I had an old Graphex 4x5 camera that I enjoyed using. I learned an important lesson by using that camera. Do not waste film! I didn’t have a darkroom, so processing and printing one photo would cost me around $5.00.. Back then, 5 bucks was a lot of money.

So, before I squeezed off a shot, I double checked my composition, lighting, and any obscurity or objects in the background, or on the body, if it was a portraiture, that would ruin my final print. Than, and only then did I take the shot.

Now that we have digital cameras, I still treat each shot as if I was still paying that 5 bucks for the shot. I don’t pump off my shots and hope that one will come out great. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still shooting my Graphex 4x5 camera.. and rules are still the same.

I wish that all new photo enthusiast had the opportunity to use a land-camera and learn the importance of rechecking everything, before shooting that special image in front of him.

I wish I knew what I ever did with that camera. Hmmm.

One Mac that has not been mentioned yet is a VERY powerful and capable computer, is a Mac mini. The mini does require a separate monitor. I formerly used a "tower" Mac G5 unit and loved it for years but it could no longer run the current software versions. I bought the Mac mini and it blows the case off that G5 for speed with the latest versions of Photoshop and Lightroom. The unit is a 2.3 GHz QuadCore Intel Core i7, 1TB HD, 4GB DDR3 RAM bought from Adorama for only $759.
This unit connected up to a LG IPS 23" monitor that has been calibrated. Great results, great reliability.
If you don't have a monitor, then I would suggest an iMac all-in-one unit.

Gotta go with JR1 on this one....

Organization breeds rules
Rules breed politics
Politics breeds officer and directors
Officers and Directors breed Arrogance and a power struggle

Somebody's gotta be king.

I've quit three clubs in the last 20 years for those very reasons.

The last club was fun and friendly at 50 members. Now at 120 members, many of which are inactive, it's just a lotta BS.

We used to go on weeklong campout/photoshoots. Not for the last 5-7 years.

When politics comes on board, the fun dwindles away.

Also the comment about the internet is valid. Do you really want a regional or national consortium directing you with guidelines.... just BS... all of it.

The story is: I want to shoot in Manual. I turn the Mode Dial to Manual. I turn the Main Dial to change the shutter speed......nothing....nada....no movement....no change. I press and hold the AV button while I rotate the Main Dial....nothing.....nada.....zip....no movement. I say to myself, Self, this thing is really just a computer, so I reboot. Nothing, nada, zip! What should I do? Wife will wake up if I throw it against the wall. Do I take a 9 iron and pitch it into the living room? Dust off my AE-1? I don't have any Photo Blue Cross. This will have to come out of my jeans. What to do? What to Do?