Martial Artist (and I-Pod Salesman)

This man advertises on his card that he's had 44 years experience in

martial arts. A former military man, he works as an Apple computer

and I-Pod salesman (see I-Pods around his neck), and was

photographed at an Apple store where he was working. Your ratings

and critiques are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly or

very critically, please submit a helpful and constructive

comment/Please share your superior knowledge to help improve my

photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

This guy (and his card) say he has 44 years in martial arts. I think even Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) probably would feel a little funny about asking him to remove his hat, even on the job, as he is here.

Besides, he looks fabulous with his black shirt and black hat, and his darker skin with the white I-Pod wires around hs neck and the white beard. This is a candid 'street portrait' taken in a few seconds time, just to show him the capabilities of a D200 camera, and not in any other way posed or pre-arranged.

John (Crosley)

The woman, background, was wearing a red (sweat)shirt. It has been desaturated in keeping with the rest of the photo and not to detract. This is about the extent of the manipulation I allow myself.

John (Crosley)

Ben, this photo is a good example of where the D200 has great strength -- in low-light, dark colors and in shadows. Somehow, in its algorythms, etc., the D200 seems even superior to the D2X in rendering shadows, such as where this 'black' man's eyes are beneath his hat, viewable without resorting to the shadow/highlight filter in Photoshop and without manipulation at all -- even without converting to a LAB view, as recommended by one or more commentators.

I consider the D200's color latitude and capture to be the best of all, although I love my D2X and wouldn't change it, but I think the D200 is enough for anyone who wants to be a serious digital photographer (and Nikon probably will announce new cameras after the Photo Marketing Association in early March, 2006 which is upcoming as dealers say they are not getting new shipments except for D2X and D200s before then, which should be a clue, and Nikon Briton says Nikon has exited the film market except for the FM10 and the F6 and is depleting its existing stock of film cameras . . . .

With a camera which will make a capture like this under fluorescents, in shadow of a hat brim of eyes against black skin, with a black hat and shirt against a white background -- who could want for more -- it's perfectly exposed, with only minor contrast adjustments and levels adjustments -- almost too minor to be visible.

I am blown away by this camera and almost blown away by the D2X. Carrying the two of them is almost a 'dream team' except for their substantial weight.

John (Crosley)