A more detailed introduction. Hello... again!

It occurs to me that since I haven't been an active participant in these forums for a several years now, a more formal introduction may be in order.

I am a 46 years old, completely self taught photographer. Which basically means I have spent a STAGGERING amount of money on film that ultimately wound up in the waste basket. (I still dispose of a depressingly large number of images,) although I believe I'm throwing out a better "quality" of trash these days.

I've always liked being outdoors. As a kid I spent a great deal of time wandering & exploring in the woods around my home. My interests have always centered on nature & wilderness. I used to love to watch Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, and all those Disney "Nature" shows. You know the ones I'm talking about. They always featured some adorably cute baby critter(s), lost or orphaned in the wilds. All of their humorous antics charmingly narrated by Rex Allen. Not exactly an accurate or ecologically realistic portrayal, but it helped whet my appetite to learn more about wildlife, conservation and wilderness.

I became seriously interested in photography 20 some years ago, while serving in the Navy. I started out with a used Pentax K1000 (actually a very good camera) using it with an off,.. Off,.. OFF!,.. brand 75-300 macro zoom. I made all the "classic" beginner mistakes,.. shooting 400 speed print film, hand holding every shot, in midday light. I bought a $40 tripod, (...didn't help any.) I spent a LOT of time at the 1 hour photomat trying figure out why I wasn't getting the same kind of results I admired in the magazines I subscribed to. (National Geographic, of course.. Natural History, Michigan Outdoors, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy,.. etc.)

While I was overseas in Japan I purchased my 1st "professional" grade camera. A Nikon F-3 (which I still have & use today.) I was able to get it for about half the price it was selling for in the states at the time. Since I was certain that my disappointing images must be equipment related, I was sure I would immediately start achieving spectacular results now that I had this "top of the line" gear,.. (I was wrong). ;-)

I bought quite a few books dedicated to teaching beginners how to be a photographer,.. (anyone remember "The Joy of Photography"?) These books provided very generic, basic information. Most of which helped with my technical skills and understanding of the camera, but creatively, I still wasn't improving much.

Sometime in the mid to late 80's I discovered "Outdoor Photographer" magazine. For me, this was an artistic & creative turning point. Finally, I was seeing all kinds of incredible wildlife & scenic images from established "Pro's" and these pro's were willing to share their methods & secrets to achieving these wonderful images. Since then, I would say I have been obsessed with nature photography. Much of the improvement I've experienced with my photography has occurred in the last 8-10 years or so.

I like bird watching, with or without a camera. (I have some odd & a bit arbitrary preferences for some birds & not others. Don't know why or if that's common among birders or not?) Still hooked on "Nature & Science shows" on TV. (don't much care for other so-called reality TV, {oddly enough, I do like Gene Simmons "Family Jewels"}) I absolutely LOVE!!! "American Choppers" & "Biker Build-off"!! (Yeah Discovery channel!!) Although I can appreciate a good image of some insects, aside from butterflies, I'm not so crazy about insect photography. Probably because I have a phobia about ALL spiders & most bugs, (although as a biker, I've eaten my fair share of them,..YUCK!!!) I did a 2-3 year stint as a wedding and portrait photographer. (I was,.. fair,.. as a wedding shooter. Not near as good as many, but surprisingly not as bad as others I saw who made, and continue to make a living that way.) I'm better at Wildlife & Nature photography than people photography.

Over the years, no matter how frustrated & depressed I've been concerning my ability/talent (or perceived lack thereof.) No matter how often I've considered packing it in, selling off my camera equipment and becoming a "responsible" adult,.. (I'll explain that later). I have never been able to let go of the desire to be "out there" with a camera. Freezing/sweating my *#% off, losing quarts of blood to biting bugs, debilitating bouts of poison oak/ivy. Always on the brink of financial ruin paying for film/developing/equipment/trips,.. now computers, storage, monitors, digital cameras etc.. I am most definitely obsessed, and it's nice to know there are others just as... (maybe not quite as...) insane as I am!!!

Well,.. there in a long (and rambling) sort of nutshell is who I am & how I became involved in this passion we share here. I look forward to getting to know the folks here, and I hope I will be able to use the resources here to improve on my own photography and possibly to contribute to helping someone else to improve theirs as well.

Thanks to all for taking the time to make this site the wonderful resource it is!

Craig

Finally....

Proof that I am not the only one!

Craig,

Enjoyed your "bio." Too many parallels to list - I'll be 47 next week... :-)

Over the years, no matter how frustrated & depressed I've been concerning my ability/talent (or perceived lack thereof.) No matter how often I've considered packing it in, selling off my camera equipment and becoming a "responsible" adult,.. (I'll explain that later). I have never been able to let go of the desire to be "out there" with a camera.

That one hits home with me. The overpowering desire and passion just to "be there" has yet to loose out to anything else.

Thanks for the intro,
Lon

Thanks for sharing Craig. Your words about not being able to "let go of the desire to be 'out there' with a camera" really resonates with me. (I'll be 46 in 2 weeks.)

Craig, thanks for posting your bio and sharing the experience you have had. Yup, there are many parallels for most of us here at NPN. Only real difference is I will turn 60 this year

I like bird watching, with or without a camera. (I have some odd & a bit arbitrary preferences for some birds & not others. Don't know why or if that's common among birders or not?)

Hi Craig, I am basically the same age (44) as you and have often wandered why I enjoy birds and bird photography so much yet have no desire at all to shoot or find shore birds of any type. Looks like you might not be totally alone in this regard.

I gave up shooting for roughly 10 yrs when my kids were younger as I just could not find the time, but now that they are teenagers, and with the advancements in digital cameras, I decided to jump back in about 2yrs ago.

Great Bio and nice to meet you

Welcome Craig!

Nathan

Yup. Me too. Been lurking and reading and occasionaly responding. Finally subscribed and payed for a year tonight.

I'll be 60 next month. Been at it since Jr. high. Could not live without my camera. No appologies.

Bob