Even x-ray has gone digital. All the interested doctors can see your x-rays all at the same time on their computer monitors, as soon as they are taken.

Registering your equipment by serial number with customs is very good advice. I made a list of everything I took overseas, which they might claim I bought outside the US, including my Seiko watch. When I got to JFK, I went to the customs office and handed them the list. The only thing they wanted to see was my watch, they couldn't believe it had a serial number, lol.

Also, a Pelican case is good insurance against damage. They are practically bulletproof, and can be padlocked. Carry a list of everything in it, including value, in case the airline loses it. You can transport your stuff in it, and take along an inconspicuous, smallish camera bag for daily use. Keep your lists and keys in a safe place, like with your passport.

Just one more thing to make your life easier at baggage claims. Buy an inexpensive set of color-coding tape and put several different colored strips (the same for all your bags) on opposite corners of the hard luggage, and the strap on soft bags. Easier to locate when your luggage looks like everyone elses.

Moon with insignificant or no clouds in front of it is easy. It's the "sunny 16" rule, because the moon is lit by the full sun.

Shutter speed = ISO @ f.16, or the equivalent.

If your ISO is 100, then your shutter is 100 or 125 at f.16

If your ISO is 200, then the shutter speeds will be twice as much at the same f. stops. I like to use ISO 100 for the least amount of noise in the dark area around the moon.

250 @ f.11

500 @ f.8

1000 @ f.5.6

You can bracket around those settings if you wish. Zoom in as much as you can, but watch what your f. stop changes to at full extension. A 70 - 300 lens, 4.5-5.6 will be 5.6 at full extension.

You mentioned mud puppy, or water dog which is a member of the Hellbender family. Here in North Carolina they can reach lengths to 3', and they live entirely in water. I've had a 2 footer brush up against my leg when trout fishing, and have seen strings of their eggs on stream bottoms. Scared me to death. Hellbenders are the world's largest Salamander and can grow to 6' in Japan. I'd love to get a shot of one of those!

That Tiger Salamander you photographed is a pleasant fellow in comparison.

I've been living in the south for 35 years and I always thought that 'Turkey Buzzards" were actually Turkey Vultures that have red heads like turkeys.

Even though you can buy lens "cleaning fluids", most lens makers do not recommend their use. It is possible that the fluid can damage the lens coatings. I use a Lens Pen and a microfiber cloth.

I have a big Bogen 3-axis pan/tilt which I used to think was the way to go, but since I started using a good ball head, my pan/tilt is just collecting dust.

I use the 9000F and love it.

Bruce, were you fishing the Beaverkill? I've only been to the holy water once, but anticipate going back.

In Maine, they're called "Dump Ducks", lol.

I agree about the old screw mount, you had to be careful not to cross thread or drop the lens while getting it started.

A lot of people don't know this, but Minolta used to make some of the lens elements for Leica.

What matters more than what brand you have is learning to get the most out of it.

I'm still pushing around a practically antique Minolta 7D, in addition to a Canon SX30.

Cold, you say. I see Palmettos, can't be too cold, lol.

Birdie, if you have a specific lens in mind and before you buy, put it into your search engine and look for the link to dpreview.com. They do unbiased technical reviews. They will tell you how that lens stacked up against other, similar lenses, including the ones made by the camera companies.

Since you have a Pentax, you pretty much have to use Pentax lenses, or brands like Sigma, Tamron, Quantaray made with the same Pentax mount your 20D uses. I don't know about Quantaray, but Sigma and Tamron make very good lenses, usually less expensive than camera brand lenses. Look in your owner's manual, it will tell you what Pentax mount you have.

Pentax lenses with a different mount (older) can be made to work with an adapter, but can suffer some functionality issues.

That's the problem in the camera game, each brand is very proprietary, with very little crossover. Companies like Sigma, Tamron, etc., make lenses for all brands, just a matter of buying the correct mount.

Gursky managed to get famous while still living. So did Frank Lloyd Wright. When you have that kind of fame, people will try to acquire anything you do, no matter the price. It has little to do with the quality of the art.

Andy Warhol's so-called art is a prime example of what I mean.