vrankin

<p>There are some really nice photos here already. Tony, your island coastline shot knocks it out of the park! I just bought a D3300 kit, and have been working with the in-camera raw processing options. Here's a view from our back yard over a maturing cornfield in the afternoon. B&W, Yellow filter effect, Sepia +2.</p><div></div>

<p>Good reflections, Wouter. Perhaps we've all come to where we are in the right way, after all. I had many sessions in therapy, over the years. The best therapists always brought it to that. No regrets, in the end.</p>

<p>Hello Sam,<br> Thank you for writing your opening post to this fascinating thread. I join those envying your background in art and film, and also encourage your present experiences. My career was in pastoral ministry, in a now "old line" denomination. From 1969-2003 I enjoyed many afternoons off at the kitchen sink souping film shot in nature, and then evenings in the basement darkroom making B&W prints. At times people in the communities where I served visited exhibits where I had photos, or bought prints from my boxes at art fairs. I had one solo exhibit on a college campus, and gave an evening talk. It was slightly nerve wracking, but enjoyable. In later years I found a relationship with a magazine photo editor fruitful, and for a time checks appeared in the mail. That too, was good, but never enough to call an income. Later on, I attended a one-day seminar with Jim Brandenburg, an internationally-known photographer whose work I truly love. The room was filled with many aspiring serious amateurs like myself. By the closing hour Jim had shared a lot, and quite transparently, about his own life, profession and soul during his years working on staff for National Geographic. He gave this advice: "Do your photography for the passion and enjoyment, and make your living in some other way. It will be much more rewarding for your photography." It seems to me, very few of us ever get to both enjoy, and make a comfortable living from photography, in any form. I still make images because a few good ones thrill me from time to time. My family and closer friends want me to continue. At sixty-five, I feel fortunate about that. I wish you the best. I hope the way is already underway toward the deeper fulfillment you're seeking in film photography, and toward people who can appreciate it for what it is.</p>

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<p>Long ago, photography was a rare craft mastered by only a few in every town or city. But that is history. Current technology has evolved it to a mostly free, open source commodity. So gratitude for it is rare. My experience with hand-crafted wet process film and prints began in 1969, not so ancient history. I always gave prints away as gifts to family, friends, church and community. I sold some in exhibits and won a few competitions for cash prizes. But it was never a living, just a passion. I don't expect gratitude, so when it comes it's a gift.</p>

<p>What a wonderful journey back to the time I bought my D brand new in a camera shop, and used it for home processed B&W, and commercially processed color transparency and print films. I also had a German-made metal 6 X 6 slide viewer. Should have kept these treasures! By the way, your photos of the camera are excellent, as are the others you included here. Thank you for the post!</p>

<p>Whenever I'm in tourist areas here in the U.S., I mostly see smartphones and small tablets coming out for travel/vacation shooting. On our local and state PSA camera club outings, it's mostly DSLR and a few ILC. Everyone in our family but me has switched to iPhones. My new Nikon D3300 kit is on delivery today, or tomorrow. That's where my money goes.</p>

<p>Mike, the horse and rider series is incredible! I hope the rider came through that okay. Many outstanding images, so far today, everyone! Unfortunately, I haven't been out with the Nikon for over a month. Thanks everyone, for the inspiration to get back out soon.</p>

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<p>Detail from an abandoned sand and gravel truck on a recent drive up the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin. (Caption should read: D80.)</p><div></div>

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<p>An OM-1 with Zuiko 50mm/1.8 and the optional flash shoe removed was easily my prettiest camera.</p>

<p>When I'm capturing an image of a favorite subject in just the right light, it's a zen-like experience. If others later appreciate the image, that's a bonus.</p><div></div>

<p>If I were planning to buy now, it would be a G15 or G16, as well. I currently have a X10, precursor to the X20. The X20 has its strong points, but it's larger, and there are fewer possibilities for software that can convert the X-Trans raw files.</p>

<p>I loaded some Ektar 100 in the Kodak Retinette last week, and used the old tab from a film box with the "Sunny f/16" suggestions for settings. The negatives were exposed in everything from bright direct sun to open shade, and <em>all</em> looked very good. I saw more exposure latitude than I'm now accustomed to, with my admittedly older digital cameras. It caused me to see my digital metering and post processing in a different light. Trying "Sunny f/16" manual settings probably wouldn't have turned out as well with my digital cameras.</p>

<p>From yesterday's stroll with the camera at our harbor walk.</p><div></div>

<p>I've used the 50 and the 35 lenses on a D5100. The 50 is better for head and shoulders portraits, but I find it a bit long for general photography (75mm full frame equivalent ). I find the 35 better for general photography (52.5mm full frame equivalent). If the added bulk and weight don't seem too difficult to handle on your trip, the 18-140 would be a much more versatile travel lens, giving you both fixed focal lengths, plus many other possibilities. It is of course, a slower lens than the 50 or 35, but should perform generally well on the D5300 in moderate, as well as higher exposure values.</p>

<p>No pie sellers around here; it's still too cold in Wisconsin! I took a walk along Lake Michigan's west shore at Kohler Andrae State Park, a few days ago. This cord walk winds among the dunes.</p><div></div>