Tripod? What tripod???

I was on a recent photo walk with photography friends and the walk extended into the evening, during a carnival. I wanted to photograph the rides but I didn't have a tripod...how on earth was I going to get cool long exposure shots when I was hand holding my camera?? 

First, I had to remember that I recently upgraded my DSLR to a full frame. The difference between my Canon 6d Mk II and my Rebel T3i is literally night and day (no pun intended!). Don't get me wrong, I loved my Rebel - I used it for 5 years and it was with me every step of the way for my early photography journey. But the 6d? No comparison - and it handles low light with strength and grace. But I digress!

Next, I decided to play with a creative lens, namely the Lensbaby Burnside 35. This glass lets in a lot of light and while it is manual focus, and does not have image stabilization, I was confident that it would not let me down. And I was right! The gallery shows some of my favorite shots, although it was so hard to choose! Bottom line? I was not only able to capture some fun scenes, but I was able to explore my creativity, try something new, and learn to have faith in my equipment and my skill!