I got a link from @0blikovalnik for a workshop in Zagreb for directors of photography. I send them my resume and they accepted me (the workshop was free). At this point I have to stress that I had to translate my CV into english and that was not easy, ’cause it was difficult to translate certain phrases. They intended to have two directors of photography speaking at the workshop, Oliver Stapelton and Paolo Cascio, but later they added also Bill Butler. I didn’t recognize the names so I searched for them on imdb.com and I must admit I was surprised when I saw the movies they worked on. Rocky II, Grease, One Flew Over the Cockoo’s Nest, Jaws, The Conversation, Casanova, Pay It Forward, The Cider House Rules, Payback, Groundhog Day, to name the few. I couldn’t wait for it to start and so soon came the day that I went to Zagreb.
I decided that I wouldn’t take much with me. Only computer and camera but I didn’t want to complicate with the selection on lenses. For a long time I mainly shoot with Nikon D200 with AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D on, because it is a very fast lens, it is small and light and taking pictures with prime lenses makes you think harder in the process. But this lens on a 1.5x crop factor body (DX format) acts like a 75mm lens and that is good for portraits but not so much for all around photography. That is why I was pleased when Nikon introduced a new wider prime lens this march (2009). Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. The price at Foto Beseničarju (209,00 €) was the same as anywhere else in Europe, which surprised me. So traveling light was my excuse to buy myself this new lens at the day of my departure.
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G prime lens is a great companion for my Nikon D200 body. It seems as they were made for each other.
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G on a Nikon d200 body
The lens is made of plastic (that is why it weights only 200g) and is made in China, but after one day of use I can say that I’m very pleased with it. I will write about its pluses and minuses later on when I spend more time with it and test it thoroughly.
Triangle - the first serious photo with this lens. On it is a fountain in front of Croatian National Bank in Zagreb (©2009 Peter Prevec)
More on the workshop follows as it ends and I collect all my thoughts. I will only say at this moment that I’ve learned a lot and heard quite some stories even on the first day.