A little personal history

[Brooks P]

I graduated to a DSLR in March, got home too late to do much with it. Bright and early the next morning I’m outside looking for something to take a picture of. Boy the pickings were slim and I settled on an old dandelion. Yeah I know it’s not much good, but it did come out.
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/photos/65845718-L.jpg
A few hours later there was a break in the rain and I ran outside, and this time I did better. This is with the 18-55mm "kit" lens and Onboard flash.
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/photos/62477028-L.jpg
In fact I still like this picture.

I am guessing that flowers pass for Nature & Wildlife.

Wow, black text doesn't show up at all well, guess I'm going to have to watch that.

[Harryb]

Two good ones Brooks. I like the comp in both shots, the second one was a bit more interesting. How are you liking your DSLR? Are you shooting RAW of jpeg?

[jwear]

how is it that we all shoot dandelions at first :D the rose is as Harry said :clap

[Brooks P]

Two good ones Brooks. I like the comp in both shots, the second one was a bit more interesting. How are you liking your DSLR? Are you shooting RAW of jpeg?
You are too kind, or you are straying from the truth too much in your old age. The first one is not good except to prove that the camera and lens are indeed working, which now that I think about it, was all it was intended to do. The dandelion on the left is blown and you can’t, or just barely can, see the droplets of water on it. The Fading Queen (rose) I do like, it was only the sixth picture I had taken and the first real serious effort at taking a real photo, whatever the heck that means. But it told me I was on the right track and I had not wasted my money buying the D50. Six pictures and the Sony F717 is now in full retirement.

I started out shooting JPEG, doesn’t everyone? But a couple of people on that other forum steered me to RAW. It has been a struggle, I am pretty much a First Grader when it comes to Photoshop. I don’t want to buy NC now with a new release due out probably within weeks. I have been using both Nikon View and Photoshop 7 to convert, and I am learning, although much slower than I would like.

At my Daughter’s wedding the professional (more on that in a moment) photographer told me I was wasting my time shooting in RAW and I should shoot only in JPEG, like she does. I am not sure of her credentials, I did not hire her, but she got a $1,000 so I will grant that she is a professional. She used a D100, 70-200mm VR, and a SB-800, although I believe I saw her change the lens once at the reception. During the posed shots in the church after the actual ceremony, she did have four nice slaves, that couldn’t have been more than a couple inches square, I was really surprised at their small size and the amount of light they put out.

Ok, I’ll stop.

[Brooks P]

how is it that we all shoot dandelions at first :D the rose is as Harry said :clap
Well actually, I didn't shoot the dandelion first, the first picture was this
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/photos/78510157-L.jpg
and it is DSC_0001, but it was what we call a the range an AD, and accidental discharge. I think the camera did a pretty good job seeing has I really didn't have any real part in the taking of this picture.

If you like the rose (A Fading Queen) maybe you'll also like this one http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/photos/72486122-L.jpg

or this one
http://bmiddleton.smugmug.com/photos/72486158-L.jpg

[Dick on Aruba]

Yours pics are really great Brooks. You make the D50 shine in your hands.
Well done!

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.