It has been awhile since the last post. Last night we drove over Hardy mountain and spotted these marmots beside the road. This again is the Sigma 120-400 os lens at 1/25 of a sec. 400 mm 5.6 I was sitting in the car but these are hand held. By the number of hits to this blog regarding this lens that I have seen from all over the world it is becoming very popular. I think every one should have one but that may be just the sales man in me talking. Bill

The evenings have been very pleasant with the warm weather. Here is a photo by Laura of Oliver enjoying the last sun of the day. Laura is now using Sigma cameras for her wedding photography. I can't wait to see the results from this weekend weddings. Bill

Sitting on the deck and watching the sun go down last night and what a show. Missed getting a photo of the lighting, but the sky was very colour full and inspiring. Sigma SD14 and 18 to 200 lens. Saturday morning a beaver swam by in a hurry looked too small to be Bob. I haven't seen a beaver for a month so that was also a little exciting. Bill The wine, northern Italy

My daughter Laura and I went for a walk last night hoping to see some fawns. We didn't find a fawn to photograph but I discovered the other end of my Sigma 120-400 os lens. This is at 120mm and I thought it looked good in B+W. I have started to carry a monopod as well. Bill

We have a new family of birds that have just moved into our upper deck. Jill has been keeping her eye on them. The Sigma 120-400 OS focuses very close, and hand held because of the optical stabilization and sometimes there just isn't enough time for a tripod. I think I will take a mono pod home to add to the collection of photo equipment. We also have new fawns but have not been able to get a good photo yet. Stay tuned. Bill

Because of the rain and wet weather I have not had many opportunities to use my new Sigma 120-400 OS lens. This was a photo I took last night. I have thought of trying to do deer portraits with this lens. There may be more to come. BIll

Our daughter Ann's graduation from high school was this past weekend. Here is a photo of her and her school friends. Her mother and I and family are all very happy for her and her accomplishments. I just thought some of you may want to see how wonderful she looked on the day of grad. These colours are captured with my Sigma SD14. Bill

One more taken with the Sigma 120-400 os and my Sigma SD14. Bill

Yesterday morning leaving for work I was surprised to see Mr. Coyote on the other side of the river. Note this is a non Sigma photo, we do take a Panasonic FZ18 home most nights for a point and shoot with a 18x zoom. I have learned living on the river you never know what you may see and having a camera near by is a good thing. Bill

Here is a photo with my Sigma Dp1. It was taken the other night while my mother and I were enjoying our glass of wine and watching the sun set over the river. Bill

I know it has been a long time from the last post and many of you have been checking back waiting for a update on the river. The river has been down since we have been back but I don't think we have seen the peak yet. The weather has turned warm again and it may rise. As well one of the reasons I update my blog is for my mother to see as she lives on Vancouver Island, actually not on the island but on another island close by. She is visiting right now and we have been sitting together with a glass of wine watching the river so there isn't the same need to post. Other excitement is today receiving the new Sigma 120-400 os lens today and this photo, I posted on the Sigma forum at DPreview. I think I was the first to post a photo taken with this lens on this forum but I am really not that kind of a competitive person. I do hope to sell many of these lenses though, because from what I have seen so far they are very good. I think it is time for another glass of wine. Bill

I am going to have to tear myself away from the river for four days. We are leaving tonight to attend Laura's university graduation. I can't think of a better reason. The river is still aways from a peak and I will update as soon as I return. This morning it broke through the channel on the other side and turned very brown. There has been some very large trees going by as well. Bill

Another update, this one taken from a lower level this morning. The river still can rise another meter or two and that can get really exciting. I am enjoying the wide angle view from the Sigma DP1 as it captures more of the sky. It nice when there is a cloud or two around when you need them. Bill

River update, after yesterdays 29 c the water is coming up. Today's forecast is for above 30. This photo is taken from our bedroom balcony with a 28 mm wide angle view so it does make it appear further away than it really is. The camera is of course my Sigma DP1. Bill

With this post I hope to begin this years river watch. The weather has been cool this year and the river slow to rise. I enjoy the river the most this time of the year, being close to all that power is very exciting. I plan on posting updates often but we will be away next week , Monday to Thursday. Also my mother is coming to visit next week so she can share in the excitement. I do understand some people may consider me not completely sane when I get excited by huge trees zooming by. Bill

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I may have started something with the pink hard hat photo, I keep seeing pink, while I was unpacking a new pink Panasonic camera, this vehicle appeared in front of our store. Some may think it is our new delivery vehicle, but we don't quite sell that many pink cameras. Bill

Grand Forks and pink hard hats. One of our local business owners, John Thomas, had this idea to help promote the Canadian Cancer Society's relay for life campaign. What if many Grand Forks residents donned a pink hard hat, and helped promote cancer research. My idea was, what if we could get them together and take a group photograph? So far, the hat idea is working better than the photo, There are more than 500 hats out there and about 100 people in the photo. I would like to try again. The city of Grand Forks has less than 5000 people or more than 10 % who are proud of their new pink hard hat. The camera Sigma SD14, photo by Bill

Max and I just had too much time on our hands Saturday. Here is Dp1 still life #3 taken with a Sigma Sd14 with factory 1.07 software installed. My new stock came that way last week which tells me they were fresh from the factory. As you can see I am trying to put together must have accessories for the Dp1. I have B+W close up filters coming and step up rings to fit them. I have seen some very good close ups on the forum at Dpreview so that might be next. Bill

Here is a update on my earlier post of IR photos. There was one I titled 'beware of dog' and was a B&W infrared photo taken with my Sigma Sd14. This one is with my Sigma Dp1 and wonderful light. I think I will call it "beware of dog two". People are presently cleaning up the yard in the photo and I am going to miss the photo opps. Bill

Here is a short story that I posted on the DPreview Sigma SLR forum. I thought I would copy it here for you, who may not read the forum every day as I do. I have posted my businesses card as well because someone reading the forum suggested that I might be a good sales person. I think so and that is one reason I gave myself the title super duper sales guy. Another reason is that a few years ago I sat through a presentation about how to encourage sales people and I thought I could use a reward with a new title. Also as you may know I like to see customers smile. Bill

Last Saturday I was working my way through an airport security line when a security officer asked me, 'is that an ordinary digital camera?' well before I could think what I was saying I explained,'no this was no ordinary digital camera, this was the new Sigma Dp1, the first compact camera with the foveon sensor and very good 28mm equivalent F4 prime lens with incredible image, and he stopped me there because I was holding up the line and asked, but is there film in it? If not move along. At that point I realized he must be one of the people who don't read this forum. I still smile to myself when I think back to it, I hope it makes you smile too. Bill Wilby salesperson