Auto focus uses contrast or definitions to activate. Could it be that the focus point was not on an area that provided sufficient definition to focus from?

Take a look at Porter Case. They make an excellent case for cameras and luggage carriing. They are pricey however quality and service is excellent. Wife and I have used them for decades, they have provided exceptional service.

Sorry don’t recall the exact problem and don’t have the records. I think it was in the auto focus system it cost several hundred dollars.
I live in Southern Cal and picked the lens up at the Canon shop. They had just moved to a new facility. In a large room were samples of all the camera and lens products. Most were available to be handled. Amazing place.

I have the Canon 100-400, it has served well. For action photography I find the push pull zoom effective.
The negative was after a time it needed an expensive repair. I learned that this repair was a usual requirement for that lens.
If buying a used one be wary of previous use.

Could be a cooling issue.
Have you checked the cooling fan and any blockage of ventilation ports?

Thank you!😄
Korea vet

Very nice scenes.
Light meters measure white as gray so when shooting white snow some exposure compensation must be applied or the snow appears to be gray snow. Usually one or two stops increase in exposure will make the snow be more natural.
The cameras histogram is a great tool to accomplish this.

The histogram is a great tool for accurate exposure. Using it and a polarizing filter correctly could be very helpful.
Try bracketing the exposure along with the above and you should see improvement.
Sometimes I found it necessary to revisit the site several times to find the best conditions for great photos.
This is a lot of extra effort. The greater the effort the greater the the result.

Had a Epson 2200 for a number of years. It sat idle for months and nozzles would clog however we were always able to get it working with repeated head cleanings, sometimes that required much ink for head cleaning.
I have always enjoyed processing and printing my images.
Good luck in solving your printer issues.

Well done, good suggestions, obviously not your first rodeo. My mentors told me “If you need help, get it from the most expert source possible”.

If you can get another opportunity to do the portrait try lifting the bows of the glasses up off the ears about half in. to one in.This challenges the angle of the lenses and will eliminate reflection and is not noticeable in the image.
Of course this will not correct the tint issue, you will have to correct that in post processing the best way possible.
Good luck with your commendable project.

I use a material DAP Blue Stick which is a reusable adhesive putty.
Applied at the bottom of the frame it does the job w/o leaving any residue on walls. There many similar materials available to secure items in case of earthquakes.

Snoopy says ‘There’s no sense in doing a lot of barking if you don’t really have anything to say’

I emphatically agree with suggestions about carful selection of a school. School should be reputable, accredited and well established.
I have known of to many situations where the school folds abandoning the students who have paid for an education they won’t get.

I’m a retired high school educator of graphics including photography.
In my early 30s with a family I faced the same delema you have expressed.
Of course a degree is required for a teaching credential but in addition I found the acquisition of a degree an enriching experience. Education provides a broader perspective of life’s issues and usually increases ones employment options and earning power. The ancillary courses required, which some consider superfluous, contribute broading ones horizons. Acquiring a degree also demonstrates one has the ability to pursue a challenging process to completion.
Because knowledge is power, in the US during the days of slavery educating a slave was punishable by death. Those in power wanted to prevent competition, this illustrates how important knowledge can be.
I was able to go from a machine operator to designer, planner and teacher. I was able to enrich the lives of my students, teach them a saleable skill and contribute to the improvement of my community.
My suggestion for you is go for the degree. I predict that after you go through the effort to acquire a degree you will never regret it.
Think of how many people wish they had a degree vs those who have a degree and regret having gotten a degree.