I was just diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's follicular lymphoma on October 1 of 2008. A life-altering occurence to be sure, but if anything, it's making me sit up and notice more acutely the incredible beauty this world has to offer. Suddenly my passion for photography, which started back in the late 60's with a little Brownie camera (whatever happened to that, I wonder?), has become more intense.

While in college I got my first "real" camera, a manual Minolta 35 mm SRT MC II, then I "upgraded" to an X-370n, and after that was the X-700. Loved that original MC-II to death.

Several years ago I got a little point & shoot digital so I could take it with me to Ireland....I was hesitant to get a digital because I viewed it as "cheating", and not "real" photography. Boy, have I changed my mind! I'm hooked completely.

Now I've got a fairly nice digital and am still learning how to use it. There are so many options!!

My arsenal includes:

My first digital...Kodak Easy Share DX6340. I use this when I'm taking walks and don't want to lug around big camera gear. It fits easily into a coat pocket and is easy to use for when I'm feeling a bit lazy.

Canon EOS Rebel XT with a Canon EFS 18-55 mm zoom lens.

New toy as of November 2008: Canon 75-300 mm zoom.

El-cheap-o Velbon tripod that I've had for at least 35 years. Just bought another new cheap tiny tripod for those little up close moments.

Flash, which I don't use too often, is a Sigma EF-530 DG ST.

I use inexpensive UV and polarizing filters. Back in the day, before digital, my polarizing filter was THE best thing to happen to my photography. How cool is it to see the colors change so drastically with the slightest turn?!