
And takes a super crisp shot that captures more than the 50
30mm vs 50mm
I have been wanting a new lens for a year now, so I am THRILLED with the purchase!!
Lunch was especially fun to shoot 
We made quesadillas on WW tortillas from Whole Foods with a little grated cheddar and black + red pepper plus salads with leftover squash, pear, bleu cheese, cinnamon almonds, spinach, and honey.
Macro shots are back!
I cannot get OVER this bleu cheese!!!
Here it is if you want to buy it:
Honey makes the best salad dressing!
Speaking of photography, my headshots from Andrea have been revealed on her photography blog.
I LOVEEEE them!! I have no idea which I will use for my official headshot. I just might have to rotate!
Meeting a friend for a walk and yoga this afternoon. Whee!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I really like both of the pics too. I don’t think I could choose! And congrats on getting your new lens. 🙂 Have fun with it!
Christine says
Wow! Love love LOVE the “prep” shots!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Your pictures are always very good, but I really can see the difference with the new lens. Great headshots too!
Teresa @ Teresa Tastes & Travels says
Really, really great headshots! You have such a bright smile. Definitely rotate! And congrats on the new lens. Enjoy seeing the comparison shots!
Fallon says
Do you have any posts or sites to share on buying a DLSR Camera? I really want one for Christmas but I’m very confused on what to get. I’m leaning more towards a Rebel. I love the shots your camera takes. Thanks!
As for the photos, they are beautiful! It going to be very hard to decide on a favorite because they are all good!
Kath says
I’d recommend the camera I have – the Canon Rebel XSI. It’s a great starter camera. Get a nice prime lens to go with it. For $100 the 50 mm f/1.8 is awesome. The one I bought is pricier, but I’d recommend it over the 50 for versatility.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Eeeeeeep!! Jealous of your new lens! You say it’s macro-ish…why the ish?
The head shots are beautiful!!!!
Kath says
Macro-ish because it’s not a macro, but it lets you get within 8 inches – which is pretty darn close (says the lady at the camera store too)
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
Great head shots! Congrats on the new lens. Bleu D’auvergne is an awesome blue cheese – one of my favorites before I started dealing with various food allergies (including dairy, boo!). For that marshmallow-y flavor/texture you were looking for, you might be happier with softer and whiter blue cheeses as opposed to things like stilton or gorgonzola. There is a good danish blue cheese that resemble Bleu D’auvergne but can’t remember the name. It looks similar to Bleu D’auvergne but the non-blue parts are a bit whiter.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
congrats on the new lens, it looks awesome!
Shannon says
You should try Trader Joe’s raw blue cheese. It is awesome and about half the price per pound and still raw = lots of enzymes!
Paula says
All of Andrea’s shots are beautiful, but my faves are the close-up with the brick wall, and the swing. LOVE the swing!
suki @ [Super Duper Fantastic] says
congrats on the new lens! 🙂
Emily says
My favorite of the pics is on the swing, and the first of the close up with the brick wall (great minds, Paula!)
sweetersalt says
That blue cheese is beautiful (bluetiful?)! I want some now!
Great shots!
laura
Amanda (Eating Up) says
I need to reincorporate tortillas into my shopping list.
Yay for a fun blog purchase!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Hooray for your new lens!!! Your pics are looking especially gorgeous!
Jaclyn says
Wow i love the new lens-maybe i need one?!?!
Love your photography on here, really makes me want to get back into it!!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Wow!! These photos are amazing! Looks like you’re having fun playing with your new toy. Thanks again so much for the advice on the Canon… it will be my next big purchase for sure! And I think if I had to choose one photo for your headshot, I’d pick the one on the right (although they’re both great!)
Keri-Danielle says
Kath –
I work for Canon Corperate in NY and I LOVE following yours & Jenna’s ELR.
Makes me happy to see you love our Lens’! Thanks for keeping my job stable! lol
Kath says
Oh fun!! I’d be happy to review some more lenses for you 🙂
Keri-Danielle says
We do have a pretty awesome product that’s hard to beat!
Claire (Low Impact Fashionista) says
LOVE the photos! My favorite is the one of you sitting in the porch swing. 🙂
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
I like the shot on the right — they turned out beautiful!
I’m making quesadillas tonight for dinner — and your post proved I made a good plan!
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday says
For the headshots, I like the second shot.
MISSY says
Love the pics. The one on the right in your post is great, but I especially love the close up against the brick wall. And Matt’s comment cracked me up. 🙂
You make the best looking lunches.
Andrea says
I’m so happy that you love the shots, Kath! You have SO many to choose from when I get you the CD…over 50! 🙂
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Love the pics!
Amanda says
Hi Kath! I just stumbled across your blog today and was thrilled to see that you live in Charlottesville! I grew up a few towns over and Charlottesville was the closest city to us. The downtown mall is still one of my favorite places! Congrats on the new lens, I can’t wait to read more!
Kath says
Welcome! Come visit!
Liz says
I just have to laugh to myself whenever I read your blog. I think i’m going to recreate some of your meals that look good, like todays, but my DH happens to be allergic to honey, blue cheese and one of your other favorites, Kiwi! Be glad you’ve got Matt!
Marg says
Congrats – Have Fun!
I just sold my wide angle zoom 17-55mm 2.8 and this is making me want to replace it asap. (Wasn’t compatbile with my new camera).
Maddie says
Congrats on the new lens! Your lunch looks amazing as always. I love your head shots. They are all beautiful! Have fun at yoga 🙂
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of LIfe) says
The clarity in your macros shots are awesome! Great purchase!
Jessica says
Love the new lens pics. Love the pics of you, they look great!!
Question…have you ever looked into Ayurvedic medicine? Eating per your Dosha? Was just curious if you have and your thoughts?
Kath says
I have only read about it in natural health magazines. I do think there are foods that some prefer over others (I am not an eggs in the morning girl!) but I don’t think if something says you are a dosha that isn’t appealing to you you should go against your instincts.
Amy says
Lovely headshots!
Re: honey on salads – is it just honey on its own? Or made into a dressing? Sounds intriguing. It might break me out of my salad funk.
Kath says
Just honey! Simple!
dawn hutchins says
Congrats on your new purchase! I still can’t stop talking about mine…a new camper!!! Your lunch looks delish too. I love the macro shots.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Congrats on the new lense! Love it!
Taylor says
All of the pictures are awesome! You look gorgeous 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Have fun with the lense! Love the shots of your eats! I love food! Have a great afternoon!
Jessica says
Yay for a fun new lens and great photography!
Of course all your headshots are beautiful but my favorite is the fourth one on Andrea’s site, with the sun coming through the leaves in the background. 🙂 very beautiful!
Enjoy, Im looking forward to seeing all your experimentation with the new lens — it’s almost like having a brand new camera! 🙂
Kath says
That’s my favorite too – and the shot I had hoped we’d get!
Karen says
That’s my favorite too…Andrea did such a terrific job of capturing your natural beauty and spirited personality, Kath!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
New lenses are always so much fun. Have fun playing around with it!!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
Love those pics. I checked out the ones on her blog. Fun! I want a lens for my camera so bad.
Stacey (The Habit of Healthy) says
I admire your dedication to food photography. You must really love it and it does make your blog beautiful. The headshots look great.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
I’ve had my eye on a 30 mm lens for awhile now too. You’re not making it any easier. 😉
I like the 2nd picture best!
Paige(Running Around Normal) says
Beautiful!! Always good to be able to play around before you buy 😉
shannon (the daily balance) says
love the headshots – stunning! 😉
Allie says
Your pictures look great! I love honey as dressing also 🙂
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
PRETTY, pretty pictures Kath! Congrats on the new lense!! 🙂
You mentioned you made some granola in a post the other night and I could NOT stop thinking about it… (esp since my jar was empty!) I also could not stop thinking about the bag of macadamia nuts in my freezer…
What do you think of my Aloha Granola ?
It had been thunder storming all day and making granola seemed like the thing to do 😀 …make a granola to take me to the islands that is !
http://whatscookinwithmary.blogspot.com/2010/10/aloha-granola.html
Kath says
Looks delish!
Vicky @ eat live spin says
I have been dying to get a macro lens. Just waiting for the right time and price! Enjoy! Love the pictures!
J3nn(Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love that lens!!! I am so getting it!! Those images are incredible!!
I love your salad too! Omg I love this whole post lol
Camille says
I love the headshots! So pretty!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
what a photo heavy post! congrats on your new headshots! it’s funny, i always think of them as something only actors have to deal with…
Jamie @ Food in Real Life says
Yay for the new lens! I love your creative and interesting photography even of everyday things. I can do without knuckle hair shots though. J/K 🙂
Jessica says
I really like the head shots of you with the brick wall in the back.
Lauren says
Such beautiful pictures that you took, and the ones of you, Kath! I love this raw sharp cheese from Whole Foods. I forget what it is called, but it almost has tiny crispy pieces in it and is like an asiago. The word is definitely foreign with weird letters that I don’t know what they mean. 😉 Happy to know their is raw bleu too. From what I’ve read in Real Food, there are tons of benefits both nutritionally and taste-wise to raw dairy–very interesting chapter in that book!
Kath says
Please figure out what that cheese is called because I LOVE crispy pieces in cheese!!
Sarah-Mae @ Eat, Run, Knit says
What beautiful photos!!! Kath, it all looks great!
Your head shots turned out wonderfully as well! Super beautiful!
The food looks great too ^_^
Jackie says
I have almost the exact same wedding rings as you! Mine are yellow gold though. 6 smaller diamonds on each side of the big one. You have good taste. 😉
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
ooooh what great pics!!!!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Congrats on the new lens!! I’m impressed you waited a whole year- just 6 months seemed like forever when I was eyeing up a DSLR!
The headshots are gorgeous, too. I love that someone named Matt commented with “That girl is hot.” Hubs?
Hope says
Yay for a new lens!!
I recently invested in a Canon EOS Rebel T1i and I have never been happier! That lens looks awesome!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Gorgeous new pictures with your new lens!!
I can’t wait to upgrade with a new lens too. 😀
[email protected]/ says
LOOOOOOve the MACro shot!! and those veggies!
Alison (Ali on the Run) says
Mmmmm now I want a new camera AND a quesadilla! Awesome purchase—enjoy!
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
I really love cheese. Your bleu cheese makes me feel like I need to get up and go buy some, stat.
Nice head shots! I love the ones in your “I Eat Real Food” tee…especially the one where you’re taking a picture. I’m a sucker for those taking a picture of someone taking a picture shots.
Ali says
Lens envy!
If you ever come across an old Dutch gouda cheese, give it a go – I just polished off a chunk and it was full of tiny crunchy pieces. So good!
[email protected] says
Awesome. Looking forward to many more amazing photos you’ll take with the new lens.
Shayla says
Love the photos!! You’re so gorgeous and very photogenic!! I love the one second down on right hand side with your hair swept to the side – beautiful!!
Lauren says
Oh Kath, your head shots are BEAUTIFUL!!!! Gosh, I can’t get over how amazing these turned out.
maya @ finding balance in tokyo says
Ooh.. Congratulations on the new lens!
I think I tried that one out a few months ago in store when I was looking for something to make up for the shortcomings of my 50mm. I tried it and a 28mm, but never got around to comparing the sample shots I took with them in store. You are definitely making me want to go back and take another look!
I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on it vs the 50mm. Like how it does for day to day non-food photography and such? I feel like I miss out on a lot of great shots if I only have the 50mm with me (which happens a LOT since our kit lens is often in use by the BF..)
Kath says
SO FAR, I think the 35 mm is better all around..
Lisa @ Fit in the Midwest says
Your headshots are so pretty! My fav is the one of you on the swing. It’s so natural looking and the lighting is gorgeous.
Hannah says
When I was in Paris this year, I bought a large chunk of bleu d’auvergne and ate it straight, in one sitting. What else was I supposed to do? My hostel didn’t have a fridge 😉
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Woohoo! Glad you found a good lens. I bet it’s exciting expirementing with taking pictures..I mean it’s practically like getting a whole new camera in a way 😛
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That new lens is really sharp! Nice pick!
Sally Mae says
I love your headshots!! You are very beautiful!!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
Andrea did a GREAT job with your photos. It helps that you’re uber photogenic 🙂
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I can definitely see the difference with the new lens! Your pictures look fantastic. As does that salad. I’m obsessed with squash in my salads lately!
Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com says
Yay, congrats on your fun/cool new lens! You always take great pictures, so I can’t wait to see what you do with your new lens! Also, those headshots look great! 🙂 You look super pretty!!
Lindsay says
I LOVE the one on the swing the most……… and i didnt know you were opening a great harvest bakery…….. give us an update on the blog!!!! 🙂
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
Great shots.
And now I know what I’m having for dinner. I have spinach, left over butternut squash, and a red pepper to use up. Quesadillas it is!
Lisa says
Blue cheese is good, I can only eat it in small doses though. I prefer goat cheese! MMM!
Theresa says
Love the new head shot pics!
Dee says
GORGEOUS pics!!!
heather says
Love the new lens– and I think we may have the same exact e-ring! Mine’s platinum, and in almost 9 years, this is the first time I’ve seen anyone with a similar ring!
Brittney says
Ooooooh, I love the shots you took with that new lens! I might have to check into getting one if/when I master the basics of my DSLR!
Maritza says
How do you organize your pictures? I just began blogging and I have a lot of personal pictures but I’m not sure I want to unite blog with other pictures. What do you? Or suggest?
Kath says
I used Windows Photo Gallery. I upload the photos high res and then edit and downsize them to a folder called “UPLOAD” that houses all of my blog photos. Then I delete the high res versions about once a month.
Maritza says
Thank you Kath!
Rachelle says
LOVE!!!!!
Oh yeah, and the food looks fantastic too!!!!
I love your blog 🙂
Crystal Toole says
Awesome, I have a 35 and love it! Beautiful and crisp lens. 🙂