Thanks Joe.

Flash photography is a discipline. Every camera and flash unit behave somewhat differently. Experienced photographers get to know the range of their flash units and what to put in that range and keep out in order to separate their subjects from the background and not over fill with too much light, effectively blowing out their subjects. Dodging and burning can help too.

Really experienced photographers can do that with multiple cameras, flashes and lighting systems. I used to be pretty good at this using the old Nikon Creative Lighting System for events and studio lights in a more controlled environment, but it took many hours of practice to get there. I'd have to get back up to speed if I wanted to do that today.

A lot of the newer cameras, with their new logic and integrated flash units, can do a pretty good job, but it's a case by case situation and none of them are perfect in all lighting environments.

Long story short - you might get lucky on auto settings, but consistent, good, artificial lighting really requires study and practice.

I've been shooting since 1971, on and off. I have recently gotten back into film and the darkroom and I'm taking classes to improve my skills there. Over the years I shot most of the genres, but I liked underwater, event and macro the most. Aquatic Landscapes are a favorite. Now I enjoy shooting new locations and discovering what my lens finds most interesting in each place.

I also enjoy going to photo shows and events and do the occasional port review in hopes of getting a show or a magazine layout in the future.

Stuff I shoot:
Medium Format Film: Mamiya, Yashica and Zeiss
Full Frame Digital and Film: Nikon Z, Nikon F, and Whatever's Available.
Crop Format: Fujifilm, Nikon F-Mount
1": Sony
Phone: Google and Apple

My current project is finding old 35mm film cameras and lenses to donate to the new film students at our community darkroom. These kids need a break and we need a new generation of film photogs.

My site: www.earthtosteve.com

I just retired and I'm looking for a place to do waterscape photos (fresh or salt water), aquatic wildlife, tidepools, abandoned jetties and harbors - that kind of thing. Definitely before Memorial Day - I could pack and leave in about an hour - and I'd love to catch the prettiest places before all those nasty tourists with their selfie sticks show up. (I'm retired, so I am practicing my 'Grumpy Old Man' routine...)

Any thoughts on places East of the Mississippi (fresh water or salt) and north of Florida? Other locations would be fine too, but for this trip, I'll stay close to home.

Places I have loved - Cape May, NJ, Brooklyn Shore Line, Oregon Coast, Niagara Falls, abandoned and decaying waterfronts/docks/piers on lakes, rivers or bays.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I had the original version and the II version, which I used on a Nikon D90. I absolutely LOVED these lenses. Used them mostly for Cosplay events and got great, Tim Burton-like fantasy portraits. They were good for landscape too, but that was not my intended use for these lenses. The lenses are light for their size - f/2.8 zooms are almost always heavier... They are compact, certainly sharp enough, and great performers. If I was still shooting DX format, I would still have these lenses. If you are going to use them enough to justify the purchase, they are - without a doubt - a great buy.

You, Sir, are quite the bad ass to spend six hours with that boat anchor in your hands, around your neck and/or in your camera bag - and I have great admiration for you. I recommend ice and ibuprofen to deal with the after affects.

I'm in my 60s and I fear my 'Big Iron' D500, but I have to take it out anyway. As a side bar, I also highly recommend resistance and weight training, along with regular cardio exercise, for anyone who wants to keep shooting seriously after 50 - even if you're shooting mirrorless.

Either that, or hire a caddy. :)

I'm hoping someone here has put some thought into buying mid range photo printer recently.

In the past, I have always sent my print jobs out, but now I'd like to do occasional prints - larger than 8x10, but not huge - and I have been bewildered by all of the printers out there by Canon and Epson, whom I believe are the be best options out there right now. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Since I will only be printing only a few times a month, and I'm not interested in a super wide format, roll fed printer that costs over $1,000 - unless I decide I love printing and want to sell my prints. But I would like something that produces decent enough quality to show, hang on my walls, and put in a portfolio.

Ink costs are important, but not huge because... 'low volume printing.' Ease of use is important, wireless is nice, printing on CDs is not at all important, very good print quality is very important, but world class print quality is not.

The old Epson P600/P800 series would have been great but they were a bit too pricey. Again, this is my first stab at serious printing. I would consider them more high volume printers if I was doing art shows and selling the work - I think I'm looking for the next tier down. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I shoot many genres, from vivid macro to high contrast black and white, so the printer has to be a 'generalist' that way.

If anyone has recommendations based on real world experience with current printers, I'd love to hear your observations. Thanks!

Great shots Mr. Digger. You made my morning, so your photos are keeping some other people going too.

The quails are great. My father in law, (also 92) has a family of them on his farm out west, but they are way to skittish for me to photograph.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm in Montgomery County. I have to say at this point that I can make due with my D500 until there is a D860, as I am shooting very little studio stuff right now. This must be a PA thing.

Yeah. Good luck with THAT. :)

Thank Jerry. Captures the feeling of being stuck back in Philly. At least there's football on the way.

A photo from last week...
Jet lag this week.

I love it. Nice stream!

Thanks all!

I just had to get in on this whole flower posting thingy.