When we full timed hubby had his small, but full sized church organ with us. We redid the inside of the coach to accommodate it. I had my computer, internet and do a lot of photography and Photo Shop.
SMC
'06 Newmar Torrey Pines 5ver
'08 Chevy 3500 crew cab dooley long bed
Box Elder, South Dakota
pondputz wrote: we do quite a bit of hunting starting in September to Feb.
Briddogman love your dogs, I have a Brit also, Lost one last Aug 07, have another ordered for this spring.
Humble apologies for not responding sooner – I don’t check in here very often.
I like your Brittany! Looks a lot like my beloved Maggie. Please tell me more about him/her. Where to you hunt? What species? Ever get into the Sandhills from Colorado?
Yes, losing a dog with whom you’ve shared years afield is very, very hard. If I was elected king, one of the first things I’d change would be to have dogs and men age at the same rate.
Where is your new pup coming from?
2008 Winnebago Journey 39z DP
2004 Jeep Liberty toad
Again, humble apologies for not responding sooner – I check in here only rarely.
Dockrock wrote: I am not much on Killing Birds .... Put down the guns Shoot'em with your CAMERAS
Well, with all due respect, hunting is not about the killing, but hunting without killing isn’t hunting. I’m not likely to stop killing birds at this point in my life. I was raised by my PA Dutch grandparents who only spoke some English. In the PA Dutch culture, the animals you live with and your food are very closely linked – plus, kids are seen as small adults and expected to contribute to the family’s effort to the extent of their abilities. So, when chicken was on the menu for dinner, the kid was sent out into the yard with a hatchet to “catch” a chicken. When beef was on the menu, you were eating a steer that you saw born, named, raised and cared for (more kid work); and then helped butcher.
Hunting when I was young was more food gathering than sport. Today, it is all sport, and when you consider the cost of owning and maintaining a big diesel motorhome, traveling in it, maintaining and training the dogs year ‘round, shooting at least twice weekly year ‘round to maintain the wingshooting skills, the cost of non-resident hunting licenses in various states, owning “fine” guns, owning and living on a large tract of land to be able to run the dogs, etc, etc, etc, it is the most expensive meat pound-for-pound in the world – not to mention covering miles of rough terrain for each bird contact. It’s more of a lifestyle than a “hobby”.
I certainly respect people who don’t want to kill and who therefore, eat no meat, use no animal products, etc. Their view is obviously different than mine, but I fully acknowledge their right to hold that view and admire that they live their beliefs.
However, I feel differently about those who do eat meat and use animal derived products, but criticize those who hunt. Perhaps too many modern urban/suburban folks are so far removed from the land that they don’t realize that they are quite literally killing with their wallet each time they buy chicken or hamburger at the grocery store; they don’t realize that the driveway where they are washing their Honda and the chemically perfect lawn they are mowing was once wilderness supporting diverse wildlife, but the critters that lived there no longer exist in order to create that manicured suburban lot. As between killing with one’s wallet (have you ever seen a chicken processing plant or a big slaughterhouse?) and killing with a gun, I’ll take the gun every time as far less cruel.
Dockrock wrote: .... your photographic ability and exceptional aptitude for light and contrast is outstanding , your eye for taking pictures is also truely outstanding .... You have incredible a eye for the OUTDOORS AND MOTHER !!!! NATURE ....what Cameras do you mainly use ?.... Dock
Wow! Thank you! You made my day, so I’ll do my limited best to answer in detail! It’s kinda hard to explain how to get good images – I guess the most direct way of saying it is that it doesn’t just happen.
Long ago and far away, I was a prisoner (read: Sergeant) in the US Army, and my day job was hunting people instead of birds. The Army offered a free photolab, complete with instructors and supplies, I suppose in an effort to keep all of the young troops out of the whorehouses and bars when they were temporarily in from humping the bush. I took them up on that and learned photography (join the Army and learn a trade, eh?). It was all manual cameras, developing film and old-fashioned darkroom printing back then. Having had that hands-on background is invaluable in today’s world, when the sophisticated modern cameras allow just about anyone to make technically excellent pics and so few people other than serious photographers take the time and trouble to learn how to manipulate aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc, etc, to produce an image that depicts the subject in the way you really want to show it.
Also, images can be manipulated far more easily and far more extensively with today’s software than was possible in a dark room not so long ago (not to mention getting away from endless hours grinding away in a dank, toxic darkroom). But, there is a lot to know to do that well. I’ve recently switched to CS4 – the latest version of Photoshop – a massive, complex program, but amazingly powerful. I am currently attending the local college (an old guy with a full gray beard sitting in class much to the amusement of all of the young art students) taking courses in CS4. So much to know, such little time…. Here are some obviously Photoshopped images - most of the time the image manipulation is more subtle.
Although I’ve never been able to pursue it in terms of making a living (my day job is M&A/tax lawyer and managing a commercial lawfirm I started years ago), photographic art (painting with light, if you will) and sculpture (which is basically just the play of light on three dimensional objects) has always been an interest of mine. These days, I “sculpt” circa late 17th Century flintlock rifles – here’s a recent example:
Maybe it’s in the genes, too - I’m told that my biological mother was a professional artist, but don’t know for sure. Further, the outdoors, especially true wilderness places, has always been a huge part of my soul. So, maybe those two things come together somewhat in the pics. Stir the love for the dogs into the mix, as well.
To stop babbling and answer your question about what cameras – the real answer is that it simply does not matter what camera. You can make great images with cheap cameras and poor images with expensive cameras. It really is the Indian, not the arrow.
This pic (one of my favorites due to the subject matter) of my younger daughter (also a commercial lawyer and an avid wingshooter in addition to a mother of two) and me taking a double over the dogs was shot on a 2.1 MP camera that didn't cost $100.
Currently I use these cameras: An old and tattered Leica D-Lux 3 as a pocket P&S camera when it’s just me and the dogs and I am trying to gun, as well as manage the dogs and carry all of the stuff (including gallons of water) one needs to be miles from the nearest fence post in wilderness areas. It looked like this when it was new.
I frankly wouldn’t recommend that camera – I’m always having to try to work around its many shortcoming – no viewfinder, very slow focus, lack of fast “motor drive” function, shutter lag, slow lens, etc. Unlike most P&S cameras, it does allow shooting in RAW; manual setting of aperture and shutter speed; and it does have decent image quality (IQ). Most of my field shots are taken with this rather bad camera:
An old Canon 20D (the one on the right below) for when I am guiding for others and don’t need to gun, so I can handle a big, heavy DSLR and lenses.
I also use it when just out walking and for family-type pics. It is quite obsolete – the current Canon equivalent is the 50D – a much better camera body and one I’d highly recommend. I have built up a good collection of quality glass (with DSLR’s that’s where the real money goes – not in camera bodies that wear out and become obsolete quickly) for Canon bodies. Probably the more relevant question is "What lenses do you prefer?"
My favorite lenses are the EF-S 10-22mm for wide angle shots – see sample shots:
The 17-55 EF-S f2.8 IS – a terrific mid-range lens and the one I use for probably 90% of my shooting with the DSLR – fast, with good saturation and contrast.
Finally the 70-200mm “L” f2.8 IS – this is a very big, very heavy and very expensive lens, but it is fast, with terrific resolution and tremendous color saturation and contrast. I don’t use it much – never afield. It is good for foreshortening perspective and long distance shooting:
Lastly, I have been trying to use a new Panasonic G1 (the camera to the left of the big Canon 20D shown above) for the past couple of months as a replacement for my very limiting P&S camera discussed above – in effect as a small, portable DSLR. Since it has an electronic viewfinder instead of the traditional mirror box and prism, it is much smaller and lighter than any normal DSLR. The IQ is indeed better than any P&S camera, also it is far more flexible than any P&S (allows shooting in RAW, allows full manual control, has extremely fast focus, no shutter lag, changeable lenses, etc). A few recent samples:
I’m finding, sadly, that the G1 is too big and too delicate to handle the rigors of upland use. I may get rid of it.
All of your pictures are great, but this one is just JOYOUS! I love it and love the dogs!
Thank you! They love the water as well as the land. Here, Chase, my puppy, is pointing a shore bird. The little bugger is focused on the bird and not paying attention to his surroundings – as a result, he is only a second or two from being totally flattened by a massive wave – too funny!
When we must cross bodies of water in wilderness places, I use a little carbon-fiber canoe, they generally prefer to swim, even long distances, to riding in the canoe.
They are joyous every minute – it’s something we could all learn from dogs. Here enjoying “catching” mice under the porch despite the fact that the score is: mice – 10,000; dogs – 0.
Dock 
