buttonpie's photostream  

I'm a half-Laotian product of the Vietnam war [my father was an American in the US Army] who was born and raised in very smalltown Tennessee after the war, but currently living in Tampa, Florida. My mother died when I was 3 and my father died when I was 16. I am close to my father's side of the family but would one day like to travel to Laos to meet the rest of my family. I even have a full-blood brother there... he was born in Laos during the war and then left behind for reasons that I will never know when mom and dad came to the U.S. I have never met my big brother!

I've been interested in photography for years, in addition to drawing and papercrafting. I just recently [Feb 2009] got my first digital SLR and hope to upload some nice shots soon! I'm a Canon girl all the way... have always had a Canon point-and-shoot camera of some sort, and the new addition is a Canon XSi. I also keep a Holga in my camera bag. I really enjoy shooting macro shots of plants or bugs. I also enjoy taking pictures of animals and candids of people. I don't like flash and try to use natural light as much as possible!

My current gear (remember I'm a beginner, on a budget!):
Canon XSi
Canon SD1100IS
Canon 580EX II
Canon 430EX
Holga 120N (medium format camera, uses 120 film)
Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens
Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens
Targus tripod that was given to me from a friend who didn't want it anymore
Lowepro Flipside 200 camera backpack
Crumpler 2 Million Dollar Home sling bag
Demb Diffuser Pro
Gary Fong Lightsphere system

My favorite photos I've taken so far:
www.fluidr.com/photos/maryannmattox/tags/fave