It's a SLIK Universal 112AF - more than 20 years old. It's been great, light and useful, but maybe time for another one? So much to spend money on...!!!

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Thanks - since an "L" bracket fits within the budget for now, I'll try it! Seems like all of the other useful and very informative replies will require some more research and saving up for some wise investments! Seems like the foundation of the new edifice will need to start with a better tripod - the one I have now is ball head and just a mounting screw for the camera/lens combination - Kevin

As always, thanks for your thoughtful, detailed providing of insight and information! Lots to think about, research and save up for. I need to research more to decide about the issues and points you've raised. I had never even considered that the tripod itself might be the main issue, but your thought on that seems to be echoed by others, so I'm off to Google to learn more! Thanks again! -k

Hi All - I have Nikon 28-300 and Nikon 105 Micro lenses (among others) and am beginning to explore portrait photography. I'm finding that when using a tripod, the weight of the 28-300 and sometimes the 105 micro cause the camera (Nikon D750) to flop down (or at least drop down slightly) when camera is tilted to portrait orientation on tripod. I had thought that a lens collar (to balance the weight more evenly) might be the solution, but looking for info led me to wonder if a gimbal might be smarter, more versatile, worth the extra expense? Whether one incorporates the advantages of the other and then adds more? Can anyone chime in with thoughts about one vs. the other, whether it's worth the extra expense (cost is somewhat an issue , and "used" is not a problem, around $100 is my max). Thoughts on brands or models?
Does the gimbal solve the problem of balancing the lens weight so it doesn't "flop" or does it just give more rotational and vertical flexibility without addressing the flopping problem? Thanks in advance! I appreciate any advice or input!

If the photographer (or any other gift-giver) is a work colleague: "I have it hanging at home. It looks great." Even take a phone photo of it for them showing it hanging on the wall for a second where something else normally hangs.
If the photographer is a neighbor or relative: "I have it hanging at work. It looks great." Rinse and repeat.
No hurt feelings and if you took a photo, you have a reference point if they visit home/work and you want to reconstruct your memory. Admittedly untrue, but a white lie like "I like your haircut!" and could be better than hurt feelings brought on by bald honesty or resentment due to having to hang something that really isn't good or liked. All in all, I think people like to receive something you have put effort and thought into, even risking that it might not be their "cup of tea."

I saw a video recently in which the photographer was asked what kind of camera he used to produce such a beautiful photo, and he replied that his reaction when asked that question was usually along the lines of it's like after a delicious, exceptional meal, saying to the host, "That was delicious! What kind of oven do you use?" It struck me as right on the mark!

Agree that it's llikely to be in your Downloads Folder. If not there, there is a "Settings" portion of the browser you're using which lets you specify where (what folder location) downloads from that browser go. Check that setting to see where it sends downloaded files. A "Browser" is like Microsoft Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.

Easiest way I know of is to remove your card from your camera, insert card into the card slot on the side of your iMac, wait for it to appear in Finder as Nikon SD card or whatever your computer chooses to call it, open in Finder the folder containing the pics you want to copy, click the first pic in the column, then scroll down and Shift-Click the last one you want to copy. This will highlight first pic, last pic and everything in-between. Then Command-C to copy them. Then go to (or create) folder on your hard drive in Finder where you want to deposit them, open that folder and click in the blank space in the folder to tell the iMac where you want them to land, and hit Command-V, and the computer will copy the files there. LR not involved. BTW - decline your computer's constant suggestion to "upgrade" or "update" your OS from High Sierra. My understanding is that LR6 won't run in Mojave. Someone may correct me on that, but I think that's correct.

This has nothing to do with legal requirements - it's a Google thing, usually issued if the recipient does not have a Gmail account - it's a "permission" to access the sender's Google Drive folder holding the pictures, not anything to do with actual permission to see or use the picture.

I took a course many years ago in which the discussions centered on whether "art" should be popular or should try to be by definition outside the "popular." In other words, should it be accessible to most people or "beyond" the masses in order to be defined as "art." This discussion began with the ancient Greeks and continues to this day, as evidenced by your posing the issue. Is art to be avant-garde, or popular?

reminds me of a favorite Gary Larson Far Side cartoon

Nice Motel photo - reminds me of painting "Nighthawks" by Hopper. -k

Thanks for the detailed explanation, as always!

Hi All - does anyone have a couple of minutes to describe how to set up or use PSE 2020 as a plug-in to LR6 (stand alone)? i.e., the mechanics of doing it (setting it up) and what it can be used for? Can it be used to somehow "give" LR layers?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Kevin

Consider a Nikon 28-300 lens - heavy but gives you the full spectrum of focal lengths you're likely to want/need.