Hearts and Lenses

This is a post I put on an SLR Camera forum where new registrants like me are required to introduce ourselves.

Perhaps you could picture me waving gently with my wrist slightly above my waistline, a shy smile and a raised brow! Hi - this is a middle-aged father of a 2-year old girl, and the husband to a lovely wife not sold to the idea of DSLR cameras in the first place. Through trickery, deceit, and evil timing (holiday season/birthday/family get-together etc.), I managed to get a foot in the door by convincing my wife to let me buy a K200D with a kit-lens (18-55, f3.5-5.6). Just like Obama wasn't able to keep his promise of under 8% unemployment, I couldn't keep my promise of good indoor photographs of my daughter under low light conditions without a flash. Do you know anyone who has managed that with the kit lens? If you do, take this number and call my wife!

Anyway, Obama is lucky, he gets billions to spend. Here I languish unable to convince my lovely boss that I was dealt a weak hand with the kit-lens. Through another round of trickery, deceit, and evil bending of house-rules (I need the Senate approval at home to pass any budget bill exceeding a nominal amount of say $10), I have the ability to sneak my second foot in the door. I feel I can have only one shot in the dark - by going for an f/1.4. Experts.. agree?

Till lens do us part. Amen!

[Oct 15 2010 update] Well, I got more than what I wished for - a $800 lens! Not that my photographs have gotten that much better - 'still learning' is my excuse.