What's your story?

[fish]

This is one of those "Tell us about yourself" threads.

Some starter questions:

How old are you?
Where do you live?
Family?
How long have you been shooting? Film? Digital?
What's your favorite subject?
What do you do for money?
What other hobbies do you have?

.~.~.~.~.~.~. okay...me first .~.~.~.~.~.~.

I'm 43, married to a Georgia peach for 13 years. Two kids...boy 10, girl 5. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been playing with cameras since I was about 14. I currently own several Nikon film cameras (FM, FE, FG, N6006) and three digital cameras (Nikon CP990, Canon S400, and Canon 10D). I learned photography on my dad's old twin-lens reflex camera and continued shooting black and white with my SLRs. One of my neighbors had a darkroom and we spent many MANY hours in there...developing film, making prints, and sniffing chemicals. Funnily, he went on to become a pro photographer, and I went to college to become an engineer. Now he hates cameras and I love them. Funny how that worked out, huh? I work as a program manager in the services division of a relatively large computer company based here in Silicon Valley.

I've been riding motorcycles almost as long as I've been taking photos. I put the camera hobby on the back burner for many years, due to various other hobbies and work. For a couple of years before I set my N6006 on the shelf, I really enjoyed macrophotography and landscapes. It wasn't until I joined Adventure Rider (http://www.advrider.com) in the Summer of 2001, when I bought my first serious digicam and married the two hobbies together. Now I love to go out riding and shooting. Oh, yeah...I'm also into guns...so shooting, riding, and shooting, I guess. I've really enjoyed shooting candids (is there a better candid camera than an S400?) at the various rallies and get-togethers.

I'm not exactly sure what or who triggered it, but I recently bought the Canon 10D and a couple of lenses and I'm back in the saddle, trying to relearn everything I've forgotten. I'm also trying to learn Photoshop Elements...the digital darkroom is a lot less stinky and messy than the physical darkroom. I've got a wide angle zoom and a normal tele zoom, and I've been chomping at the bit for a 70-210/2.8 IS. Now that I've seen what the 100-400 IS can do, it's on my list too.

Now that I've got the BIG digicam, I'm shooting everything in sight. One of these days I'll actually come up with a good shot.
:lol3



So what's YOUR story? :ear

[Tuesday]

Nice Story:D

My name is Tuesday McCranie.
I'm 29 yrs old. I live in Florida.

I was a cosmetologist for 8+ years and worked for a photographer doing hair and makeup, or just carrying her equipment and learning her tricks.
She was a photojournalist, so I had to learn all of my studio techniques through trial and error (and boy were there a lot of errors).

Other than photography, I come from a long line of artists. Each person in my family has their own artistic interests.
My father was a sketch artist and my grandmother was a painter.
I'm the digital artist (Photoshop Queen)
I also sketch and paint when I have the time.

I'm into cars. I have a 1996 Impala SS named "Baby"
http://www.angelfire.com/pro/tuesdayoriginals/Allansstuff/Impala1.jpg
Here she is!!! All clean and purdy!

Well that's about all for me.
I'm not that exciting.

[wxwax]

Not interesting? You kidding me? I love the Impala SS. It was on my short list of cars to buy when I got my current ride. Very cool looking. Dunno how it handles corners, tho. :dunno

You've certainly taught yourself a lot.... those studio shots look good, and the outdoors kids shots (that little girl is a cutie) are excellent. I think you'll bump into a few other professional photgs around here.

[wxwax]

Funnily, he went on to become a pro photographer, and I went to college to become an engineer. Now he hates cameras and I love them. Funny how that worked out, huh?

I guess that's the risk of making your hobby your profession, eh? Better to leave it as a hobby? :dunno

[wxwax]

Man, I hate this stuff, but here goes.

I'm *^ years old, live in Atlanta, work as a television producer and am learning a lot about the weather. :D

I first picked up a camera in earnest when I was in my late 20s. I got a manual Nikon (can't remember the model) and borrowed darkroom gear from a friend. I shot a lot of B&W, trying to learn exposure. I got a few good pics, lots of bad ones. Did the developing on a tiny, cramped bathroom floor. Then stopped. Cost was one reason why - at the time I was making beans. I got a digital about 4 years ago, an Olympus 1.5mp I think. Not a bad camera. Last year I got the G3 and it was a revelation. I really enjoy taking the camera and wandering, trying to find good shots. I get frustrated by a good shot that doesn't have good light. (I take it anyway.:rofl) Working in TV has helped me develop an appreciation for some of the elements of a good shot - can't say I was born with talent. It can be work, but it's fun work. More than anything, I really enjoy the creative moment when I've made something - a show or a photo or a meal. That's the "Aha" moment for me.

My other hobbies include riding motorcycles (same site as Fish) which I've been doing, off and on, more on than off lately, for about 12 years. I really enjoy movies (go see "Lost in Translation" if you haven't already) and cooking.

[Mike Werner]

Well, let's see... I'm 49 years young. Born in Holland and at the ripe age of 3 months, started moving around the world, dragging my parents with me. First port of call was Iran, then Iraq then around the Gulf area, Africa, South America, Europe, Asia. 22 countries in 49 years... you do the math. Ended up speaking a lot fo languages.

Since my father's job required him (and his family) to go to countries that were in turmoil (wars, revolutions, all that fun stuff), at an early age my brither and I started carrying a camera. So we eventually became stringers for Reuters (in fact Latin Reuters since we were living in Chile). I remained a freelance for years after, my brother turned pro and eventually became the chief photographer of Reuters for the East Block.

I went on to become an airline pilot, flying 737's for Kuwait Airways. But than disaster struck, and my eyesight went south and lost my commercial ticket (the limit is -3 and I became -4.25). So did a career change and went into aviation IT.

Since last year, I'm on my own, working as a freelance consultant, and designing/running several websites. (http://blogs.motorbiker.org http://motorbiker.org http://visitnormandy.org and http://mike-werner.org)

I've been involved in motorcycles since 1973, having learned how to ride in Chile. It has been one of my main passions (next to my wife). I was planning to ride from Paris to Jo'burg last December, but that got postponed, and now I hope to leave for this 6 months journey next December.

[Baldy]

I'm not exactly sure what or who triggered it, but I recently bought the Canon 10DThat would be me. :D

fishDaugher is adorable and fishBike is the 10D of two wheels:

http://baldy.smugmug.com/photos/5640-L-1.jpg

http://coyfish.smugmug.com/photos/15168-L-1.jpg

[Tuesday]

Not interesting? You kidding me? I love the Impala SS. It was on my short list of cars to buy when I got my current ride. Very cool looking. Dunno how it handles corners, tho. :dunno
Cool Sid. Nice to see another Impala fan. There's not many of us left. We have 2 in our household. Mine is the daily driver. The other stays in the garage and only comes out to play for car shows. One thing about these cars... They'll get up and haul @ss!:super Oh. and corners like it's on rails.

You've certainly taught yourself a lot.... those studio shots look good, and the outdoors kids shots (that little girl is a cutie) are excellent. I think you'll bump into a few other professional photgs around here.
I love outdoor photography. I would much rather work with natural light (as I'm sure many would) I have a really cheesy studio lighting setup. I bought a beginner's kit about 5 years ago, and I'm still making due with it. I need to learn more about the diff. types of studio lighting before I go spending money on something I don't know how to use.

Anyway. Thanks for the encouragement.

Tuesday

[Tuesday]

Well, let's see...
Wow Mike. You should write a book. What a full life you have lead.

Tuesday

[Mike Werner]

Wow Mike. You should write a book. What a full life you have lead.

Tuesday
Naw, you shoud see my brothers' life. War photographer for Reuters covering several wars. Kidnapped in Algeria, tortured for 2 weeks, and after intenational pressure released and expulsed for Algeria. Did not stop him, he went rigt back....

[Tuesday]

Naw, you shoud see my brothers' life. War photographer for Reuters covering several wars. Kidnapped in Algeria, tortured for 2 weeks, and after intenational pressure released and expulsed for Algeria. Did not stop him, he went rigt back....
You both have led amazing lives.
I just can't imagine.
:tuesday

[KC Action]

My name is Kevin Camp and I am 38 years old. I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am single with no children. Got interested in photography in 98. Purchased my Olympus C2100UZ in 2001 after owning a Canon Rebel. My passion is action photography, particularly motorsports. I also love doing nature and landscapes as well. I've spent the last two summers as a crew chief for a friend's drag boat team. We race in the Southern Drag Boat Association and International Hot Boat Association events in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Last summer I started taking my camera and laptop with the express purpose of shooting the boats in action. I have also shot the USAC Tulsa 100 Silver Crown sprint car race and some local drag race and road course events. I also shot and made up sports cards for a friend's son and his soccer team. I also race RC cars when time permits and do some phtography at the races. If you ar elooking for a way to practice your action photography panning technique, try shooting RC cars. You'll either quit in disgust or get better!


I have a simple gallery of someof my work at http://www.geocities.com/kcactionphoto

[Mike Werner]

My name is Kevin Camp and I am 38 years old. I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am single with no children. Got interested in photography in 98. Purchased my Olympus C2100UZ in 2001 after owning a Canon Rebel. My passion is action photography, particularly motorsports. I also love doing nature and landscapes as well. I've spent the last two summers as a crew chief for a friend's drag boat team. We race in the Southern Drag Boat Association and International Hot Boat Association events in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Last summer I started taking my camera and laptop with the express purpose of shooting the boats in action. I have also shot the USAC Tulsa 100 Silver Crown sprint car race and some local drag race and road course events. I also shot and made up sports cards for a friend's son and his soccer team. I also race RC cars when time permits and do some phtography at the races. If you ar elooking for a way to practice your action photography panning technique, try shooting RC cars. You'll either quit in disgust or get better!


I have a simple gallery of someof my work at http://www.geocities.com/kcactionphoto
Nice action pics !!

[motojedi]

I'm a 35 year old from Indiana. Love motorcycling, bicycling, God, and digital photography. I work as the manager of a detail/reconditioning center for a BMW, Mini, Infiniti, and VW dealer and also service the local Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, Jag and Land Rover dealers. So I spend my days working on stuff like this.

[wxwax]

We race in the Southern Drag Boat Association and International Hot Boat Association events in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.


Cool shot, KC! :bow

http://www.geocities.com/kcactionphoto/smitc/p9270044.jpg

[wxwax]

I'm a 35 year old from Indiana. Love motorcycling, bicycling, God, and digital photography. I work as the manager of a detail/reconditioning center for a BMW, Mini, Infiniti, and VW dealer and also service the local Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, Jag and Land Rover dealers. So I spend my days working on stuff like this.


You ever take them out to "warm them up"? :lol3

[wxwax]

Hey KC, what kind of boat is this? :scratch :D

http://www.geocities.com/kcactionphoto/shelby/p6210017.jpg

[ian408]

I've been into photography for a few years. Even some darkroom stuff but
not much. My film experience started with a Nikkormat and a couple of bodies,
FM and an FE (which I still have). A few years ago, I bought my first digital.
Been hooked ever since. I somehow managed to get published in a national
magazine, National Pest Control, and a couple of local papers many years
ago. Otherwise, I just do it for the fun of it. Shooting with a 10d now and
a S50 for point and shoot. As far as photography goes, I still have a lot to
learn.

I work in the IT field and as a hobby (and stress relief), I am a referee for
youth and adult ice hockey. Beside work, I enjoy motorcycling (hmmm....so
many familiar faces here). Especially trips to nowhere. Single and 44.

Look forward to meeting some of you in the future.

Ian

[motojedi]

You ever take them out to "warm them up"? :lol3


Well, you know it wouldn't be a thorough detail job if you didn't blow out the exhaust system. :wink

[cmr164]

Born in England, my father was an advanced amatuer with pictures in magazines and shows. First camera was a Brownie and when I was 10 my Dad gave me a Retina 35mm and a handheld meter. We moved to Turkey at that time and I used the camera as much as I could. Dad taught me about focus and light and f-stops and hyperfocal distance. When we moved back to the US in '64 my parents got divorced and life became 'interesting' Probably Mom sold the Retina, I don't remember but we were very very poor. We will skip the knife fights in ghetto schools and the picking tobacco at 12 with migrant workers times and jump forward to my getting a scholarship to Tabor Academy at 15. My Dad gave me a Miranda Sensorex SLR. What an innovative camera that was, with its built in spotmeter. I loved that camera. About that time, Dad started to teach me B&W darkroom work. In later years I would do a little in the darkroom but only once did I really have a place to set one up. I did process my own E4 (and later E6) slide film including 6x6 for a YashicamatG that I picked up. During this time I played with unusual films like Kodak Recording film push processed to ASA 6400. The Sensorex was purchased by the friend who dropped it off Mt Katahdin and my next camera was a Canon Ftb, I added lenses and stuff over time and found my prejudice against flash growing. I was/am always pushing the limit on hanholding and probably have more blurred, grainy, or noisy pictures than anyone you will meet. :puke1

The Ftb got an A1 added to it and I gave the Yashicamat to a very sexy ex-GF who now has a gallery in Carmel. I miss the Yashicamat :(: The entire Ftb/A1 outfit was given to a Brazilian ex-fiancee (its not a pattern honest) when I bought my EOS-10. The cycle started to turn when I gave my son an EOS-650 while we were living in Ireland in 1991 and he was 12. Somewhere along the way I got into imaging and grahics. First at Lexidata and then with the Air Force Geophysics Lab and Aerodyne Research. Later I was part of the design team for a 5.5k x 5.5k x 48 bit "camera" (really scanner) at Eikonics. I did the display S/W, the SCSI driver and minor change to the H/W (with a 4x speed improvement) Then I got involved in a robotic vision startup as the Vp of Eng (Total Systems - purchased by Infodata) and drifted from imaging s/w to systems and o/s internals. Picked up my first digital SLR in Japan in 1998 an Olympus (D600L in the US) This was a very cool camera and the price I got in Akihabara was so good that I broke even when I sold it for $300 2.5 years later. I came into a bunch of $$ in 1999 and picked up the DCS520 SLR (based on the EOS 1N) for the astounding price of $7k (list was $14k body only) and after adding 2 batteries, 2 340M microdrives and the 100-400 IS lens was out a huge amount but was shooting like mad. Years have gone by and I have added the 17-35 f2.8L, the 85 f1.2L and the 28-70 f2.8L as well as the 550EX flash. Two days ago I sold the 550EX and today the 28-70 is being sold so I will be pulling the old 50mm f1.8 out of retirement and looking to convert to a more fixed lens outfit. (Anyone want a 100-400L ?)

My photo work is ok... could use a lot of improvement. I have sold some shots for use in a magazine article on miniture carving and some for advertisements as well as a video of a fire to Boston's channel 7 but it all adds up to less that 1/2 th $$ of one 'L' lens. http://www.dgrin.com./images/smilies/bncry.gif

[gopher78]

So what's YOUR story? :ear
I'm 48, married with 2 children, one a soph in HS and one a freshman in college. I really started photography BK (before kids). Of course when the kids were born we took lots of photo's but the "other" photography got lost in the whirlwind. It's just been in the last year that I've actively started shooting again. Prompted by the kids activities, I wanted to put together a DVD of their accomplishment in school/sports/activities. I bought a Olympus point and shoot. As much as I loved that, I saw I would need something a little different so I got a cannon 10D. I've never looked back. All in the family have become interested in "getting our shots". I'm still a complete rookie but learning fast. Fortunately, there are forums like this that I can help ramp up the learning curve. My wife likes the hobby so much she now went out an bought her own camera. More importantly, she even sat down to learn all the finer points of the camera! We are just having fun capturing what will be the past for all of us someday.

[samwise]

I'm 32 physically (mentally, :ha :rofl ), single currently living on the Isle of Man, - a big rock in the middle of the Irish Sea about halfway between north-west England and Northern Ireland. Born and bred in Somerset in south-west England, so yes, I do have a yokels accent, hence the nice avatar I've chosen (if you want to know what I sound like, cider is prnounced zoiderrr :D )
Just bought a digital camera last year to muck about with, and going to try and get a good friend to give me some basic photography tips (he's got to use his Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society qualification for something :D ) - maybe even drag my old Praktica film SLR out of retirement to play around with.

[BMWRider]

Howdy. Dan here from Hilliard, Ohio, just northwest of Columbus. I passed the magic 50 mark last May and work in a small in-plant print shop affiliated with Ohio State. Because of my printing expertise (well, 28 years experience anyway) I've been exposed to darkrooms, chemicals, cameras, etc., for years. And I considered taking up photography as a hobby many times but never quite got around to it. I owned a number of 35mm pocket cams, most of which took acceptable but hardly terrific pictures of trips, etc.
With the advent of digital technology, however, I began to look at photography differently. Now I could afford to shoot as many pics as I wanted, experiment, learn and hopefully occasionally turn out something okay. Being connected with the Adventure Rider motorcycle site (http://www.advrider.com), I saw so many spectacular motorcycle and travel photos being posted, I could no longer sit idly by and not get a camera for myself. I bought a Sony DSC-S85 4MP digicam a year ago and absolutely love it, although I confess I still know next to nothing about the "art" of photography. Watching some of the "pros" around here is a most humbling experience. But at least I've picked up a few tips and will undoubtedly learn a lot more. And I now have some decent pictures of the places I've been in the past year.

[cletus]

I'm Eric from Raytown Missouri. I'm 30 years old, single, and I work for my father as a computer engineer. I took an interest in photography while I was in college. After playing around with photograpy for a month or two I started working for the student newspaper. Working for that paper was one the best times of my life. Got to shoot everything from BMWRider's hero Bill Clinton to Faith Hill (who opened for Billy Ray Cyrus :D). Now days I just shoot for fun. I currently own two cameras: a Nikon F5 and a CoolPix 950.

Although I picked up the technical aspects of photography pretty quick, I've never been happy with the quality of my work from an artistic point of view. I guess that's something I'll always be working on.

[DarkRubiTJ]

I'm Bruce from Virginia Beach. Happily married to the most wonderful woman on Earth. My interests are Photography (duh) and Jeeps. I'm in the 50 something age group.

I got my first camera in 1969, a Nikon F Photomic TN, since then I used just about every 35 MM system out there. Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta. In 1973 I went to work in the retail Photo industry for a mainly pro supplier and set up my own darkroom and did custom B/W processing on the side. I did a short stint as a pro doing mostly events, action (motorsports), and portfolio stuff. I started shooting digital in 97 with a Casio. It lasted about a month before I traded it back for an HP. I went to Olympus with a D360L about a year later. I traded it for a 20MM lens for my Canon flim stuff 2 years ago and bought a C3000 Olympus that I still own. Santa came early last Christmas and brought me a Digital Rebel.

I use the Rebel and the Olympus mostly for landscapes and closeups of the world we encounter in our off road adventures in one of our Jeeps. We purchased a new Wrangler Rubicon in the summer of 03 and our adventures are taking us farther and farther off the beaten path.

[gus]

My name is Gus & im an alc....shit wrong group.

Born & raised in the middle of nowhere on a huge dirt farm in australia. We got electricity the year i left... not a lot out there but had plenty of time to dream about travelling & actually earning money. Just watched crop failure after crop failure & told myself i will have a different life to my parents.

Joined the military at 17. Travelled a lot & eventually left to settle down....still cant stay put. Kicked about doing any job that came my way from jackaroo/debt collector/truck driver/security guard through to importer as i moved about.

Converted & lived on my old trawler for a few years....I like my own company...bit of a recluse actually.

[Mr Rush]

This is strange when you have to think about who you are !!!
My name is Les Ward Age 52 Live in North Wales UK Father of 2 girls 22/32 and 2 boys 21/34
Left home at 16 to make my fortune, lived on the streets for 2 years and nearly starved to death (so much for the fortune)
Several jobs including fairground, brickyards, mechanic and linesman on overhead powerlines (strange as I had a phobia of heights and electricity). Overcoming fear of heights opened up whole new world of rock climbing, hang-gliding and microlight flying, which in turn led to aerial photography in a very cheap way. Retired (redundant) two years ago, now amuse myself (steady) on my GS1150 trundling around North Wales - I know, lifes a beach, and playing on my laptop. My wife rides a GPZ 500 (little legs). Just joined the UKGSERS where I found this site. I also teach Yoga a couple of times a week. I have a little Olympus thats fits nicely in my pocket and gives me a 5mp return, which I tend to use more on my country walks than on my bike rides. I always take the camera with me on my bike but keep forgetting to stop, I think its an age thing. I use PS7 at the moment. I think I am am better with Photoshop than with the camera although I am trying hard to learn both - thats why sites like this are brilliant.


This is one of those "Tell us about yourself" threads.

Some starter questions:

How old are you?
Where do you live?
Family?
How long have you been shooting? Film? Digital?
What's your favorite subject?
What do you do for money?
What other hobbies do you have?

.~.~.~.~.~.~. okay...me first .~.~.~.~.~.~.

I'm 43, married to a Georgia peach for 13 years. Two kids...boy 10, girl 5. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been playing with cameras since I was about 14. I currently own several Nikon film cameras (FM, FE, FG, N6006) and three digital cameras (Nikon CP990, Canon S400, and Canon 10D). I learned photography on my dad's old twin-lens reflex camera and continued shooting black and white with my SLRs. One of my neighbors had a darkroom and we spent many MANY hours in there...developing film, making prints, and sniffing chemicals. Funnily, he went on to become a pro photographer, and I went to college to become an engineer. Now he hates cameras and I love them. Funny how that worked out, huh? I work as a program manager in the services division of a relatively large computer company based here in Silicon Valley.

I've been riding motorcycles almost as long as I've been taking photos. I put the camera hobby on the back burner for many years, due to various other hobbies and work. For a couple of years before I set my N6006 on the shelf, I really enjoyed macrophotography and landscapes. It wasn't until I joined Adventure Rider (http://www.advrider.com/) in the Summer of 2001, when I bought my first serious digicam and married the two hobbies together. Now I love to go out riding and shooting. Oh, yeah...I'm also into guns...so shooting, riding, and shooting, I guess. I've really enjoyed shooting candids (is there a better candid camera than an S400?) at the various rallies and get-togethers.

I'm not exactly sure what or who triggered it, but I recently bought the Canon 10D and a couple of lenses and I'm back in the saddle, trying to relearn everything I've forgotten. I'm also trying to learn Photoshop Elements...the digital darkroom is a lot less stinky and messy than the physical darkroom. I've got a wide angle zoom and a normal tele zoom, and I've been chomping at the bit for a 70-210/2.8 IS. Now that I've seen what the 100-400 IS can do, it's on my list too.

Now that I've got the BIG digicam, I'm shooting everything in sight. One of these days I'll actually come up with a good shot.
:lol3



So what's YOUR story? :ear

[wxwax]

:clap Welcome Mr. Rush. Do try to remember to stop and shoot so we can see what your part of the world looks like.:wink Parts of Wales are beautiful (and others not!)

[Mr Rush]

:clap Welcome Mr. Rush. Do try to remember to stop and shoot so we can see what your part of the world looks like.:wink Parts of Wales are beautiful (and others not!)
Thanks Sid
We do have a lot of these things dotted about the place, and remember, everything is beautiful, it just depends whose eyes you are looking through at the time.

[wxwax]

Very sweet shot! That's one thing we don't have enough of over here. :D

[lynnma]

Hi All,
I'm Lynn - I'm fifty something years old but I keep forgetting and making a comlete arse of myself. I originated from England from a Farm in the fens. My mother was a war bride and my dad was an American serviceman so I have family both side of the Atlantic. Met my husband Clive when I was 10 (he was 11) and we've been together eversince. We lived in Australia for five years and then here for 27. In Aussie we ran motels all over, the bush, the city anywhere we were sent.. fun fun. Here in Massachusetts we've owned and operated a home for elders FOR 27 YEARS...oh god. I do web design to keep sane and am the worst photographer in the universe. I bought myself a Canon Rebel with my web money and am obsessed with it... I intend to take a good photo one day... once I get the camera working... My husband and I are both now entering into our second childhood now our son who is 33 is financially and emotionally independent.. my husband is out snowmobiling as we speak, an old man screaming around the mountain tops on a bright red skidoo. Seeing all my old folks get really old? I've decided not to go there. cheers all. Lynn

[wxwax]

That's a cool action shot, Lynn. The snowmachine dude (hubby?) looks great. Trees are a wee bit dark... have you played with them in Photoshop to see if lightening them makes a difference? Maybe a little cropping too?

[lynnma]

That's a cool action shot, Lynn. The snowmachine dude (hubby?) looks great. Trees are a wee bit dark... have you played with them in Photoshop to see if lightening them makes a difference? Maybe a little cropping too?You improved that Sid.. what did you do in ps... I did mess with it a bit but it looks much better now. Did you just "lighten" it? or use levels, curves?? what what??
Enquiring minds want to know.
p.s. this one was the same day, critique please Sid.

Lynn :)

[lynnma]

That's a cool action shot, Lynn. The snowmachine dude (hubby?) looks great. Trees are a wee bit dark... have you played with them in Photoshop to see if lightening them makes a difference? Maybe a little cropping too?I messed with the original again to see if I could improve it... Too much????

[wxwax]

Hi Lynn.... careful about asking me for critiques... could be the blind leading the blind! I'm full of opinions, they're just not necessarily right!

To lighten the trees I clicked on my paintbrush. At the top of the screen I hit the dropdown menu and changed the setting from "Normal" to "Overlay" and lowered the opacity to around 30% (this softens anything I'm doing.) I make sure the paint palette at the bottom of the toolbar has white as the foreground color.

Then I wipe the brush carefully over the dark areas. This has the effect of burning in the image, or lightening it. Even at 30% opacity, it's easy to go too far. If I make a mistake, I go to the History menu and click backwards a step or two.

I suppose I could do the same thing with the Burn tool. :D

I think your new crop is pretty good, you have him in the right part of the screen. Maybe he wants a bit more space around him to breathe... I guess that's a matter of taste. The big unresolved problem is the burned-in white to the right of the snowmachine. Nothing can be done about that, I'm afraid. Any attempts to darken it will make it an ugly gray. I'm learning (thanks Patch! :wave) that digital cameras are very sensitive to excess light and will easily overexpose highlights.

The shot of the couple is cute. You captured a nice moment. Maybe some more headroom.... and again, some overexposed highlights to the left. But you're shooting in very bright conditions, with the snow and the sun. Hard to balance the light and the shadows. If you think of it, protect against overexposure, you can usually bring out the details from the shadows in Photoshop.

OK, I've gone way beyond my level of experience! I love how you work at it.

[fish]

This has the effect of burning in the image, or lightening it.
psst...waxy. burning means darkening. dodging lightens the image. (think darkroom).

[lynnma]

psst...waxy. burning means darkening. dodging lightens the image. (think darkroom).
you guys are all so cute... thanks to both for input... You all just reinforce what I should have listened to in the first place.. my own instinct.

Great forum.

Lynn
p.s. if this is a bit slushy... it's cos I just came home from huge quantities of Chinese food and wine.. I'm swimming in MSG.

hic

[lynnma]

[The big unresolved problem is the burned-in white to the right of the snowmachine. Nothing can be done about that, I'm afraid. Any attempts to darken it will make it an ugly gray. I'm learning (thanks Patch! :wave) that digital cameras are very sensitive to excess light and will easily overexpose highlights.]

Sid! I fixed the burned in white to the right.... ha ha

[wxwax]

psst...waxy. burning means darkening. dodging lightens the image. (think darkroom).
Thanks. That's why I always post my ignoramus rating at the top of my posts. :wink

[Seamaiden]

Hhmm.. alright. DWF, with one HELLUVA a significant other. (Humun, his boy's joined the Navy, and will be training as a diver, too. Already has significant dive time.) When the cabin in Tahoe's built, I'll be moving up there with him. Just turned 40 2/20.. mother of two teen boys, 17 and soon-to-be 15. Click on my profile and you'll see one of my favorite 'fake-outs', good laughs. Plus, out here, you can catch all KINDS of people doing it for real.

I still haven't exactly decided what I want to do when I grow up, was a stay-at-home mom for a while there. Did work aquatic import/export for some while there, and currently working with a couple of different websites advising/learning more an subjects aquatic. My nick is the Greek/Latin meaning of my first name (also, where one parks a boat). Went back to working part-time a couple of years ago, and after almost a year got a pretty good thump that crunched my back - fortunately it's not so serious as to have permanently immobilized me (thank God for the needlestickers!).

So, I need to learn something other than that which requires substantial use of my back. :dunno Considering several options, all that have to do with (hopefully) working from home/online. In the meantime I helped with editing/proofing of a very good book on reefing, The Natural Marine Aquarium-Reef Invertebrates, by Anthony Calfo and Bob Fenner. Also learning many things Linux, built my own computer last June (only three years ago I practically a Luddite when it came to puters). A monster has since been created.. so, I thought that I'd post one of my first shots with my nifty, entirely frivolous purchase.

[GREAPER]

nice shot Seamaiden welcome. Seen this thread a few times but never got around to posting in it. Dont much like talking about my self.

I am a 39.8 year old married man with 3 teenage boys (13, 15, 18). My wife is a beautiful intelligent funny lady who still married me, go figure.

I am a construction electrician by trade. Commercial and industrial.

I bought my first camera about 2 years ago on e-bay as a bit of a lark ( it was a lot of stuff and it was cheap). It was an old Pentax Me super 35mm camera with 6 lenses and other stuff to boot. I was not even sure I was really interested, but as soon as I got it the bug bit hard.

I bought my first Nikon 4 months later and my second soon after. Recently I added a d100 to the arsonal which I LOVE.

I joined a camera club soon after gettig the first camera and it was my main source of learning. I fell in love with the club early and became the Vice President durring my first year. I am running for president now (unopposed) and think I have a good chance at getting the job.

I love taking photos and talking about them, and sharing them, and trying to help other people become as fanatic about it as i am.

[special kid]

I'm 23 and in San Diego for now. Raised in plymouth Ma then moved to VA when i was 18. Then to San Diego when i was 20. Always loved cameras ever since i got my hand me down slr from my father when i was 14. Played with some of the first digitals for a while. Mainly like to do sports (Biking, Skateboarding, Surfing) but i also enjoy walking around the park or the city and taking pictures. Just got my first digital SLR last week. I had some issues with my Rebel 35mm that i was shotting(It just didn't have the fps). So i played some poker for a while and used my tax return and bought a Nikon D2H(I love it). I took over 1000 pics since last thurs. Ohh yeah i am really good with numbers but not that good with the gramar. I will have my site up buy the end of the week with some of the pics i just took. I'm in the Navy and getting ready to go on deployment so i look forward to posting some pics from around the world. Also i'm on a carrier so i get some nice Jet shots.. Look Forward to talking and learning from all of you..

[wxwax]

Specialkid, we're gonna enjoy having you around! :nod Look forward to yer shots. Bigtime.

Seamaiden, that's a terrific shot. I'm getting the feeling that you're a very talented person.

Some nice folks are elbowing their way in. Cool.

[bikehiker]

I Hate talking about myself but here goes, My name is Mike. I'm 32 and Currently live in NE Tennessee, but have famiy in SW FL, thats where the Florida photos come from. I've spent most of my working life as a lineman/splicer who was also afraid of heights when started. The first pole was an interesting one! Currently, I've decided to stay at home a little more and attend some schooling, so I've been working nights at a local factory and going to school days for computer applied science. Photography is fairly new to me. I've always liked to take pictures during hikes(my other hobby is hiking by the way) but just recently started getting serious about photography.

[Deacon]

This sure makes for interesting reading! Well here goes, I am 54 and live in Portland, Or. I have been doing photography since I was in my early teens. Yearbook, hs and college photo ed etc. Had to leave school for a stint in the army and was a photg for Criminal Investigation. A great time that has kept food on the table. Too long of a story, but I have been designing, building and developing real estate for 26 years. If you want to take a look: Shelburne Homes (http://www.shelburnehomes.com)

I am passionate about many things, family, mc riding, fishing, traveling etc. There are not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do, but I keep trying. Surrounded by great friends and employees, we really try to have fun! Dgrin is a great site Baldy, keeps me pushing and exploring. Thanks
:clap

Deacon

[Seamaiden]

Specialkid, we're gonna enjoy having you around! :nod Look forward to yer shots. Bigtime.

Indeed! What carrier? I was married to a Navy guy, Dad was Navy (flight sturgeon, flew a Skyhawk.. GAWD I loved playing with his flight helmet when I was a kid), and dated another Navy guy for 8 years (they both served on the same carrier, the Ranger). My boyfriend's son is joined, and intends to train as a diver (he's already scuba certified). I used to live in San Diego for some years, too. There is nothing like the bay on a weeknight, you have it practically all to yourself - I have my particular favorite fishin' spots around there, too.. ;) You going on a full WesPac tour? And.. heh.. still a pollywog? Hope you enjoy crossing the equator, be SURE to use your camera as much as possible for that. http://www.mutantswarm.org/eye/images/smilies/smilegrin.gif


Seamaiden, that's a terrific shot. I'm getting the feeling that you're a very talented person.

Some nice folks are elbowing their way in. Cool.

Thank you wax. But it's not my doing, it's nature. Ya kinda can't go wrong with that, now can you? I've linked your site to some friends of mine on our ttth site, they're the ones who have been helping me thus far, and one in particular helped me figure out search words for Google, which is how I found you folks here. We even have one guy who's legally blind who takes, in my opinion at least, some pretty outrageous shots. He's resistant to change, though, so it'll take a couple of weeks with a crowbar and a stick to beat him with to get him to visit.

I feel the need to comment here on a couple of things, and I've mentioned once before my impulse control issues.. so here goes.

- First, this site loads up HELLAFAST! Puts me in the diggable mode. Ours is phpnuke, this place is (?) wysiwig? In any event, I really like the interface and load time.
- Second, I have found through my search that there is truly a dearth of well-set up sites dedicated to digital photography. And not only that, most seem to be geared towards professionals. Very intimidating for someone like myself, who is only just getting straight the dif's between aperture-f/stop, ISO, and shutter speed, but still can't get 'em quite right for the indoor family shots. I'll reduce some piccies later today that I took Sunday evening in hopes of suggestions.

Last, but hardly least, I am having a great time getting the feel of this place, and I love reading people's "stories". :thumb

[TJAmy]

Hello, to everyone! My name is Tammy Jo. My closest friends call me TJ (TEEJ)! I am 32, married, with one 6 year old boy. I live in Michigan, burr. My story is not very exciting. Picked up my first camera in the 7th grade. Put it back down and picked up a Volleyball. Played volleyball for local college for a year and started playing in tournaments all over Michigan. Made some really great friends and for about two whole years I worked during the day, played volleyball in the evenings and went to the bar after that dancing the night away. Then I met my husband, got married, got pregnant, and picked up the camera again. We just bought our first digital last week and I found this web site three days ago. I did the weekend assignment of "Triangles" but found that I am having problems getting my pictures uploaded. But I think I can figure it out given a little more time.

I love this sight. I don't play any volleyball anymore. I had to grow up! But since I have become a member of this web sight, I have felt excited about something again. I love reading your posts and seeing your pictures. I just hope I can hang with you all!

I love taking pictures of kids. I love it when they don't know you are there. I did take some College course in photography and I learned a lot. But for me...I can take 3 rolls of film and only get one shot that worth showing anyone. I can't wait to get some of my pictures on here so I can get some feedback from all of the colorful people.

Well, I could go on and on...but I am at work and the boss is on the way!:puke1
THanks for letting my talk.

[special kid]

Indeed! What carrier? I was married to a Navy guy, Dad was Navy (flight sturgeon, flew a Skyhawk.. GAWD I loved playing with his flight helmet when I was a kid), and dated another Navy guy for 8 years (they both served on the same carrier, the Ranger). My boyfriend's son is joined, and intends to train as a diver (he's already scuba certified). I used to live in San Diego for some years, too. There is nothing like the bay on a weeknight, you have it practically all to yourself - I have my particular favorite fishin' spots around there, too.. ;) You going on a full WesPac tour? And.. heh.. still a pollywog? Hope you enjoy crossing the equator, be SURE to use your camera as much as possible for that. http://www.mutantswarm.org/eye/images/smilies/smilegrin.gif
i
i work on the Uss John C. Stennis, been there for almost 4 years.I work with communications gear all over the ship. I joined under the SEAL program but then changed my mind. I've been to Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Middle east, Austriala and Tazmaniz. ohh yeah i'm already a golden shell back. I crossed the equator at the international date line. Iv'e been across the equator 3 or 4 times now..

[Seamaiden]

i
i work on the Uss John C. Stennis, been there for almost 4 years.I work with communications gear all over the ship. I joined under the SEAL program but then changed my mind. I've been to Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Middle east, Austriala and Tazmaniz. ohh yeah i'm already a golden shell back. I crossed the equator at the international date line. Iv'e been across the equator 3 or 4 times now..

Wow! Then you've got to scan and post your certificate. I love those things. :wink

[gotta]

My name is Eric, and Seamaiden suggested I come in and look around. I liked the site immediately. I have been taking pictures for 30 years, most of them with a 35mm SLR. I've had my digital for less than two years, but I've taken a few thousand pictures. Because I live in the foothills of the Eastern Cascades in Washington State, there is much beauty to photograph. Most of my pictures are of the surrounding countryside. I live on a snow melt fed lake 55 miles long and on the average a mile wide. The upper reaches of the lake reach the center of the Cascade Mts. We have spectacular sunsets all spring and summer, many which I've posted. I also like close up work on my fish tanks and flowers. Last summer I got into astrophotography, and I've just scratched the surface. I have gotten some pretty decent pictures of the moon, some which I've posted. I enjoy looking at others' pictures, and seeing other places. I think this site is great and I find myself spending time here every day.

Regards, Eric

[JohnR]

I just joined today.

How old are you?
I'm 39
Where do you live?
Louisville, KY
Family?
currently single but am seeing a wonderful woman
How long have you been shooting? Film? Digital?
I have a Canon PowerShot S30 for about 2 years. Just bought the Nikon D70. So about 2 years with digital. Film...eh...just snapshots.
What other hobbies do you have?
I'm a mac user...enough said
:thumb

[wxwax]

Cool camera, John, and welcome aboard. :thumb

[PerezDesignGroup]

How old are you? 28.

Where do you live? North Miami Beach, FL

How long have you been shooting? About 2 years in digital. Started with an Olympus D460 and now I'm using a Canon A70.
What's your favorite subject? Spy shots. Taking pictures of people when they least expect it.
What do you do for money? Freelance Artist and Network Engineer.
What other hobbies do you have? Art, Airbrushing, Photoshop and Illustrator.

And on a separate note, just wanted to send a huge thank-you to smugmug for their amazing site.

[wxwax]

:nod Smugmug rocks.

[gubbs]

Well, I'm 40, live near Reading, UK (about 40 miles SW of London). Married with 4 Children and 1 grandson.
I've been interested in Photography on and off since about 84 when I bought a Nikon FG20 (which I still have). I joined the digital age with a Casio QV4000 about 18 months ago, this really renewed my interest and goes down as one of my best purchases.
I tend to use my Camera like a diary, taking quantity rather than quality. I'm trying to change all that (by improving hopefully!) and have found the advice, the pictures, the assignments and the encouragement in DG fantastic.
Looking at my photos I guess my favourite pictures are candid shots but I really enjoy nature and action shots.
Other main interests include cars, the Dax (see below) occupies a lot of my time, and food (cooking and eating!).

http://gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/522382-S-2.jpg

Cheers

Jon

[nikon90]

Well, I guess I must be the newbie here, just joined last night. My name is Terri and I'm 32 years old. I am married to a wonderful man for going on 3 years, (been together going on 8). We live in Indianapolis, IN. I started with photography when I was 16. I took what I thought would be an easy class to pass and instead had a teacher that really got me going. I finally convinced my parents to buy me a Pentax K-1000 and its been my love ever since. I took one year in college but they had me doing to many other things to really keep my interest in school (I hate math and numbers!!). I quit joined the real world and started shooting my favorite pasttime... musicians! I worked in several one hour labs and even a custom lab during this time. I learned more by trial and error than anything but I did pick the brains of those around me who knew what they were doing. I love doing live concerts but have very little access to them anymore the way I used to. I have several promo shots and even two cd covers to my credit.
My hubby, who is an over the road truck driver, took me out to see the country. I really didn't know much about landscapes seeing as how I only focused on shooting concerts so that was a good learning experience for me. I put the camera down for a few years because we thought my Pentax had died and we couldn't get it fixed or buy a new one :cry . So I went probably 3 or 4 years without shooting except with a cheap point and shoot I hated. Then Xmas 3 years ago my honey hands me this box he was so proud of and when I opened it, there was my dream camera... Nkion N90s. I was so happy I cried!!! I became a truck driver myself 5 years ago and I take my camera everywhere with me. We team drive mostly Mid-west to California, Oregon or Washington. I don't use my camera all the time but I go in spurts really. I'm trying to get more serious about it so that everything doesn't look like vacation snapshots. I also like to shoot NASCAR races when we go. Its fun trying to catch cars moving that fast.
I recently bought a Nikon N6006 that I truely love. I'm really still learning this digital stuff and not really sure on it yet. I have a Kodak 4800 that still has my honeymoon pics on from '01, ( i just recently figured out how to get them off there). I have a cheesy Gateway point and shoot digital that I love to use while I drive, ( its so small and easy to manuver with one hand). I also have an Olympus 170 that is great for sneaking into concerts. I have a small gallery on smugmug and I'm getting ready to expand it. I love what I can do on there.
As for any other hobbies, I really don't have any. I enjoy music (of course) and my hubby plays bass so that entertains me. I like to read alot and play on my computer. I'm really into learning this computer/digital thing, (then maybe I'll like it more). We're only home 5-7 days a month so my learning time is limited but I'm still at it. Well, that's all for me. I've enjoyed my time here so far can't wait for more. Nice meeting everyone.:D

[wxwax]

Other main interests include cars, the Dax (see below) occupies a lot of my time, and food (cooking and eating!).

http://gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/522382-S-2.jpg

Cheers

Jon

Nice car, Jon. How's it drive?

And what's for dinner?

[wxwax]

Well, that's all for me. I've enjoyed my time here so far can't wait for more. Nice meeting everyone.:D


Great first post, Nikon! :thumb I think we'd love to see your pictures from the road. Digital's costly upfront, but can pay for itself in saved film costs over time (unless you get bitten by the bug and keep upgrading your equipment!)

Good to have you here!

[gubbs]

Nice car, Jon. How's it drive?
And what's for dinner?
It's pretty "raw", a cross between fear and fun (i'm talking car)! The acceleration is awsome with lots of grip from the 4wd. Fantastic!!

Shanks of Lamb

[wxwax]

Sounds like fun... and please invite me over!

[MainFragger]

First I'll give you my handle's story, then I'll give you mine.

My handle is actually a bastardization. In 1990 there was a comicbook mini-series that revamped a nearly forgettable Omega Men character from DC Comics. Lobo. His original hair looked like someone dropped a diamond block on his head, and his costume was a really loud orange and maroon/red suit. He was suppose to be one of the best hitmen in the universe, but the Omega Men pretty much slapped him around like he was Raggedy Andy.
I don't know WHY someone decided to revamp such a forgettable character, but I haven't regretted it since. The new Lobo is more like a permanently pissed off Randy "The Macho Man" Savage in biker duds. He destroyed his entire planet to keep others of his species from using their abilities to become the ultimate intergalactic Bounty Hunter/Hitman/Assasin. Thats why he is the Main Man! Immortal because neither heaven or hell wants him, he kills casually, cooly, and with great humor. He calls killing Fraggin', and uses FRAG! as a curse. Every once in a while..he when he wants to refer to himself as a killing machine, he calls himself a fragger. His series and mini-series are usually tongue in cheek, because, well, in a serious comic, he could kill abou 90% of the DC super heros and villains without breaking a sweat. He's stomped on Superman a few times already.

My Info:

I have been into BBS'ing (Calling local Bulletin Board Systems) since 1990. I started with a 1200 baud modem, and promptly got addicted enough to BBS's that I used it to flush my first year of Drexel down the tubes.

At the time, it was fashion to pick a BBS name that sounded Rad, Gnarly, and made you sound like a general bad @ss. I wanted to pick Lobo, but even back then, most sites wanted 6 leggers for a login. So I decided to go with Fragger. I was Fragger free and clear until about 1997. Quake and Doom had started to make their mark, and nexthing you know, every new site wanted to add a number to Fragger. I took Fragger69 when I could. Yes, I know, I'm a bit of a perv..sue me!

That worked ok for about a year. Then I couldn't get anything below Fragger9403022943. So I thought...Like Lobo, I needed to distinguish myself. How? Well, Lobo is The Main Main? I'll be the MainFragger.

OK..enough about the handle, more about me.

I've lived in 3 states in my life. PA, NJ, and FLA. But FLA was for about a year when I was 4-5. PA has been most of my life. NJ was during the summers in my early formative years. Having a job kind of put a kabosh on me going down the shore for the summer.

I have traveled from PA to Cali, GA, Canada, New York, Aruba, and Israel.

I love movies. Movies in the Theater, movies on DVD. I'll watch anything from G to XXX, from Mainstream to Sub b-grade. If its a movie, sooner or later, I'll see it. I have over 400 DVD's, not including video clips from my computer and image albums from my camera.

I do tech support and new hire training for one of the largest manufacturers of electronics in the world. I won't drop their name here because it can actually come back to bite me if I do. Sorry.

It is through trying to improve my knowlege base for my customers that I have gotten thoroughly hooked on digital photography. I have become the go to guy for any issues that involve image quality. Not so much that I am an expert, but my understanding of what I have read and learned through experimenting at least allows me to explain why automatic cameras would choose certain settings in various shots and to suggest methods of getting the best out of what may not always be the best circumstances for a picture to be taken properly. It also allows me to offer more suggestions on cameras with a/s/m.

I've had my current digital camera since last November and have taken over 11,000 images on it. Some of those images are on my site. If you have comments about my images, I'd love to hear them. E-mail me at fragger@verizon.net . Sorry if they are not captioned. I just don't have the patience to do that when I am making them publicly viewable and free. And there are literally thousands of images up.

[wxwax]

Deja vu, Frag. I feel as though some of this has been posted somewhere before. :scratch

http://www.geocities.com/clarksdcanimations/lobo_stance.gif

[MainFragger]

Deja vu, Frag. I feel as though some of this has been posted somewhere before. :scratch

http://www.geocities.com/clarksdcanimations/lobo_stance.gif
A little bit of it might be in my bio. But I elaborated some. To be honest, I've posted it in more than one location, so its also possible I forgot I posted it here somewhere, and reposted it. My memory gets a little dicey sometimes.

MainFragger

[digismile]

Hi, my name is Brad. I'm 46 and live on a golf course in Edmonton, Alberta with my wife and one 4 legged kid (Buddy the Wonder Dog). And like many on this site, I have "the bug". I've had it a very long time ...

It started when I was a kid carrying the battery pack for my dad's flash that had a guide number of about a bazillion. Ok, maybe not a bazillion, but it could fill a big hall and had a 700 pound lead acid battery pack. Ok, maybe it wasn't 700 pounds, but remember, I was just a little kid! I got my first camera at age six and started snapping. I still have many of the very first B/W photos that I took. As I grew up, I sat through many a saturday night slide show as my dad pulled out tray after tray of newly developed slides .

The bug bit me again when I was in High School. I enrolled in a journalism course and before you knew it, I was the photographer/layout/production guy for the school newspaper. The very first time I put my first exposed piece of paper in the developer tray was MAGIC ... not sure why, but it just was. Those were the days that I always smelled of fixer. My mom hated it, but to me, it was heaven.

One would have thought that the protagonist of our story would have left school, camera in hand and ventured into a budding career in photojournalism. I had actually wanted for years to be a marine biologist. Somehow I ended up getting a degree in music instead. Go figure ...

Well, the years have gone by, I made a career change, got another degree (MBA), and today I'm the Manager of Corporate Planning for a billion dollar Canadian retailer. Then the bug REALLY bit a couple of years ago. The V.P. Franchising got himself a little 2 megapixel Canon Elph and I made the "mistake" of borrowing it for the weekend. I took some pictures of BTWD (Buddy the Wonder Dog) and it was one of those life changing moments ... really. Soon after, I purchased a Canon G2 and Photoshop 6 and I've hardly exposed a roll of film since. Yes, the camera has several limitations compared to my Canon SLR, but digital is SO ....(you fill in YOUR favorite word). But the limitations are soon to be a thing of the past ... my "new baby" is expected any week now ...

I have to say that digital has really improved photography. Sorry film guys. Part of becoming better at any craft is practice. Not too long ago I recently read the acticle for the first fully digital National Geographic pictorial. What blew me away was that the average 2-3 week assignment required the photographer to expose 600-700 ROLLS of 36 exposure film. Now they ONLY shoot the equivalent of 200 rolls. Taking that many pictures, even a guy like me should be able to get ONE good photo in his lifetime! I know from my days of teaching music that very few people are truly blessed with with pure natural ability. If you want to be good, you have to work, and work hard. Shooting digital lets us try and fail, over and over again, with very little cost except our time.

I love this site. It has it all. Technoweenies, professional photographers, and lots of people that just appreciate seeing someone else's photos. It lets us connect as a world.

Thanks for the opportunity to share.

Long live dgrin, long live smugmug.


Brad

[wxwax]

:clap Great post, Digi! You summed it up perfectly, I think. Lots of practice, no incremental cost... and a nice place to show off the good ones. Thanks for such an eloquent intro!

[Andy]

I got into photography at an early age, about 7 years old. Ever since then,
I can recall always always taking photographs. When I was 12 i started
working for the local camera store. I stocked the shelves and swept the joint.
In a year, I was opening up the store on my own on saturday mornings, and
it was just me and those Kodak Instamatics and about 90 kinds of Kodak film
behind the counter :lol3

The owner had one of the only commercial b&w darkrooms in the area,
and he taught me how to develop film, and make prints. A giggle:
I remember often developing rolls of film from one particular guy -
he shot "nudies" (not nudes, in the artistic sense) :lol3 whenever
I'd get this film developed, the owner would always send me down
the street off on "errands" and "important deliveries" for the
store. Riiiight. as i got wiser, I remembered the guy who brought
in the "special" film. Once, i pocketed it, and developed it the
next morning and made the prints. Hoo-boy did I get an eyeful ;)
and also, the owner was none too pleased, but since I did such a
good job with the prints (even fixed a few) he said he'd forget
about it. :thumb

Soon I set up my own darkroom at home, comandeering the basement
bathroom. Mom wasn't too happy about it, but she gave in and even
bought me the expensive Kodak paper and all the chemicals I ever
needed.

I continued there for several years, and then got into other types
of jobs, but i always had my camera with me. I'll never forget
working there.

So, how did you get started with photography? tell us your story,
and share a photo or two if you've got them!

Here's an early self-portrait, with a voigtlander rangefinder 35mm
and a timer. (I was 8 yrs old):

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325153-M-1.jpg

Here's a photo i took in 1971 of my brother after he wrecked his
car.. This one made it into the local newspaper ;)
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325188-S-1.jpg

Here's a portrait of my folks and our dog, taken in 1973 with a
Pentax k1000 35mm slr:
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325220-M-1.jpg

My dad flyfishing in 1975, taken with the same pentax
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325227-S-1.jpg

A river scene, near where i'd go fishing in the adirondacks of ny,
taken with a canon a-1:
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325273-M-1.jpg

[Bryan]

Let's see, my name is Bryan and I take pictures.



I am 31 and live in what Money Magazine considers the best city in the west, Rancho Santa Margarita, California (between LA and San Diego). That means it is manicured, planned and perfect for raising my 2 sons (3 and 10 weeks) with my wife of 6 years.



I started shooting with Dad's A-1 in High school, then took several B&W classes in Jr College. I bought my first Camera then, Canon Rebel. I shot a lot, then the camera got put away. Several years later my sister borrowed and dropped the camera. I fixed the body when our first son was born, and the bug was refound.



My first Digi was a freebie a vendor gave me, Olympus D-520zoom. I was convinced Digital was it, wife was not. Then the Digital Rebel cam out, I bought it, pissed her off. She wanted piles of pics surrounding her, so I bought a printer, she is hooked. Yesterday I ordered a 75-300 lens, to replace the one sister broke years ago.



I work in IT, so I have the computers, now I need to learn Photoshop and get this hobby rolling! If I could only find a business reason to take Photoshop classes, then they would pay for the classes. Hummmm....



That is my story, My boys get most of my exposures right now.

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/2785863-M.jpg

[wxwax]

Beautiful color and detail and the soft baby skin, Bryan. Nice shot.

If you're looking for good books for your version of Photoshop, check out anything by Scott Kelby. Great tips, easy to follow, a picture for every step - and at least one book for every 'modern' upgrade of PS.

[wxwax]

here's how i started out (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=7413752)


Wow Andy, youre experience goes waaay back. Even as a kid you had really good skills. Nice story. :nod

But honestly, and with all due respect to your father, someone should have had a word with him about those pants! :evil

[Andy]

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/325190-L-1.jpg

[wxwax]

My, what a colorful family!

[damonff]

Finally got around to this...I'm Damon...the ff is Francis Fernandes, my other two names. I'm from Washington, D.C. I'm a teacher by trade. I teach literature. My favorite writers are Faulkner, Joyce, and Morrison. I also love looking at paintings; my favorite artists are Picasso, Pollock, and anyone who painted that Italian stuff in the 14th and 15th centuries. I dabble in religion, though I subscribe to none. My favorite religion is Hinduism because it has a balance of freedom, art, and spirituality that I find appealing. Siva is a pretty cool art subject. I live in China; I teach here. I stopped teaching in the States because the testing system (no child left behind) is stifling to a teacher's creativity. Teaching for the test is not education in my opinion. Thought I'd check out China and found the same thing going on here...oh well. I'm married to a beautiful person named Lida. We have no children. We plan on seeing the world for a while, but we'll probably go back to D.C. to make some money first. We're going to buy a Vespa with a sidecar when we get back...we used to have a new Beetle but gas prices are way too high now...going for the scooter. Photography is my hobby. I have film and digital cameras. I use my Sony 828 most of the time but my Canon AE1 Program is also never idle for long. I speak English, Portuguese, Farsi, and Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). I can read and write Sanskrit. I learned that when I was studying under a yoga master about 10 years back. I taught yoga for a while outside of Detroit but it's hard making a living in full lotus pose (padmasana). I want to buy a Nikon D1X. Can't afford it...have to save. Can't think of anything else. I love smugmug and digital grin.

[wxwax]

Great story, Damonff. I always wondered what you were doing over there, assumed you worked for a corporation of some kind. Turns out you're a bit of the anti-corporate type, eh? Maybe teaching in the English private school system would suit you? 30 years ago they didn't seem quite as focused on teaching for the test - dunno about now, though.

[lynnma]

Finally got around to this...I'm Damon...the ff is Francis Fernandes, my other two names. I'm from Washington, D.C. I'm a teacher by trade. I teach literature. My favorite writers are Faulkner, Joyce, and Morrison. I also love looking at paintings; my favorite artists are Picasso, Pollock, and anyone who painted that Italian stuff in the 14th and 15th centuries. I dabble in religion, though I subscribe to none. My favorite religion is Hinduism because it has a balance of freedom, art, and spirituality that I find appealing. Siva is a pretty cool art subject. I live in China; I teach here. I stopped teaching in the States because the testing system (no child left behind) is stifling to a teacher's creativity. Teaching for the test is not education in my opinion. Thought I'd check out China and found the same thing going on here...oh well. I'm married to a beautiful person named Lida. We have no children. We plan on seeing the world for a while, but we'll probably go back to D.C. to make some money first. We're going to buy a Vespa with a sidecar when we get back...we used to have a new Beetle but gas prices are way too high now...going for the scooter. Photography is my hobby. I have film and digital cameras. I use my Sony 828 most of the time but my Canon AE1 Program is also never idle for long. I speak English, Portuguese, Farsi, and Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). I can read and write Sanskrit. I learned that when I was studying under a yoga master about 10 years back. I taught yoga for a while outside of Detroit but it's hard making a living in full lotus pose (padmasana). I want to buy a Nikon D1X. Can't afford it...have to save. Can't think of anything else. I love smugmug and digital grin.Damanoff? looking at you through your pictures you are exactly who I thought you were. (maybe much smarter) your qualities shine through your shots. We are glad you love smugmug and digital grin cos' we love you too.. and I know I can speak for all when I say that.:clap
Lynn

[damonff]

Thanks Lynn, thanks Sid. I feel like a member of a really cool family here...

[BylLuvaul]

Hello everyone ! My name is Nick Luvaul , but most know me as Byl . I live in boring Ocala Florida .I am 15 years old and i got my first camera this past Christmas , ever since i got it i have not been able to put it down . I started to mostly take skateboarding pictures of my friends , untill i got my macro lens ... so now i my favorite thing to is taking macro pics of bugs and flowers . My other hobbies are skateboarding ,surfing ,mountain-biking ,and painting .

[Wolf]

Hello everyone ! My name is Nick Luvaul , but most know me as Byl . I live in boring Ocala Florida .I am 15 years old and i got my first camera this past Christmas , ever since i got it i have not been able to put it down . I started to mostly take skateboarding pictures of my friends , untill i got my macro lens ... so now i my favorite thing to is taking macro pics of bugs and flowers . My other hobbies are skateboarding ,surfing ,mountain-biking ,and painting .
I'm from Central Florida also, never found Ocala boring. But, I am not 15 anymore... However, you have a treasure trove of areas around you for some fabulous wildlife and nature photography.

My personal favorites are photographing gators. That's an adrenaline rush! My last trip up to Paynes Prarie, not too far from you, filled me with enough adrenaline to float me for about a month! Keep shooting, and keep posting.

[lynnma]

Hello everyone ! My name is Nick Luvaul , but most know me as Byl . I live in boring Ocala Florida .I am 15 years old and i got my first camera this past Christmas , ever since i got it i have not been able to put it down . I started to mostly take skateboarding pictures of my friends , untill i got my macro lens ... so now i my favorite thing to is taking macro pics of bugs and flowers . My other hobbies are skateboarding ,surfing ,mountain-biking ,and painting .Hi Nick, welcome to the forum! we are looking forward to seeing some of your bug pictures.
:D Lynn

[lynnma]

I'm from Central Florida also, never found Ocala boring. But, I am not 15 anymore... However, you have a treasure trove of areas around you for some fabulous wildlife and nature photography.

My personal favorites are photographing gators. That's an adrenaline rush! My last trip up to Paynes Prarie, not too far from you, filled me with enough adrenaline to float me for about a month! Keep shooting, and keep posting.Hi Wolf, yes you do have some fabulous wildlife to shoot down there. I was in Florida not long back and took some gator shots, not too good tho.. lets see some of yours..:D Lynn

[Andy]

My, what a colorful family!

i'm not going to pollute the board here with some of the outlandish 70s and 80s outfits my family actually wore!

[wxwax]

i'm not going to pollute the board here with some of the outlandish 70s and 80s outfits my family actually wore!
:rofl :rofl

[wxwax]

Hello everyone ! My name is Nick Luvaul , but most know me as Byl . I live in boring Ocala Florida .I am 15 years old and i got my first camera this past Christmas


:wave Hi Byl, great to have you here. Please note you're getting an early start in Photography, sort of like Andy did - and look how good he is! Shoots lots and post 'em, love to see your work and your growth.

And why do most people call you Byl? Is there a story there?

[ginger_55]

Hey, you all know me, I am ginger, 64 yrs old, live outside of Charleston, SC, married to a school photographer, 4 grown children, with children. Besides, my husband, I live with a Yorkshire Terrier, two Welsh Corgis, and a cat.
They are my unpaid models.
I am sure I have been avidly taking pictures longer than Andy, since I am older. I got my first camera, a Brownie, when I was 8 yrs old. With $1.00 a week allowance, I could buy a roll of film and have it developed, or buy ten comic books. It was probably a 50/50 decision with weather a factor.

I have had a progressive hearing loss all my life. It was undiagnosed until I was 21, but it was probably a contributing factor to my interest in photography. I was born in 1939, it was the late sixties/early seventies that I got a Nikon, a darkroom and started to roll with obsession. I took classes, workshops, was a mother by day, a photographer, also, by day, by night I was a darkroom technician. Love the smell of those chemicals.
Like many artists, I got a college degree in biology, a science. They seem to go together, the arts and the sciences. I didn't get my degree until I was 45, I still had marvelous camera equipment, but no darkroom, and I had let the compulsion go. At one point I worked part time at a small town newspaper as a photographer. My time became theirs, and when I was told I would be working on my daughter's sixteenth birthday, we parted ways.

Can't remember your other questions. I sold my Nikon equipment about 5 yrs ago to pay the mortgage, but my eye was on digital. As soon as possible I got a Canon Elph. This year I bought a dRebel with our tax return. I bought the lenses I wanted and could afford, so I feel back in the groove of photography: real zoom lenses, interchangeable. I believed in digital photography from the beginning. That is important to me, as I was talking up digital, and the company my husband works for still uses film.

I think all photography is a miracle. The first time I developed a black and white print, I likened it to having a baby.........and I knew. My child bearing days were over, but my years of creativity had not ended.

My interests were always in the area of photojournalism. I was really a bit narrow minded about that. I do not use a tripod, not that I won't. I have owned them and rarely used one. I like to hand hold my camera without messing with a lot of equipment. So far I still have not used the flash I bought to use with the Rebel. I have not needed to. It is in my camera bag.

My hearing loss has reached the edges of the profound range. Without my hearing aids, I hear nothing. Using the phone is becoming very difficult. Photography is a pursuit I can still follow, be around people without the emphasis on conversations. With a camera, I will go anywhere, do anything, they are magical machines, don't you think?

ginger

[BylLuvaul]

:wave Hi Byl, great to have you here. Please note you're getting an early start in Photography, sort of like Andy did - and look how good he is! Shoots lots and post 'em, love to see your work and your growth.

And why do most people call you Byl? Is there a story there?
The reason people call me Byl is because one day at school we got a new teacher and i told him my name was Bill and to confuse him i spelled it as wierd as i could , and the name kinda stuck with me so now most people call me Byl .

[DewrGleision]

I dont think anyone really cares, but Im just gonna do this to clear some things up...

Im 18. Ok then, I thought I was the youngest here, but Byl beat me out in that one. 3/3/86. Yes, Im a Pisces! 3s rule.
I was born here in Napa Valley, moved to Washington (state) when I was like 2 or 3, stayed there for 9 years, moved back down to central CA (next o Moneterey, one of my favorite areas of all...) for about 5 years, and now Im back in Napa, for craps sake! Nobody ever go to the Columbia Valley in WA!!! It is mental and even physical death, I kid you not.
My mother is Brazilian, from Sao Paulo, so Ive been back and forth to Brazil all my life; her whole side of the family is there. My dad, as he likes to put it, is just plain ole' white bread (English/Scottish descent). Besides Brazil, the only other place Ive ever traveled to was Italy, about a few weeks ago!
I started shooting my mom's old Minolta SLR (XC900 I believe...?), and I got pretty good at it with the help of my high-school photo-teacher. The last three semesters of my high-school years (last semester of Junior year and all of Senior year) I did in a home-schooling program here in Napa. I am a crappy, ADD-ridden student. Trust me, its not what you think it is.
Ive been shooting around now for about a year (when I like/obsess over something, I tend to learn really fast and reminiscent of a derailing train), and I pick stuff up pretty quick, but crash just as quickly all the time.
I just got a Sony f828 for a graduation present from a guy Im not related to but has known me since I was born (family friend). I love this thing! But, sadly, I still long for the versatility of interchangable lenses (I had wished--almost secretly and to myself, actually--for a dRebel or a 10D or some other dSLR...). I love the format and its inherent versatility of the SLR body, and thats what I still consier to be the pinnacle of photographic design and function.
My interests are mostly in the photographic realm, and I just cant find it in my mind to be too enthusiastic about computer-editing/manipulation.
I built my own computer about 2 years ago and it was designed for LAN-party usage, but sadly, as soon as it was complete, the LAN parties vanished and the computer crashed out of spite for me. I love aquaira and the different levels of biology inherent in aquatic systems and subsystems, Im a car enthusiast (tuner cars, mostly, but I dont count out the racer stuff or the big-dollar guys, and I love the classics [pre-smog here in the States!]), Im something of a literature-guy, but one thing Ive always been told is that I dont expose myself to enough works or genres and whatnot, so my experience is always lacking. Im a huge fan of everything Celtic, and Im just now getting into everything Japanese (island cultures rock your socks)
I speak Portuguese and a little Spanish...
Anywho, sorry for boring you all; now back to your regular programming.

Oh yeah, incase anyone's wondering, the name means "brave blue" in Irish Gaelic, because Ireland is easily the coolest place in Europe!

[berhimwich]

I've been a photographer since I was sixteen (1998). Basically, I'm self-taught: I taught myself manual exposure and how to develop film and prints. When I lived in Cincinnati, I had a fanbase made up of my dad's middle school students, who were very intelligent for their age. Then I moved to San Antonio and had some trouble finding people who were interested in my work. But I eventually found a place where people love what I do. And now I have a Smugmug site, which believe it or not, I plan to make my income from. I have dealth with both the highs of praise and the lows of criticism when it comes to my work. That is why I want to do everything on my terms and just have people buy my prints online. I believe I've been hurt by some people (even family members) who think photography can only been done in certain ways.

[DewrGleision]

I've been a photographer since I was sixteen (1998). Basically, I'm self-taught: I taught myself manual exposure and how to develop film and prints. When I lived in Cincinnati, I had a fanbase made up of my dad's middle school students, who were very intelligent for their age. Then I moved to San Antonio and had some trouble finding people who were interested in my work. But I eventually found a place where people love what I do. And now I have a Smugmug site, which believe it or not, I plan to make my income from. I have dealth with both the highs of praise and the lows of criticism when it comes to my work. That is why I want to do everything on my terms and just have people buy my prints online. I believe I've been hurt by some people (even family members) who think photography can only been done in certain ways. Man, I hear ya on that last part! That seems to be my personal battle with everything I do; fate would have it that I become interested in industries or topics that are so highly subjective, people just cant help but argue. Ive gotten alot of the same stuff from people around me, and sometimes it gets to me, but otherwise I tune them out with my powers of ADD and short attention spans!
Well, I was also wondering about the whole smugmug-profiting scheme/thing, so Ill let you ask the questions; my name around here has become synonymous with "poisoning the well"!
Welcome to Dgrin; heres your helmet!

[Andy]

thanks for sharing your story.

andy

Hey, you all know me, I am ginger, 64 yrs old, live outside of Charleston, SC, married to a school photographer, 4 grown children, with children. Besides, my husband, I live with a Yorkshire Terrier, two Welsh Corgis, and a cat.
They are my unpaid models.
I am sure I have been avidly taking pictures longer than Andy, since I am older. I got my first camera, a Brownie, when I was 8 yrs old. With $1.00 a week allowance, I could buy a roll of film and have it developed, or buy ten comic books. It was probably a 50/50 decision with weather a factor.

I have had a progressive hearing loss all my life. It was undiagnosed until I was 21, but it was probably a contributing factor to my interest in photography. I was born in 1939, it was the late sixties/early seventies that I got a Nikon, a darkroom and started to roll with obsession. I took classes, workshops, was a mother by day, a photographer, also, by day, by night I was a darkroom technician. Love the smell of those chemicals.
Like many artists, I got a college degree in biology, a science. They seem to go together, the arts and the sciences. I didn't get my degree until I was 45, I still had marvelous camera equipment, but no darkroom, and I had let the compulsion go. At one point I worked part time at a small town newspaper as a photographer. My time became theirs, and when I was told I would be working on my daughter's sixteenth birthday, we parted ways.

Can't remember your other questions. I sold my Nikon equipment about 5 yrs ago to pay the mortgage, but my eye was on digital. As soon as possible I got a Canon Elph. This year I bought a dRebel with our tax return. I bought the lenses I wanted and could afford, so I feel back in the groove of photography: real zoom lenses, interchangeable. I believed in digital photography from the beginning. That is important to me, as I was talking up digital, and the company my husband works for still uses film.

I think all photography is a miracle. The first time I developed a black and white print, I likened it to having a baby.........and I knew. My child bearing days were over, but my years of creativity had not ended.

My interests were always in the area of photojournalism. I was really a bit narrow minded about that. I do not use a tripod, not that I won't. I have owned them and rarely used one. I like to hand hold my camera without messing with a lot of equipment. So far I still have not used the flash I bought to use with the Rebel. I have not needed to. It is in my camera bag.

My hearing loss has reached the edges of the profound range. Without my hearing aids, I hear nothing. Using the phone is becoming very difficult. Photography is a pursuit I can still follow, be around people without the emphasis on conversations. With a camera, I will go anywhere, do anything, they are magical machines, don't you think?

ginger

[ginger_55]

DewrGleason, repeat after me:

I Don't Make Trouble, Trouble Makes Me

hehe, I made that up after being called, affectionately I insist on believing, a trouble maker. Gosh, I would hate to think Bush and I each said something similar, we don't have the same speechwriters, smile. Enough said, there.

I have had no problems here, yet, don't know when I joined, over a month ago, I am sure. The hard drive available space has physically disappeared with the additions of new photographs, and many attempts at bettering same. I think I have been in 3 Challenges, maybe 4, don't know.

I never thought about a helmet, didn't read the biographies for awhile, when I did, I went YIKES, sure glad I didn't know how good everyone else had been when I joined, never would have entered anything, or said a peep.

I will say that I have had more fun experiences, actually just more experiences, in the short time I have been a member here, then in the last 20 years. And I am 64.

Felt like a young person of 35 again, standing in the rain, watching a rainbow form over the marsh of the low country, calling it down to reflect for me, I shouted, begged and said, "Come to mother". It did. Dripping wet, I shot my first rainbow in that 20 yrs at about the same spot I shot my last one. The power I felt, I called a Rainbow, and the Rainbow came. Am still excited.

ginger

I don't make trouble, trouble makes me.

[snapapple]

My name is snappy. I am over 50+. I work as a paralegal. My hobbies are gardening, crafts and photography.

I've always been a creative person. I had a number of my water colors displayed in the "display case" when I was in grade school. My favorite class in highschool was art. I wanted to go to art school after highschool, but my parents said it was frivolous. So, I got a job with the phone company and then got married after a year. (Amazingly, my husband and I are still married after all these years. And, happily, I might add.) I continued working for the phone company as a service rep until I had my first child. I have three kids now, all grown, and my son has twin boys, age 7.

I've always been a snapshot taker since I got my first camera for christmas at age 10. Hence the name (plus my last name). But I got my first "real" camera in the '80s - a Canon AE-1 Program. My daughter was taking a photography class in school and gave me a few pointers. I was selling real estate at the time and I got a wide angle (24mm) lens to take interior shots. After a while I bought a Tamron 35-135mm TeleMacroZoom for it. Macros became my favorite thing (especially flowers). I used the zoom for travel shots when my daughter and I took a trip to England and Paris in 1989. (I dropped my camera on the marble steps of the Louvre in Paris and it survived unscathed.) I love that Tamron lens. It's so versitile. No distortion on the edges when shooting tall buildings etc. either.

I sort of put my camera away after that. The recesion of the early 90"s hit. Real estate was in the tank. Developing film was too expensive. Money was scarce. I couldn't find a job. Law firms were closing all over town, husband wasn't making any money. Bad times. We sold our house and rented for a few years. Economy recovered. I went to college and got a degree in "Health Information Technology". We bought our current house. I worked for a few years in long term care settings. I was director of medical records at a long term care facility for a while. When my husband's office got very busy, he trained me as a paralegal and I went to work for him.

I became pretty good with computers (my creative side again). I researched and installed all the new legal software. We got lots of new tech stuff including a great scanner. BING! I can scan photos. Enter Photoshop Elements. Just started small. No big investment yet. Took out the old camera also bought a small (point & shoot) Pentax IQzoom with a 38-140mm zoom. It's small enough to carry in my pocket. I use the zoom to blur background. I refused to buy a digital camera because the 2 megapixel meant poor quality and the better cameras were too expensive. (my dog knocked over my tripod and jammed my Tamron lens, so I had to pay $350 for a new one in 1995.) I had to keep using what I had. Scanned a lot.

Cleaning dust specks off of scans got really old after a while so I broke down and got a digital last fall. I wanted "small" to take on a 2 week European Cruise. (The Canon and lense was a back breaker on trips.) Got an Olympus C5050z. I'm not real happy with it. Zoom is totally inadequate; view screen is too small and I can't see it in daylight; menus are hard to figure. I can't use it on manual at all. I just take lots of shots and try everything. Haven't really had time to find a place to learn. Users manual is not helpful. :scratch My old SLR was so easy on manual. Turn dial, push button.

I took over 400 pictures on our Mediterranean trip, found Smugmug in January, led to Digital Grinn in May. Am now hooked again on photography. I forgot everything I knew about cameras, so I'm starting over. I"m sure I'll end up getting Photoshop one day soon. I am also researching digital SLRs. I'll just have to find the money somewhere. Looking forward to learning lots from all of you more experienced folks. Snapapple (http://www.snapapple.smugmug.com)

[snapapple]

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/6127831-S.jpg

"Felt like a young person of 35 again, standing in the rain, watching a rainbow form over the marsh of the low country, calling it down to reflect for me, I shouted, begged and said, "Come to mother". It did. Dripping wet, I shot my first rainbow in that 20 yrs at about the same spot I shot my last one. The power I felt, I called a Rainbow, and the Rainbow came. Am still excited."
[Quote]


I just love the way you phrased this. It conveys your feelings so well. The image is lovely and the story is great too. Very very nice. :D

[mercphoto]

Hi, I'm Bill Jurasz. I recently started Mercury Photography as a means of trying out the waters of commercial photography. I got the name from the god of speed, Mercury, and because I like things that move fast. Being an ex Corvette and shifter kart racer, I think the name fits. :)

I'm 37, I live in Austin, Texas. I work for AMD, but have also worked for Motorola and Texas Instruments. Always in engineering, and my degree is a BS in Computer Science from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

My dad always played around with cameras as I was growing up. I had a 110 cartridge camera as a youth. My dad explained to me what an SLR was, how it worked, why they were useful. Through college I took pictures of friends and such, but usually with a point-and-shoot 35mm camera. I didn't have the money for anything better.

I got my first SLR, a Canon EOS Elan, when I started working for Motorola. My income took a big boost, I always wanted one, and I was going to the Motorola 300 on the employee package. So I took that as an "excuse" to get a better camera. I took 9 rolls of film of that race. I started using it more, including shots of my Corvette, shots of others racing, etc. For whatever reason the hobby waned on me for a few years. I was even dating a girl once who managed a shop that could print directly from slide (positive paper and chemicals), and I had her do two prints, but still the hobby was dormant. I did learn a lot from her, and she tells me I have a good artistic eye and good composition.

About 9 months ago a friend bought a D10 and the bug hit me again. Finally, an SLR digital camera with enough pixels to make enlargements a possibility. I had a point and shoot Fuji. Nice camera, but I really, really wanted an SLR again. I just don't like point and shoots. So six months ago I bought a Digital Rebel. Since I've bought two other lenses.

I'm back into the sports photography. My site has pictures from the Austin Grand Prix (shifter karts, some of the drivers ex-competitors of mine), and motocross racing. I'm one of two track photographers for advmxpark.com. The track owner is really happy with my work. Trying to get a second track to sign me up. Also did my first commissioned work last night for a custom glass blower who does jewelry. Tough session!

Thanks for listening.

[ginger_55]

http://gingersnap.smugmug.com/photos/6127831-S.jpg

"Felt like a young person of 35 again, standing in the rain, watching a rainbow form over the marsh of the low country, calling it down to reflect for me, I shouted, begged and said, "Come to mother". It did. Dripping wet, I shot my first rainbow in that 20 yrs at about the same spot I shot my last one. The power I felt, I called a Rainbow, and the Rainbow came. Am still excited."
[Quote]


I just love the way you phrased this. It conveys your feelings so well. The image is lovely and the story is great too. Very very nice. :D__________________________________________

Thanks Snappy. My daughter majored in English at college, mostly poetry.
Before she became a compulsive mother she was a compulsive poet. She lived on the island with me for her last 3 yrs of school. She said that she
really liked the photograph, with many superlatives, but she said the experience of seeing the rainbow, being there, taking the picture must have been something she could not even imagine. She knows the area well, is in the DC area right now. She doesn't write poetry anymore that I know of, but she understood about the picture.

Someone asked if I had all these places to take pictures, or something. Actually, I have used up two, the marsh being a favored spot, I like it better than the ocean. I really do live in "heaven". I have a love/hate relationship with it. It is home now. Taking these pictures helps me "bond" with my low country life, after growing up in very different surroundings in Michigan and Colorado. I have lived here since 1984, longer than anywhere else in my life. I was so miserable the first year, but I did love the marsh and the Sullivan's Island. I went to school at the Medical University for eight hours a day or more. That was in Charleston and was very stressful. Crossing that marsh meant a lot to me.

It was heaven then, unfortunately in my opinion, this area has grown considerably and has the problems associated with rapid growth beyond the infrastructure. Condominiums have been built on marsh land. All the things one reads about in novels, it is happening here. Heaven has changed a bit, but that picture would have been the same 20 years ago. I photograph what I love, so I am photographing things, areas I have been familiar with since I moved here. They are taken out of context, are somewhat deceptive of how this area looks, but it is how it looks to me. As my other daughter said of the fourth of July pictures, they are so Southern. They are, and I fear it will be gone all too soon.

I did not plan that picture. There were others I planned that I have not taken, and I still might. I was waiting to see some of the ones I planned on here. In another form, of course. One of them was a nature shot, Cypress trees make great reflections. Problem is that they are at a park with a closing time. I have gotten great pictures there, but I don't usually go in the summer. I planned to try that.

Then I planned to go to an antique shop with lots of windows, a huge porch with antiques outside that reflect in the windows, that was my impression when I was there on the fourth of July.

Or I could go downtown to some of the more upscale antique stores, I really like that one photo that Andy posted, as an example, it had a book, or a movie score and a bldg, I think. We do not have large modern buildings, heaven forbid suggesting it to the powers who keep Charleston historic, but I was going to try that to see what I could get, keeping Andy's photo in mind.

I am rambling, and I am not sure what forum I am on, but someone could pick up on the ideas that I might play with, but dare not use, I have an entry. It is of a special place to me. The evening I took it was magical, so it will stay.

I am kind of throwing this stuff out, I might play with doing some of it, but someone else could, too. I like the way Andy's examples played to a central image, or focus point.

Thanks for your kind thoughts conveyed to me about my writing.

ginger

No trouble tonight....... yet.

[ginger_55]

[QUOTE=snapapple]My name is snappy. I'm married to a lawyer and I work as a paralegal. My hobbies are gardening, crafts and photography.

I've always been an artistic person. I had a number of my water colors displayed in the "display case" when I was in grade school. My favorite class in highschool was art. I wanted to go to art school after highschool, but my parents said it was frivolous. So, I got a job with the phone company and then got married after a year. (Amazingly, my husband and I are still married after all these years. And, happily, I might add.) I continued working for the phone company as a service rep until I had my first child. I have three kids now, all grown, and my son has twin boys, age 7.

I've always been a snapshot taker. Hence the name (plus my last name). But

______________________________________________

That name thing is interesting. I, for a few years, have signed things, Photography by ginger. That was taken at smugmug, so I finally came up with gingerSnap. An old boy friend used to call me "snap", for gingersnap, so the name means something to me. I don't like using a last name, I have my legal name, Mary, after my mother, I use it for legal type things, I am proud of it. but I have been "ginger" all of my life. I have been married more than once, I say that my name, ginger, has been the constant with all the last names coming and going. I don't use one now if I can help it.

ginger

I never made trouble, trouble made me.

[snapapple]

[QUOTE=snapapple]My name is snappy. I'm married to a lawyer and I work as a paralegal. My hobbies are gardening, crafts and photography.

I've always been a snapshot taker. Hence the name (plus my last name). But

______________________________________________

That name thing is interesting. I, for a few years, have signed things, Photography by ginger. That was taken at smugmug, so I finally came up with gingerSnap. An old boy friend used to call me "snap", for gingersnap, so the name means something to me. I don't like using a last name, I have my legal name, Mary, after my mother, I use it for legal type things, I am proud of it. but I have been "ginger" all of my life. I have been married more than once, I say that my name, ginger, has been the constant with all the last names coming and going. I don't use one now if I can help it.

ginger

I never made trouble, trouble made me.

Ginger,
About the name, my last name is actually appel. It means apple in Dutch. I used apple with the snap because people often call me apple. I guess we both have been "snapshot" takers. So we are both snappy. My first name is actually Susan.

My daughter majored in Literature and Art in college. I guess you and I are both "right brained" people who passed the gene on to our kids. My husband is a "left brained" person. Majored in Math and Science. Numbers and I do not get along well. I am happiest in a creative environment.

I was born in California. Have lived here all my life. I do love to travel though. I love to see the photos of the different locales on this site.

I grew up in Los Angeles. We lived, for a few years, in the high dessert. We had 11 acres and some chickens, ducks, sheep, & several dogs and cats. I rode the horses of my friends even though I didn't have my own horse. I always wanted one.

My husband and I started out in Northern California. He was going to college there. We moved to San Diego in 1973 because he took a new job. We moved out here to the country in 1999 to decompress. We wanted space and peace and quiet.

This is more like the place where I lived as a kid. Lots of people have horses. Some even have a few chickens. We have 4 acres, fruit trees, a big vegetable garden, and two large dogs. The coyotes howl at night and the crickets sing outside the bedroom window. I have a bird feeder outside the breakfast room window and several hummingbird feeders in the garden. I can't get pictures of the hummingbirds because I don't have a big enough zoom on my camera. I guess I could get out the film camera with the Tamron lens. But, I don't want to scan pictures.

Enough rambling... I'll have to post some more pictures of my yard and view. Good to know you, ginger.

[snapapple]

Ginger,
Speaking of heaven, we live in heaven too. We have peace, quiet, and open space. Our kitchen windows have a view that looks across the valley to the ocean. We are so high that we often look down on the fog. Here's one of my favorite pictures of the view from our deck. Taken after a rain in March.

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/1234373-M.jpg

Here's one of a foggy morning in January. I took this from the hill above the house where I used to hike every day with the dogs. I will be hiking up there again soon. I am almost completely recovered from my heart attack.

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/2003212-M.jpg

[Seamaiden]

You must be in the East county then, Snappy, yes? Or north? I sort of miss San Diego, but am so very much looking forward to my impending move up to Tahoe.
WAIT! That wasn't taken up on Cowles Mountain, was it? If so, I used to live off Lake Murray, and my apartment had a view of the peak of Cowles. I wish you the best in your recovery. I miss the hikes I would take with my dog (and all the neighbor's dogs), I'll never again be able to do such hiking. A shame considering what there is up in Tahoe, but you have to roll with the punches, don't you? (I wouldn't be very nice to be around were I to have worse handicaps, I'm afraid.)

Ginger, the words, with the picture, are incredibly evocative. Truly the artist, it seems to permeate everything you do and say.

[ginger_55]

I answered you, Seamaiden, and Snappy, a long heartfelt correspondence. When I tried to send it I lost my server......lost my post........

I will try to send something later.

Snappy, you do live in heaven.

Seamaiden, why won't you be able to hike?

ginger

(Where are all the people? I mean like Lynnma, Rutt and can't think who else.)

[snapapple]

[QUOTE=Seamaiden]You must be in the East county then, Snappy, yes? Or north? I sort of miss San Diego, but am so very much looking forward to my impending move up to Tahoe.
WAIT! That wasn't taken up on Cowles Mountain, was it? If so, I used to live off Lake Murray, and my apartment had a view of the peak of Cowles. /QUOTE]

Seamaiden,
If you look closely in the first picture you will see, just to the left of center, Mt. Helix; just to the right of center is Cowles Mountain. We follow the seasons by the sun's transit between Mt. Miguel and Cowles Mountain. Right now it sets just a hair south of Cowles Mt. At the solstice, on June 22, it set directly behind Cowles Mt. In December it will be behind Mt. Miguel. I take lots of pictures of sunsets, but the best are in the winter. It's too hazy now. Smog on the horizon, I think. On a clear day in Winter we can see San Clemente Island. We can also see the big flag at the Tijuana border crossing, with binoculars of course. It's just a red speck without them.

We were just in Lake Tahoe for my neice's wedding in June. It's so beautiful. I'm sure you"ll love it. You can take lots of great pictures to share with us.

[happysnapper]

I have just read through this thread, and what a great idea....
Its been good to read all about the different people on this site and put somewhat of a 'face' to the names.

Well heres me...

I am 33 years old and married (for 2 1/2 years). We have no children to date and both Anthony and I work full time. Anthony is a youth worker and I work for the Australia Government. By the way, my name is Yvette! (pronounced E-vet). We live in Adelaide, South Australia, which I think is the most beautiful state in Australia. We have so much in this state.... national parks, deserts, prestine coastlines, amazing beaches, parklands galore, vineyards (x many) blah, blah, blah... I love South Australia. My family all live on the East Coast (near Sydney and Canberra), and my husbands family all live here in South Australia.

I have always had a keen interest in photography and bought my first camera when I was 14 y/o (it was bright red and I even had a name for it). About 4 years ago I lashed out and boughht an SLR Minolta with 2 lenses and later that year bought a macro lens too. This is where I really started to experiement. I have completed a few short courses at the local TAFE where I have picked up some very useful tools/tips. I only bought my digital camera approx 4 months ago... and I only found the digital zoom last weekend!!! I am learning heaps from theis website (so thanks to all everyone for making this web site the best)... I love shooting people (thats really my thing) and I loooooove close ups, although today I viewed the blur thread and I can see this fast becoming a favorite. I also life shooting still life, but again close ups... I love MACRO.

My favorite hobby is photography (without a doubt) and after spending a few weeks skanking through this web site realise I want to learn so much more... a dream would be to one day sell some of my photos. Im so inspired by the people on this web site... thank you!
Im looking into studying next year (just part time) something in Arts (majoring on photography) or something along these lines anyway..

Other favorite things to do for me.... walking along the beach (we live approx 5 mins from the beach), going on big drives in the country and movies.... lurve movies.

well thats me.... look forward to getting to know you all better and seeing some great drive by shootings!!!

Cheers
Yvette

[nadi]

Thought I may as well introduce myself too...

My real name's Corina ("nadi" has evolved over the last 7 years from my first email addy). I'm 24, but having a birthday in just over a week to commemorate a quarter-century inhabiting this body of mine. I live in Perth, Western Australia.

Like happysnapper's man, I am a youth worker. I am also one of those seemingly dying breeds of people who just love their jobs. I work in a youth detox centre, helping young people coming off drugs. Its hard work but a lot of fun and very rewarding. Next year I plan to try my luck getting into postgrad study in counselling, and do that while working at the same time.

I haven't been into photography that long, though I've always been interested in it. I went to high school in a small town where only a few students got the chance to learn photography, and I always had a chip on my shoulder about missing out. Later I just didn't have the money to get hold of the resources. My first big purchase when I got my first "real" job 18 months ago was my Canon EOS 300D (think its called a "rebel" in the US), and a photo printer. My housemate gave me his copy of photoshop, and I was all set. The only thing I had to do was learn! And so here I am....

Some people may not like this, but my favourite part of digital photography is the computer work. This may be because its the fastest part to learn, so I'm better at it than the technical camera work. But I love to get an image and really mess with it creatively, changing it to something really different from the original. I love the freedom of knowing if something I do just doesn't work, I can always undo it or just start again. A lot of the time I don't alter my photos much at all, but my favourite images are always the extreme photoshop makeovers.

My other major interest is tarot, which I've been doing since I was 12. After I finished uni I worked in a new age shop doing readings for a while (and loved it, it just wasn't a career), but now that I have other mean$ I read the cards for free, via word of mouth. One of my dreams is to use digital photographs to make my own deck of cards and have them published.

Other than that, I'm also into yoga and sailing, and I love live music more than almost anything.

Looking forward to learning more from you all, and sharing what I can...
http://nadi.smugmug.com/photos/9697001-S.jpg

[Head in the Clouds]

ok, ok, ok, my turn!!

mmmm where to start.....

i'm 26 years old, married to a wonderful man called Tim and have a gorgeous little girl called Morgan (that's her in my avatar) she's 8 1/2 months old and is (as we speak) pulling washing off the clothes horse (this has kept her entertained long enough for me to read most of this thread!!!)

I live in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. I agree with Yvette, Adelaide is, without a doubt, the best State in Australia (sorry Nari! - i have heard Perth is very pretty though!:D )

I actually work with Yvette, so we get to talk about the wonderful happenings on 'dgrin' at work! Its really nice to be able to share the photography passion ! Before working for the Goverment, I was a Para Legal/Legal Secretary in a Family Law Firm. That was way to draining and didn't pay well..... so here I am - a public servant! :rofl

I am an only child and was raised by two hippy arty farty parents (both the most wonderful people on the planet). They both regularly sell their own art, have exhibited, and worked in the industry for about 30 odd years. BUT somehow I came out with only a vague ability to draw/paint etc. Needless to say i'm a little anoyed about that, i mean - what are the odds!.

But, that is what got me into photography. My inability to create a beautiful image with my hands meant that i had no choice but to use this wonderful medium called photography to do it for me!

My parents bought me a minolta slr after they thought i was going to trash their's, and it was probably cheaper for them to get me m