In May we are off to Italy, Greece and the Holy Land. Then in August, Alaska. I have been stressing over what camera and lenses to take. Then I remembered. About 30 years ago we went to France, Germany, Switzerland, and England and all I had with me was my Olympus XA2 and came back with hundreds of wonderful photos and slides. And then I remembered a very recent trip to Yosemite loaded with cameras and lenses and spending a lot of time changing lenses, lugging around stuff and seeing more of Yosemite through my finder than with my eyes. I missed a lot. Although I will probably take more than an XA2, I will simplify, simplify, simplify. When did it become so complicated? Serious gear for birding, at the shore, in the woods. Simple gear for vacations.

Thought I would post my annual rant on things I like and don’t like. Preface by saying that it is a matter of taste and just because I don’t like something, doesn’t mean it is bad, just not what I like/dislike, so no flames.
Photography I like:
Landscape. Travel. Trains planes and automobiles
Black and white. Wildlife(not birds) Street
Now for the rant/ dislike
1. Birds, thank heaven for new section for posting them so I can avoid.
2. Silky water, streams, waterfall and the like. It is unreal, fake?
3. Watermarks, signature, almost always detracts from the photo.
4. Posting links, seems lazy, potentially dangerous, I want to see your photos.
5. Of all the things in photography that should not be subjective, is weight, but what some posters and equipment reviewers indicate is so bogus, IMHO:
Light- camera and lens under 900 grams
Medium: camera and lens 900-1200 grams
Heavy- over 1200 grams
Very heavy- over 1400 grams

I would love to see all pictures have the details of camera, lens, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO so we can all learn from it. There are so many beautiful pictures posted.
Hope some of you post what you like and don’t like.
Happy New Year to all you UHH people.

Adorama contacted me via email about purchasing used equipment. I was willing to sell then a Hasselblad H3D II 39mp kit. I had purchased the body, prizim, and back from them a couple of years ago for $3495 . I had added a 80mm lens, Imagebank, extra batteries, AC power adapter and a zero halibuton case. i have shot less than 500 images with this camera since purchase. There offer was a $1000 for the whole enchilada. The lens alone is going for 800-1100 on ebay. I understand they have to make a profit but this is kind of excessive, other photogs at UH I'm sure have used them, are yall ok with taking this kind of beating and is this standard procedure from the used equipment buyers?

Interesting.
I've never worried about the sun buggering the sensor, but then I don't shoot sunsets when the sun is still real bright either.
Also, my camera is never left pointing at the sunset for any length of time. Only to take the shot.
If I were to leave the camera on a tripod pointing at the sun, I might consider a cape over the lens while I'm waiting.
But like I said, never a bright sun, as I can normally look at it without hurting my vision.

Yea, bright sun would damage the sensor, just like using a magnifying glass to start a fire.