Since there was a "snafu" and we got deleted we have a chance to repost our photos, so this time we're adding a short bio. Me first (find Val's below):
I've dabbled in photography in a semi-serious fashion, on and off, for over 30 years. Most of that time was spent with various 35mm cameras beginning with an old Argus C3 and ending with a Sears marked Ricoh that served me for some 15 years.
I married Val on January 1, 2004 and we discovered that, in addition to being soul mates, we shared a love of photography and especially nature photography. We found the NPN site and marveled at the beautiful, crisp, clean images. We never dreamed we could aspire to those levels of accomplishment but we (mostly I) posted photos taken with our new digital "wonder cameras", my Fuji S-7000 and her Fuji S-5000.
Jump ahead to Christmas 2004. I decided to take the plunge to Digital SLR. I missed the interchangable lens flexibility I had enjoyed for so many years with my 35mm. I got a Nikon D70 with two "kit" lenses and I was back where I left off with my old 35! I just wasn't where I wanted to be. I wanted to take photos like Bob and Garth and Cindy and Brian and Ofer and all the others who were posting such beautiful photos. I'm getting "long" here so I'll jump to today...we now have 3 D70's, almost all our lenses are Sigma f/2.8's in 200mm and 300mm tele's and 150mm macros, all with TC's and SB-600 and 800 flashes. We haven't made to leap to the big 600's yet but who knows. I won't say we produce the same stuff as the "Big Boys and Girls" yet but were getting closer all the time. Another 6 months and who knows
Comments
3 commentsThis photo was taken by my husband, Mike. We've been married less than two years now, but it's been the best time of my life and just keeps getting better all the time! We both enjoyed photography in the past (Mike was more serious than I), but it takes on a whole new meaning when you have a soul mate to share and learn with.
We've only gotten really serious since the first of this year (as serious as time will allow when it is just a hobby and not your full time job.) When Mike first got his Nikon D70, I couldn't imagine having to deal with such big lenses and a tripod - I just wasn't that serious, until he convinced me to try his Nikon with a Sigma 50-500 mm lens - I zoomed in on a bird, it focused instantly, and I was hooked! (Can you believe that initially I thought I would be satisfied with the Fuji S5000 as my nature camera?!)
Now we each have our own Nikon D70 with one spare plus a variety of lenses for each of us. We share the hobby, but not the lenses - we're too impatient to wait our turn!
We admire all the wonderful work by all the photographers on this site and we are happy to have mentors of this caliber to critique our images and help us to improve.
Thanks for this website, for the great photos to admire and for the critiques, comments and encouragement!
Val