Fundamentally, after reading several resources, "Computational Photography" is pretty much the same as Post Processing but includes more than what we typically think of when we talk about post processing. It includes what your camera does after you take a photo as well as what your computer does after you download the photo from your computer.

Even though I use a Nikon, she already has a good camera and a good lens for portraits and sports, but probably not the best for landscapes or some semi-wide angle shots. I would consider a lens in the 18-55mm range. I'm sure Canon has one in that range or at least close to that range. It probably would have VR or IS built in but, it my mind, it really isn't necessary.

There are also some well appreciated books that could be. Understanding Exposure could be one of those.

Believe me, I have 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grand children (believe me, they are all GREAT)!

Good Luck!

My first 35mm camera was a Petri 1.9. This was in the 1950s. It was a really good camera, very limited by today's standards, but it I learned a lot from it.

My second camera was a Minolra SRT 101. Wow, what technology had done since the Petri. Loved that camera.

Later after 2 more Minoltas, I retired and became a full time RVer. But I didn't like to want to carry all that gear so I went through several bridge cameras including an Olympus, and a Minolta Konica. In 2013, while spending a winter as a volunteer at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area, I just wasn't happy. For several years, I had thought about moving up to a DSLR but didn't do it because of the what I would have to carry. I finally made the plunge to a DSLR in 2013. WOW, what a difference in Image Quality. Yes, it took me a while to learn the new technology but it was worth it.

Your D5100 requires F/5.6 to auto focus. So you may have focusing issues at 500mm.

If you spend the time to understand Lightroom Classic, it will be easy. If you don't spend the time to understand Lightroom it will probably be frustrating. Lightroom will place them into a "previously Imported folder." Add key words as you want to organize them, then you can make Collections to be able to go from Year to Subject at your desire.

The key is understand Lightroom Classic, what it does, and figure out how to organize it.

Using keywords in Lightroom has allowed me to make historical photo albums of my kids and grand kids. It has also allowed me to make albums of photos of various state we have visited, etc. But just spend time to determine what keywords you need!

First, YES I like them, a beautiful car.

Second, my first car was a 57 Belair four door hardtop with a 283 and a 4 barrel. I wish I still had it! I traded it in for a Chevy II. After I graduated from college, I traded it in for at 67 Chevy Malibu (I also wish I still had it).

Anyway, your Impala SS is really beautiful. Don't ever sell it!

I, for one, appreciate your post. I've always been a Apple advocate since my first computer (an apple II +), my first Mac was a Mac II SI. But I can certainly learn new techniques. Thank you.

Try a computer restart.

If you are using manual, there is no critical need to use exposure compensation. The real reason for using exposure compensation is to compensate the exposure because what ever your light meter reads will be off because it is looking for a scene that it will see as 18% gray.

Let's face it. It's a photograph that, at some point, has been digitized. That could be at the time it was taken, or at the time you turned it into a digital file to post it here.

Somewhere in the D5300 menu, there is an option to restart the file numbering after every download, there is an option to continue the number sequence. I don't have my camera available right now (a D5100) so I can't tell you where it is. But I do remember it.

If you change that option to not start at 0001, it will allow you to continue until it reaches 9,999 files then it will restart at 0001 again.

If you use lightroom Classic (or perhaps other Database type programs) it is easy to circumvent problems by having the program add the date taken to the beginning of the file name (e.g. 20200617DSC6123) will eliminate any issues unless you take more than 9,999 shots in one day.

Yes, at the SKP Park.

In 1967 after graduating from college in Atlanta GA, I drove from Atlanta to San Diego for a job. I stayed at the Space Age Motel in Gila Bend and 53 years ago it was very good.

I still have stayed in Gila Bend recently. But my life style has changed, I now am a Full Time RVer and Gila Bend has a wonderful RV Park. It's the Gila Bend KOA, very nice for a desert RV Park and the people are wonderful. I have probably stayed there about 6 or 8 times when going between Southern California and Benson AZ.

You’re probably right, but I didn’t interpret the comment that way.