Respect the KIT lens

Really!

As I bought the 55-250IS along with the XSI, I never respected the KIT lens (18-55IS) and hardly used it for any shooting. But recently when I went to the meetup group of Southbay Photography group, I saw a photographer show off his work which was done using this KIT lens and I was clearly impressed. From then on, particularly when I travelled to Anaheim and Disneyland, I used it exclusively.  The result is I use it now regularly.

The above rose was captured during one of my walkarounds. I really loved the result - it is now hanging on my living room wall.

Settings: 

Canon XSI

18-55IS at 55mm

1/320sec

f/5.6   (I couldn't go to f/4.0 as I was already at 55mm)

ISO: 100 (lowest, it was a bright sunny day)

Portrait photography - Best suited lens

Welcome back!

Though I had an SLR for nine years, never experimented much because of, you know what! Cost!! Now that I moved to DSLR and three lenses - 18-55 + 55-250 + 50mm 1.8 - I have got enough resources to play around for free ( already paid for:-) )

I got the most flattering results with my 55-250 telephoto zoom at around 100mm WITH NATURAL LIGHT before noon - indoors. I stand next to the window and I ask my subject (so far only my wife) to stand facing me (window). I can not post these photos as she didn't agree to.

Cut the crap - my personal style is to focus as close as possible with just the face filling literally the whole frame - if that suits you. The results are usually very flattering. Try it.

General technical data I used: 

Canon XSI with 55-250 at around 100mm

f/4.0

1/2 sec - 1/50sec

ISO: 200

Without flash