It seems to keep being missed somehow but

 

These photos are really all my original copyrighted work. You will need to contact me and have a reply on record if you want to use them. If you do not... I have council retained. It will be MUCH cheaper if you ask first. This includes use in Blogs and such.

 

Also if you have no photos in your stream I will block you if you add me as a contact. If you have over 2000 contacts I will probably block you too. No one can possibly be responsive to that many contacts.

 

OK, grumpy stuff out of the way... now the fun stuff!!

 

My "Rules for Photography"

1. Anything can be a good picture. Some things are just easier to shoot than others.

2. Anything besides "Eye Level"

3. WITB (prounounced whit-bee) Stands for "What's In The Background?" A question it's good to ask on every shot.

4. Contrast Makes Interest. (Light on Dark, Dark on Light and so forth)

5. Light and Shadow are important parts of every shot.

6. No excuses...Read the Manuals and Learn the Tools!

7. If you are having trouble being creative use a cheaper camera. There is nothing like minimal tech to force you to focus on the subject and composition.

8. The Rule of Thirds is a good place to start.

9. The Golden Mean is a good thing to keep in mind.

10. Sometimes you need to break all the rules and just have fun.

  

Let’s see what’s new… I've started a few groups now and I am very happy with the communities they have developed! I have also become one of the Admins for the “Madison Wisconsin” pool which has been very rewarding! You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer group of folks!

  

My contact list continues to expand and it continues to amaze me the diversity of views of the world and the images people chose to capture. I doubt the folks who invented the concept of a “filmless” camera had any idea what a revolution they would start! I’m very happy to be involved in the growing amateur international photographer community online. I look forward to the day when folks enjoy my work enough to want to buy copies of it to hang in their homes! Might be a silly dream but why not?

 

I was shooting with a Canon s110 digital elf point and shoot and then a Nikon D70 SLR with the kit lens (18-70mm f3.5) and a Nikon 50mm f1.8. Occasionally you’ll see a different lens which is the result of borrowing from my very generous brother. You may still see an old Canon shot go up now and then as I go back over old photos with new Photoshop skills.

 

I'm enjoying learning more about the details of taking a great picture and all the things that can be done with photo editing tools. I currently use Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop CS and Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006. I have an SB-600 with a Lowel stand and 30" umbrella. I also have a Manfrotto 3001pro tripod with the new alloy 3 way head. I build myself a Panoramic Jig that made the "Make" blog. Which, I think, validates years of getting stuffed into lockers at school for being "too geeky" while growing up. *grin*

 

I just invested in a D300 and a Nikkor 85mm f1.4 and a 45” umbrella. And finally picked up a used 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor for those wide angle shots I've been wanting to try.

(Update: Just picked up a D700 and 24-70mm f/2.8 using $ from photo jobs. Proof that if you stick with something you can make it work for you!)

 

Please always feel free to email me with any comments or thoughts you may have or even just to say “Hi!”

 

PLEASE ask before using any of my photos so I know what they are up to! I will normally say “Yes”. If you are going to make money/advertise with them then you better make sure I get compensated properly.