Thank you very much. I used to use a Nikon F3 back in the old days when photography was my profession. Then I got into Art Direction, sold my camera and equipment and have not had taken any serious shot in over 15 years. But deep down I always missed taking pictures with a professional camera. My wife knew that. So she got me a whole bundle of equipment for my birthday last year. Here's the list: Nikon D3S Camera body, Nikkor 50mm 1.4G Lens, Nikkor 18-200 mm VR Lens, Nikkor 70-300 mm VR Lens, 2x macro/fish-eye converter, Mecablitz metz 76 mz-5 handle mount flash gun plus a power pack, Sunpak 7500 TM tripod/monopod combo, Cowboy Studio Umbrella Lights, remote shutter release, 10 different multicoated filters and so much more. She could have bought me a new car with that money but she knew my passion.

I bet you're sorry you asked me the question. :O) Well I am pretty giddy about all the stuff she got me and had to brag. We even went on a photo vacation in my Jeep driving on the California coastline all the way to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. Currently I am practicing HDR photography, which is a new beast for me even though photography was my minor in college. So, tell me something about yourself and your equipment, if you don't mind.

Hi everyone. This is Matthew from Santa Paula, California.