Hello all. My name is Gary -- now retired, and living in north Louisiana; wife, two grown and married sons, with two daughters each; former forester and computer system analyst and designer. My father loved to take photographs and movies with the older film cameras. I was finally able to get a decent camera a few years ago -- Canon t2i, with the standard lens kit. I have since given that to one of my sons and upgraded to a Canon 70d -- again, with the standard lens kit (18-55, 55-250).

I especially enjoy images in nature -- birds, butterflies, spiders, reflections in water, sunsets, moon shots through trees, old buildings, people in natural settings, unusual formations and patterns, and etcetera. You get the "picture". While the pictures and images are great, they are the result of thoughtful composition; and in many cases, a lot of luck. That is what I enjoy the most -- the focus on composition. My father enjoyed taking pictures. I enjoy making pictures. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 14 to try to make them better and/or different, which works for me at this point.

I am currently thinking of upgrading to the Canon 80d (body only), and indulging in a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM telephoto lens; to be followed at some point with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. I have moved to a new place where I have been able to entice a bevy of hummingbirds to the yard. I also have a wooded area the extends back a couple hundred feet that birds and other wildlife seem to enjoy. So, I need a setup that allows me to create good shots from 8 to 200 feet and beyond. I also want to get some close-ups of critters and other tiny things; thus, the macro lens. Your thoughts about my camera and lens direction would be welcome.

I have enjoyed what I have seen here so far, and look forward to seeing more, learning more, participating, and sharing. The picture is a crop of reflections off the water at Caddo Lake.