Camera Equipment - Macro Lens or Filter?

When I am in the States I'd like to buy some camera equipment, way cheaper over there. No big stuff, but yes, very useful stuff. Like:

1. Grey Card

2. Memory cards

3. Better camera bag (the one I have is not so comfortable afterall)

4. Battery

5. Remote (I lost mine, thing is so small it's easy to lose)

My number 6 is a macro lens or filter. I remember a few of you writing about it. Jenna mentioned the filter cause it does the same and it's very inexpensive? Can some of you tell me more about what macro does? And what would you think, filter or lens?

Also, are there things that would be great to get that I didn't mention? Of course lots of things, but if you wanted to buy something, what would it be? What would you suggest to me?

My equipment so far:

Nikon D80

AF-S Nikkor Lens 18-200 mm 3.5-5.6

UV filter (of course but before every one starts telling me I need one)

Grip

Manfrotto Tripot with movable head

Speed Flash

You Capture - Photographer's Choice

Hmmm, another challenge I can't resist, You Capture it is. Fortunately it was Photographer's Choice and you are to post your favs of this week. I have been busy taking photo's for my last assignment for school so lots to show. I already showed some photo's for my last assignment but I replaced some photo's. So here are my 3 replacements:

Also, I had FUN taking these photo's for school. I went into the fields many times (often at 5 am) and loved it every time. I knew I would love cows but that they are this great and friendly I didn't know. They are sooooo curious and followed me every where. Good thing I knew up front it would take forever to take the photo's I wanted, they hardly gave me a change since they kept licking me, walking around me, eating my cloths and sniffing on me. One time the farmer came along and he just couldn't believe I would just get in the fields with him and the cows all over me. I mean, I would lie down, in the poop, and the cows would bent over me. You can tell we love one another, the cows and I, I mean:

I like your shoes

See her licking me?

Presenting Last Assignment

I worked on my assignment today. I think I am ready. Thank you to those who commented, I needed it. I often have a hard time believing in myself and the comments helped have a second look at my work. I went to the store to get the photo's printed and the store keeper actually came to talk to me because he loved the photos. Yeahhh. So below is my presentation for tomorrow. I bought some fake grass and I think that will have to do. I am looking forward to presenting now.

June Challenge - Summer shoes

I can't put my photography friends down, it's crazy here with my schedule, working around the clock and having the exam tomorrow. But Jenna has a hard times as it is getting the challenges going, so 2 days late.... here's my entry for June Challenge - Shoes of Summer.

I've come to love shoes more and more. My friend Sara is a great friend to go shopping for shoes with. She's just like me and when I'll see her IN JUST 2 WEEKS I am sure we'll try to find some heels for ourselves (Red ones please), hopefully matching ones. I really "need" to expand on shoes still but look at these..... I love the color, the style and it goes with everything, casual with jeans or with a suit for work (Yes, Sara has those too.) When I read about the June Challenge being about shoes of summer I knew right away that I wanted to share these. Unfortunately they aren't that comfortable, they give me blisters all the time. Awrr!

Not so proud

So Friday is my last class. I have one more exam AND the FREE assignment. But I don't know how to feel about my shoot. Often I have a certain feeling about a shoot. Sometimes that means I love my photo's, I cherish my photos and am proud of my photos. But this time I am just not sure, I am certainly not proud. Often I am so hard on myself. Feeling that nothing is good about my photo's. I've been busy, so very busy that I feel I did not give it my best shot. I just showed my photo's to a colleague, he's got an eye for these things and he was more positive about the shoot than I am. Still, I'd like to post the photo's and see what you think. Honestly, there are 2 options: 1 is that you will help me see what I've done and be proud of it, maybe it's not that bad after all..... or 2: it's really that bad. Please feel free to be honest with me, if you think it's really not that good, please let me know. If this simply does not add up for a last assignment, please let me know. Not that I have that much time left, but I could still make something happen tomorrow or Thursday morning. I need a series of 8 so pick your favs if you have any (I think 5 might be usable out of this series.) I did several shoots in the fields and I think I like the fog series the best. Combining 2 shoots doesn't really work in my opinion for the lighting is very different and thus the atmosphere so I will also get up at 5 am tomorrow morning to see if I can get some more shots, in the morning fog. As far as my camera goes, it's a bit challenging, but it's holding up. I also did not do any editing. So here we go:

OH NO!

I saw it coming..... my camera is no longer serving me. I really is a mess. It started months ago where the camera would take pictures all on it's own, no one touching the button. I went back to the store but they said they would have to take the camera in, of course, but what they couldn't tell me is how long they would have to take it in. How long would it take to check out my camera and fix it? "Oh, well....." they said, ".....anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months." WHAT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? (This is very typical for service in Holland, no service at all.) Here I am in the middle of photography classes with weekly assignments, I could not miss my camera that long. Loaning camera's while they fix camera's is really not provided unless you own multiple bodies. And so the only option was to drive all the way across country (I know Holland is small so going across country really doesn't take that long, but still driving 3 hours to and 3 hours back is 6 hours total, not including the always present traffic jams.) to have it checked out by the national Nikon fix it place. But I simply didn't have the time and so the store told me to try and stick it out with the camera until I could make the time. Well, I still don't have the time but it's time for the camera I take it to the doctor or even get a replacement. It still takes photo's on it's own, it empties the batteries as soon as I put fully charged batteries in (and I only have 2), and now it won't let me focus anymore, great for picture taking?! The worse part of it all is that I have my final photo assignment this week. I am hoping my camera will pull through, but I don't think it will.

IHeartFaces - Kids - Let's hear it for the boys

IHeartFaces is all about boys this week, due to Fathers Day which we celebrated past Sunday.

I bring in my handsome nephew. He is in his last days of Elementary school and getting cooler by the day. It's fun seeing him transform as he reaches and is getting ready for High School.