I was active in photography from age seven through college, bulk loading and developing my own film and enlarging my own pictures (so I know why Photoshop uses the terms "burn" and "dodge." :) I had to put photography aside to pursue graduate work and teaching for the past twenty years. I've been teaching philosophy and theology, and for seven years I supervised doctoral research into the improvement of higher education.

 

In the past six years or so I've been able to pick up photography again, though my time is limited. I have several thousand photos waiting to be Photoshopped, and I try to put a few on flickr each week. I've had the privilege of traveling to a number of countries (15) so there's lots to do. I'm especially interested in photographing people, natural beauty, and ancient sites.

 

For what it's worth, here's some of the equipment I use, and I could highly recommend each piece:

 

Canon 5D Mark 3

24-105mm L-Series Canon lens

70-200mm L-Series Canon lens

50mm Zeiss Makro (outstanding optics and solid build)

400mm f 5.6 L-Series Canon lens (very sharp)

100mm Canon macro IS II (crazy sharp, my favorite lens)

 

Sekonic 758-DR light meter (indispensable for accurate exposures)

 

B+W filters and polarizers (they are very high quality and easier to clean than Hoya).

 

Hoodman Loupe (indispensable, especially for outdoor work)

Canon 580exII strobes

PhotoFlex scrim

 

Gitzo carbon fiber GT1530 with Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head

Manfrotto 682 monopod with attachable feet

Leki Sierra Photo walking stick (ultra light carbon fiber with a knob that unscrews so it can be used as a monopod)

 

Domke camera bag and photo vest

Pelican 1450 and 1514. These are amazing cases--mobile bomb shelters for your gear. Don't get the foam, get the dividers.

  

I've read many books on Photoshop, and here's two that I have found especially helpful:

Professional Photoshop, 5th ed., by Dan Margulis

Photoshop Artistry, by Haynes, Crumpler, and Duggan

 

Some of the many oither helpful books include:

The Photographer's Eye, Michael Freeman. An outstanding book on composition.

 

A World History of Photography, 4th ed., 712 pages

  

Some of the many photographers I find worth a close look:

Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Dorthea Lange, Muench (MuenchPhotography.com), Steve McCurry (SteveMcCurry.com; his most famous photo is the "Afghan Girl"), James Nachtwey (www.JamesNachtwey.com), Zoriah Miller (Zoriah.net).