A few photos with the Sigma 180 Macro and Canon 40d

I finally had time to fix some shots done with the Sigma 180 Macro April 25 in Varaita valley.
I must say that also hides qualities as a portrait lens and I was very surprised having always used to take pictures of flowers and insects. Below I have posted a picture made ​​my girlfriend with a 100% crop to understand why I was amazed.
These few clicks.

One day with Sigma 12-24 and canon 40d

On April 25, I left early in the morning, although the weather did not promise anything good, armed with my Canon 40d and all objectives.
The idea was to make some shots worthy of the name and spend a relaxing day.
The goal by the Varaita.
Unfortunately, the light throughout the day was not the best and I had to keep the ISO high enough, the 40d is no longer a youngster and this machine feels the weight of years.
First stop, a place found by chance on the river Maira near Busca during the journey, at a certain point and step on a bridge, looking down, I see the ruins of a mill and the crib style canyon.
Engaging the Sigma 12-24 and I do some shooting.

The ruins of the mill, I have not taken a picture of the outside because it was all submerged vegetation. Note the entrance to the beautiful fresco.

After this short break we moved, we had some breaks here and there, but the only shots of note with this view I made them in the lake dry seeds of Pontechianale shortly before returning home in the afternoon. The landscape was still purely winter and seemed to be in a Norwegian fjord.

In conclusion, the Sigma 12-24 I consider it a great lens with a truly remarkable value for money, considering that it is located on the new € 750. Unfortunately, I'm just taking advantage of being born to cover a full frame.
The only flaws are its maximum brightness of f 3.5 and the impossibility of montarci filters having the last lens protrudes from the petals of the lens hood.
But I saw photographers who have built media craft to be able to mount the filter lee. Sooner or later I'll try and let you know.
During the day I also did a few shots with the Sigma 180 macro, but that's another story.

Happy New Year from Our Lady of Ronvello

And here we are in 2013, I greet him with this panorama, taken from Madonna di Ronvello, a small church onDemonte Stura Valley.

It is said that even to give his name to this jug was an exclamation of the Emperor Constantine in 1305, climbing up to date to be able to see all his army encamped in the plain below exclaimed "Se Roman Velle" which Ronvello.Shortly after the sun went down and the trophy would look prescient of the Cross, formed by light rays and the words "By this sign you win." For this reason, the inhabitants built the chapel.
I have not had any appearance, but the sun setting behind the mountains in front of it is still a good show.
Interesting is the vision of two small hills in the middle of the plain in front of Demonte, just above the site of theold fort of the Consolata.
It was built in 1590 by Charles Emmanuel to defend the valley against attacks Huguenots arrived by 1744 virtuallyuntouched, in that year the Franco-Spanish besieged him during their advance towards the plain, and there was a large exchange of artillery.
Although the walls were bombproof the Piedmontese left him panic due to the fire developed and retreated toCuneo. Was restored in the following years and finally destroyed by order of Napoleon, after the armistice of Cherasco, in 1796. Was not rebuilt because in the meantime Carlo Alberto of Savoy had built this majestic fort ofVinadio.
In the 30s it was added in the Vallo Alpino, on the podium were placed some artillery guns and long range to defendthe valley from a possible French invasion.
The photo is a union of six shots taken with my trusty samsung galaxy wonder. None of that compared to a DSLR,but want to put the convenience of having always behind.

Panorama Stura Valley

With this shot achieved by combining 5 photos captured with my samsung wonder I leave the 2012. Hoping that 2013 is better. The photo is nothing special but I liked the view from that point on, I will a little 'better equipped ...
We are in Val Stura di Demonte, just above the Madonna del Pino, everything to the left is the hill of Festiona, on the right the valley very slowly climbs towards the hill of La Maddalena.

Turning their backs on this sunset the sun shines for a moment a tongue of snow.