Welcome!

I'm not a pro photographer, but consider myself an enthusiastic advanced amateur. I really enjoy helping others learn and I'd like to use this website to not only display some of my photographs, but to help people that want to know more about photography and how to get the most out of their digital cameras.

I started out in "photography" by helping my Dad develop b&w film he'd shot (usually of one of my brothers or me) and then print out his photographs in a basement darkroom many, many years ago (1960's). My first 35mm camera was the old Pentax K1000, with a 50mm F/1.8 or F/2 lens in the 70's. In the mid-80's, I bought a Nikon FA 35mm camera and a few inexpensive lenses that I dragged all over the country and into Syria and China as well.

In the 90's the digital camera revolution hit and I jumped on board with a 2 MP Canon point 'n shoot. I moved up to a 3 MP and then a 4 MP Canon G2. A Canon S3 IS was the last point 'n shoot that I purchased. I finally stepped out of the point 'n shoot genre with a 10 MP Nikon D80, Nikon 18-135mm and Nikon 70-300mm VR lens. I gave the D80 and 18-135mm lens to my father for Christmas when I moved up to my current camera, a 12 MP Nikon D300. I've added a few relatively inexpensive lenses along the way as well. The Canon S3 was sent to my brother Steve, whose own camera had been stolen.

I still struggle with what I call the "bullseye syndrome" where the subject of my photo invariably ends up dead center, but I'm working on it (grins). I end up using creative cropping to get a more pleasing final arrangement. I'm not much for shooting people yet (talking photographs here) but I might dabble a bit in the future. On a trip to Italy last year with my brother Jeff and his wife Sherri, I shot almost 3,000 pictures and probably should have shot 6,000.

For a couple years now, I've really gotten a kick out of Macro photography, getting extremely close to very small critters. I've taken thousands of shots of bees and wasps and (knock on wood) haven't been stung yet. After crawling around through the weeds to get some shots I've been bitten a few times by creatures unidentified, but so far survived the experiences.

So now you know a little about me. I hope you come away from my site with a little more knowledge than when you arrived and inspired to go out and experiment with what you learn. ALL constructive criticisms and comments gratefully appreciated, so sign the GUESTBOOK and help make this site better. This is a work in progress and I hope to constantly add to and improve what's here. If you find other beginners who want a little bit of a leg up, please send them my site address.

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