Shortly before I left for Lembeh, I picked up a new lens...a Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM.
I've had a chance to use it a few times now, and I have to say that I love it. It works beautifully wide open. The focus is reasonably quick, and the images are sharp and crisp.
Colour rendition is good, and the creamy soft backgrounds it produces are really nice. The lens is compact and light, plus it's relatively inexpensive.
I've found that it's ideal for taking portraits, particularly in difficult indoor conditions, where you can open up to 1.8 and get excellent results.
This is a portrait I took at the DEEP Indonesia show of Pak Yos, who owns Yos Marine Adventure in Bali, with my new 85mm lens.
Besides his diving and resort business, Yos is an established architect. He designed and built Kasawari Lembeh Resort, and he designed the new Maluku Divers Resort too.
I just learned this weekend that Yos is opening a new resort in Lembeh in the near future as well. From the artwork I saw, it'll be another beautiful Yos-designed property...which I can't wait to visit!