The Amazing Arthur makes a balloon hat for Kaitlyn Schager, 9, Ankeny, during ArtSplash at Chris Larsen Park Sunday, August 31, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I learned a very important lesson today at ArtSplash: Always keep your back to the wind while eating a funnel cake. Luckily powdered sugar cleans off easily from my cameras and face.

Check out my photo galleries for more photos from ArtSplash.

University of South Dakota’s Chris Ganious is tackled by St. Ambrose’s Justin Wahrman during football action at USD Saturday, August 30, 2008. Click here for more game photos. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

South Sioux City’s Sean Roberts fumbles as he is hit by Sgt. Bluff-Luton’s Matt Stuhrenberg during football action in South Sioux City Friday, August 29, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I uploaded a gallery from the game for your viewing pleasure that is in PrepWatch. I was going to post a link to the galley, but I can’t find it on our website. So if any of you happen to stumble across it, please let me know where you found it. Thanks.

UPDATE: I found the photo gallery!  I couldn’t find any links to it on our website, but if you type in www.siouxcityjournal.com/prepwatch it’ll take you there.

Canon announced the new EOS 50D today. You can read more about the features of the new camera at dpreview.com.

It will be a replacement for the Canon 40D. A couple of the main upgrades include going from 10 megapixels to 15 megapixels and an increase in the ASA range, which will now be expandable to ASA 12800.

The increase in megapixels is nice, but for my needs I think it would be overkill. But I’ll be anxious to see how the camera does at the higher ASA’s.

I’m a little surprised Canon came out with the 50D already, the 40D has only been on the market for a year. I know many people are waiting to see a replacement for the 5D, which has now been on the market for three years. But there are rumors on the internet that Canon will be making more announcements before long.

Cody Redman, Van Wert, flies off the horse in the saddle bronc during the Iowa High School Rodeo in Moville Saturday, August 23 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I love shooting rodeo. There are so many great photo opportunities dirng a rodeo. And the Iowa High School Rodeo in Moville this weekend gave me lots of photos ops. You can see more photos from the rodeo in my gallery.

St. Paul’s Adam Hale is forced out at second as Sioux City’s Alex Llanos throws to first for a double play during Explorers baseball action at Lewis and Clark Park Friday, August 22 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I almost wrote a headline saying “Explorers Clitch Title,” but as I write this the game is still going on. They were ahead when I left. You can see more photos from the game here.

I was pretty happy with the first real road test of my 200/2 lens. The photos tonight were shot with a 1.4x Extender on the 200, giving me a 280/2.8. The 100-400/4.5-5.6 was my “go to” lens for baseball, and I was worried that I might miss the ability to zoom. But the faster aperture and faster focusing of the 200 more than makes up for what I lost in versatility from the zoom.

I expected the 200 to be much faster at focusing than the slow 100-400 I had, but I was surprised at how much faster it was. It even makes my 70-200/2.8 seem slow. Extenders are known for slowing down the focusing speed on lenses, but even with the 1.4 extender on the 200/2 it still smokes my 70-200. I’ll be anxious to see how it does with a 2X on it, but that is a combination that will be used mostly for day time football and soccer games.

While I was on vacation I sold my trusty ol’ 100-400mm lens. But it was for a good cause. I used the money to help pay for the Canon 200mm f/2 L IS lens that I’ve been wanting so bad ever since Canon announced they were going to make it.

I’ll miss the 100-400. It was an excellent lens for my daytime shooting needs and the versatility of that lens was amazing. But the zoom had one major flaw…. the slow f/5.6 aperture.  F/5.6 is OK for shooting in bright daylight, but it became a bit of a handicap if there was a heavy overcast outside. And indoors and at night, forget it. I do have a 70-200/2.8 lens, and it’s good for most stuff, but even f/2.8 is slow for many of the gyms and football fields I shoot at.

I have high hopes for my new 200/2. It’s big but it’s fast. And the f/2 speed is going to come in handy for so many of the low-light sports I shoot.

But I know what you’re thinking: I sold a 400mm lens and now only have a 200mm lens. True, but the 200/2 works amazingly well with extenders. I already have the 1.4x Extender which will make the 200/2 a 280mm f/2.8 lens. Plenty long for most stuff and f/2.8 is still pretty darn fast. And as soon as my bank account makes a bit of a rebound I plan to get the Canon 2X extender which will make the 200/2 a 400mm f/4 lens, which will still be a full f/stop faster than the 100-400 that I sold.

I’ll be taking the 200 on its maiden voyage tonight when I go to shoot the Sioux City Explorers. Check the photo galleries later to see the results.

Blogging will resume shortly.

Be back August 22

Alice Cooper performs at the Orpheum Theatre Sunday, August 10, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal) click here for more photos