Hi All!

I've been lurking here at NWP for about 6 weeks. Since I just finished posting a critique of one of Daveman's photos in the Critique forum, I guess I better unlurk and introduce myself.

I am not a pro like many of you here at NWP. Heck, at the moment, I'm not even a talented amateur. I only just entered the dSLR world a few weeks ago. About 35+ years ago, I was on my way to becoming a pretty fair 35mm SLR shooter. Mostly B&W people and architecture stuff, although I also shot quite a bit of travel snaps using Kodachrome and Ektachrome. Did my own processing in a darkroom set up in the bathroom. Then life got in the way.

I used to tell people back then that photography was like painting, but for people without any artistic talent. Now, of course, I realize that you need just as much artistic talent in photography, you just use different tools to create the pictures. Now that I am retired and have the time to resume what was then a very pleasurable pastime, I'll have a chance to see if I can develop some. Talent that is. (Any pun was purely intentional.)

I'll be taking my newly acquired dSLR out for a test drive to the Pacific Northwest for about a month or so starting Sunday. Maybe I'll manage to capture some images for your critique in that forum when I get back.

I look forward to chatting with you all. This is such a helpful and supportive group.

Tucson Jim

Right on, what a great attitude! Welcome to NWP, were are glad you came out! Cant wait to see some of those images, the PNW is my old stopping grounds so I always love to see shots from "home."

T. Jim, what a wonderful introduction on yourself. Sounds like you have the attitude to create wonderful images. Love your analogy to painting. Personally I feel anyone can learn both, just put heart in each one.
Enjoy your trip and am looking forward to seeing some images.

Thanks Guys!

Hope I don't come back empty handed now. <G>

Jim

I introduced myself to this terrific group just before leaving on a trip to the Pacific Northwest last month. In addition to numerous state parks and National Forests, we visited Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, Olympic, and Redwood National Parks. We also paid calls on Devil’s Postpile National Monument, as well as Mono Lake and Whiskeytown National Recreation Areas. As usual, I tried to cram too much activity into too little time.

It was a great opportunity for me to play with my new camera, experimenting with all the different controls and settings and getting to know how it would react in different photographic situations. Figured out that I really need a couple of graduated neutral density filters and a new tripod. Also spent some time experimenting with composition and tried my hand at a few panoramas. The great thing about digital is you can get instant feedback and try again if you blew it. I didn’t come back with any blockbuster shots, but I think I learned a lot.

Tucson Jim

Hey Jim,

I can't wait to see some of your stuff. We have also been doing a lot of experimentation with ND filters. We now have a 2 stop hard and 3 stop soft ND filter by Singh Ray. They are a great combination of filters providing very different effects. I hope to write something on them when I am done here - I am very glad though that I have them. It will be interesting to see what happens when I start procesing the photos when I get back.

James