Finally, here's my pics from my five week stay in Europe. I stayed in Paris for a week, Slovakia for six days, and in Krakow, Poland for the rest of the time since I have family there.

I still have a ton of web resizing to do, but I'll keep posting here as I finish them.

We left Chicago on June 30th at 5:30, and had an 11 hour flight to Wasaw, Poland where we would then transfer to a smaller plane and fly two hours to the Charles de Gaulle airport. When we got there on the first day, we just walked around the street where our hotel was at, and got pizza at a local restaurant. I passed out around 7:30 thanks to jetlag.

Outside the hotel we stayed at, about a ten minute train ride from downtown Paris. Awesome free breakfast every morning.
Finally, here's my pics from my five week stay in Europe. I stayed in Paris for a week, Slovakia for six days, and in Krakow, Poland for the rest of the time since I have family there.

I still have a ton of web resizing to do, but I'll keep posting here as I finish them.

We left Chicago on June 30th at 5:30, and had an 11 hour flight to Wasaw, Poland where we would then transfer to a smaller plane and fly two hours to the Charles de Gaulle airport. When we got there on the first day, we just walked around the street where our hotel was at, and got pizza at a local restaurant. I passed out around 7:30 thanks to jetlag.

Outside the hotel we stayed at, about a ten minute train ride from downtown Paris. Awesome free breakfast every morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9371w.jpg

Here's what the room looked like inside. This is considered pretty big for a Parisian hotel room.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9322w.jpg

The next day we decided to figure out the subway system, and spent time walking around the Louvre and down the Champs Elysees. It rained too much that day, didn't do too much else.

Outside the Louvre
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9400w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9430w.jpg

Yours truly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/DSC02621w.jpg

I stumbled across an Aston Martin dealer. They just so happened to have a DBS :drool:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9525w.jpg

The weather got real nice the next day. We decided to walk down Rue de Rivoli, and walk to Notre Dame first.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9545w.jpg

F430 :drool:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9550w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9551w.jpg

Paris city hall. They were preparing a big speech by the mayor and a bunch of people about the release of Ingrid Betancourt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9578w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9583w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9589w.jpg

Common style of architecture in Paris
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9599w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9818w.jpg

And then we got to Notre Dame
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9899w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9617w.jpg

Portal of the Last Judgement
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9737w.jpg

Notre Dame is HUGE inside.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9672w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9732w.jpg

The attention to detain of the whole place is just amazing, and so well preserved.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9820w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9806w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9787w.jpg

There was a guy on the street right next to the church wearing a mask, who went up behind unsuspecting people and just scared the crap out of them at random.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9825w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9826w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9832w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9841w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9843w.jpg

^^ LOL. Nice pics, Gary. :thumbsup: Keep 'em coming.

That picture of Notre Dame with the clouds behind it is amazing. Looking forward to seeing more.

There was a guy on the street right next to the church wearing a mask, who went up behind unsuspecting people and just scared the crap out of them at random.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9825w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9826w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9832w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9841w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9843w.jpg


That is something you'd only see in Paris...


Great (understatement of the century) pictures Gary! I don't know whether that's due to your skill as a photographer, or the quality of the camera you use.

WOW stunning, i can't wait untill our trip 2 paris this fall, looks amazing, great pics gary.

Curse you and your amazing photography skills. :)

Looks like it was a great trip. I have always wanted to go to Ireland, but that is a bit out of my price range right now.

Right in front of Notre Dame was a small garden-like place, where a ton of birds were. They were really friendly, you could sit inches from them and they wouldn't move.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9933w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9914w.jpg

:confused::cookoo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9921w.jpg

Started walking back towards city hall and there was a guy playing bass and singing about women in Paris.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9945w.jpg

At 5:00 at city hall, they held a speech by the mayor of Paris and a bunch of other people about the release of Ingrid Betancourt from Colombia. Tons of media there, I just kinda blended in ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9967w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9988w.jpg

Mayor of Paris
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0001w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0038w.jpg

Lots of Colombian people there in support
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0048w.jpg

I hate pigeons. Morning doves are just as bad though.

Great pictures Gary

Nice pictures, which camera do you have?

Nice pictures, which camera do you have?

Thanks. Here's my full gear list for those wondering:

Body
Canon EOS Rebel XTi
Canon BG-E3 Vertical Grip

Lenses
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Flash
Canon Speedlite 430EX

Filters
Hoya 77mm DMC Pro1 Circular Polarizer

Tripod
Legs - Bogen/Manfrotto 055XPROB
Heads - Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2, 3025 3-D

Memory
SanDisk Extreme IV 4GB
SanDisk Extreme III 2 GB
SanDisk Extreme III 1 GB

Bags
Lowepro Rezo 170AW
Lowepro Slingshot 200AW
Canon Gadget Bag

Software
Adobe Photoshop CS3

I've been busy lately, but I'll try to post more tonight. (Still tons left :yup:)

Awesome pictures. Haven't been to Paris in 10 years, but we're scheduled for next fall. Can't wait to go back.

Thanks for posting!

For Chad
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_9784w.jpg

Inside of Sainte Chapelle, gothic architecture in all its glory
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0084w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0102w.jpg

One of the billions of gardens in Paris, Jardin du Luxembourg. If you're in Paris and it's a nice day, you really have to stop by here. Bring some food, have lunch, and just relax.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0270w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0238w-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0262w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0246w.jpg

Luxembourg Palace
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0255w.jpg

XJS
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0314w.jpg

Panorama of the Louvre, the place just goes on forever
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/07-04-08w.jpg

The glass pyramid in the center of the Louvre
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0361w.jpg


All the good cars start coming out at night. This is on Rue de Rivoli right next to a huge 5 star hotel where actors and other famous people are known to stay.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0418w.jpg

Soooooo much new money in one spot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0425w.jpg

Where all the rich people from the hotel shop
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0443w.jpg

S classes everywhere (curb rash FTL)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0449w.jpg

I knew the car pics were here somewhere....

MOAR!

Eiffel Tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0477w.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0540w-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0579w.jpg

Arc de Triomphe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0915w.jpg

View from the top
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0929w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_09722w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0961w.jpg

Along the Champs Elysee I stopped at a MB dealer there, and they just so happened to have this beast sitting behind a velvet rope.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0878w.jpg

I also stopped at a Peugeot dealer just for fun, and was blown away to see their LeMans cars sitting out in the open.

908 HDi FAP. 5.5L twin turbo V12 diesel.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0894w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0896w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0899w.jpg

905B. 3.4L V10
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0901w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0904w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0909w.jpg

Indeed, excellent pics!

I'm enjoying this thread, keep 'em coming!

Inside the Louvre. Amazing to think the whole place was once a fortress, prison, and residence. We went on the first Sunday of the month, when admission is free. Needless to say the place was absolutely shoulder-to-shoulder packed. They say if you looked at each painting/statue/etc for just 10 seconds, it would take you four days to see everything there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0760w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0824w.jpg

Venus de Milo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0722w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0735w.jpg

Egyptian Sphinx
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0738w.jpg

Winged Victory
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_0745w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0747w.jpg

The Mona Lisa
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0763w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_0787w.jpg

heh heh, bet you thought I was done :p

Inside market square in Krakow, Poland
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1031w.jpg

Under construction. EU money at work.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1079w.jpg

The new VW Passat which actually looks great.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1096w.jpg

Except for the fact that it's basically a sebring clone from behind
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1097w.jpg

Only in Poland
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1147w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1236w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1275w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/Paris%20and%20Krakow%202008/IMG_1236w.jpg



Did you get Joaquin Phoenix's signature?

These pictures are really awesome....what a great experience you must have had. Definitely motivates me to get a Europe trip on my calendar

WoW...just Wow, Very Nice pics, thanks for posting them!

Those pics are amazing I want to move there.

Those pics are awesome I want to move there.

bet you thought I was done, didn't you :sidegasp:

These are from the Liptov region of Slovakia where I stayed for six days. Beautiful country, give them time to use their EU funding and it'll become more tourist friendly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1372w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1408w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1493w.jpg

The next five are from Vlkolínec, it has a village preserve status and is on the UNESCO list. This article (http://www.slovakopedia.com/v/vlkolinec.htm) explains it better that I can. From what I know there are still people living there today.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1520w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1531w.jpg

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/1628/img1530wrp2.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8517/img1592wka5.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/3112/img1597wxn0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1675w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1794w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1877w-1.jpg

That picture of Notre Dame with the clouds behind it is amazing. Looking forward to seeing more.

Would like to see that photograph done (or edited) with a Polarized filter....

Would like to see that photograph done (or edited) with a Polarized filter....

I actually did have a CPL on for that shot

Curse you and your amazing photography skills. :)

Nice pictures, which camera do you have?

Hey guys, this Gary88 is a REALLY good, no scratch that, an EXCEPTIONALLY gifted photographer. He should have his own website with his Photojournals if some of this stuff he has posted here is typical of the work he can do.

But even he started somewhere, and he is only 19 years old ???

ALL of you out there can learn to take really nice photos without having to spend ton$ on equipment until you are ready to do so. Start now, with whatever equipment you have...

People always ask about the camera, and most people don't know that a better than average photo can still be 95% + the photographer, and 5% or less the camera.

Yeah, great equipment can make a difference when you know how to use it and all of those settings and lenses, but you can still take very nice photo's with an inexpensive $50 digital camera, especially if you get a good program for editing and managing your pictures.

Picasa comes to mind, does a good job of what it does, and free downloads are available if I am not mistaken. You can pay for better ones, and some good ones come with a camera.

I remember once upon a time, when, once you got a good (say 35mm) camera, to take photographs, a roll of film cost $5 - $6 to buy, processing the photos into a contact sheet was expensive enough, and printing all of them was pretty expensive. So, 36 exposures might cost $.50 - $.75 a shot to purchase and process and print, and that was expensive enough for a hobby, much less when a photographer took hundreds of shots in a day's work, many of them "bracketed" to try to get the optimum photograph.

Nowadays, even with an entry level digital camera and a good program you can take shots that most people will be impressed with.

In 1969, I started out with a Nikkormat body and a 1.4 normal lens (and upgraded from there), a Beseler 67C enlarger, a Yashica Mat 124, and later a Mamiya RB67. Did tons of available light work, b/w photos, learned to use filters to alter what the lens would actually see (MUCH more than the eye could ever appreciate).

Get started with whatever you have, those editing programs are AMAZING. You can take a shot that looks WAY too dark after loading to your PC, and edit it to where you can see nice color and details.

Learn all you can about content and contrast, how to alter tone and coloration with filters. Learn about how to use white balance, as you can do a lot with that even on a cheaper point and shoot camera.

Be patient, wait for the right shot. A PERFECT shot will not look nearly as good 10 minutes before, or 10 minutes after the time when the light is "just right" for that once in a lifetime shot.

A few years later I moved to Olympus OM1 equipment, then into the Digital Age (kicking and screamoing), but now that I am here, the technology can be amazing, and your photos will cost you pennies per shot, even that once in a lifetime, world class photo we all wiish we could take someday.

I have settled in with a Nikon D40 (recently sold me D200, as it does nothing (for the money) I cannot do with the D40), a couple of good Nikon zoom lenses (and a whole collection of filters), and a Nikon SB400 flash, all of which will pretty much do just about anything I need for it to do for what I do now.

But you can start ANYWHERE, upgrade when you can, there are tons of nice used equipment out there if you know what to look for.

Happy photo taking!!!!!!

Thanks Patrick, I really appreciate it :thumbsup: I got my first film point and shoot (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2780623740_2bdabfb29a_o.jpg) in 2001 from my grandpa, after that I had a Sony Handycam in 2002 which took VGA stills (my transition into digital I suppose, heh), I moved up to a Sony P150 point and shoot in 2004, then last year in June 2007 I bought my XTi and 18-55 kit lens with my HS graduation money. I've put 25,379 clicks on it as of today, and will be upgrading to the Canon 5D Mark II after it comes out.

I have a stock portfolio with Alamy I started a couple months ago, but eventually I'd like to get my own dedicated site up and running.

And you bring up a good point about the software programs available today. Most people don't realize how much better your photos will come out with a little post-processing. A simple curves tweak and sharpening will make most of your photos look worlds better. In fact all photos require a bit of sharpening to make up for the softness caused by the anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor. I shoot RAW, so it's real nice to tweak a photo to exactly how I want it in PP instead of having the camera guess at it for me.

Here's some more people shots

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1202w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1275w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1332w.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/gheb88/IMG_1967w.jpg

More coming later

Gary (and others),

Yeah, and unless you bracket your shots, all you have are shots that have already been tweaked in the camera. Take your "stock/untweaked" photo's, store them in the camera, then make a stock backup to keep, AND have one to tweak that you can delete if you do not like how it turns out, or if you mess up. You can also take stock shots, then bracket for other effects.

I would rather have an inexpensive camera with a good photoprocessing program on my pc than a great camera with all kinds of bells and whistles and fancy settings that I would have to figure out for every shot I take, and not have a program at home to enhance it.

There is also a ton of cool equipment on the used market, like on eBay (if you want to take a chance to buy sight unseen) or Craigslist (if you want to see and handle what you buy) for a local sale and a good deal.

I buy used cameras all the time, try them to see what they will do, then keep the cameras I like, sell the ones that I don't care for.

There are some really good point and shoots out there of all makes, and some that look like a real SLR that can be bought inexpensively to learn what YOU like to have and handle, not what me or Gary or anyone else uses or recommends. A camera is even more of a personal choice than a vehicle is for what YOU like best for what YOU do with it.

Nobody gives them much attention, but I have had a ton of fun using some of the Fujifilm cameras, anything from the el-cheapo 2650 (still have one as a point and shoot), 2800, 3000 series, 5000 series, to the 7000's, the S2 series and so on.

Looking at the screen on the back of the camera to frame your shot is not all bad...lol

And most any of these Fuji's can be had used for way less than $200.00.

There are tons of reviews of digital cameras on the internet, as well as tons of websites with information about photography and "How To" stuff written by photgraphy Guru's of all kinds. I especially like the work by Ken Rockwell and some of the stuff in his website (mostly Nikon and Canon),

But start with whatever digital camera YOU HAVE and learn about the settings in that one, including White Balance, then step up to a pseudo SLR (looks like but isn't), begin to learn how to use (and start to collect) various lens hoods and filters and how to use a flash. Many or most of those filters can later be used in other cameras (you may need a step up (not down...lol) ring in some cases). 52mm or 55mm filters can be made to fit most 35mm digital camera lenses.

Once you can consistently take good photos, and can go back to your PC to process them you should know enough that you can make your own choice as to what SLR YOU prefer to buy.

Gary has some great equipment, and he knows how to use it. Canon is a great choice for a camera, as are several others (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, HP, Minolta, Olympus, Fuji....) depending on what YOU prefer to use, NOT what Gary or I use.

I like my Nikon D40 better than anything I have ever used (maybe other than a Nikon D200 which I just sold), any shortcomings the camera has (little to none for me) can be made up for in the PC if you have a good photo processing program to start with.

But you can still take wonderful photographs with a digital point and shoot you paid $50.00 for. When I go back to look at some of my old shots (I am terrible about notations) I often cannot remember what camera I used to take them.

Gary - go look at my post in the other photography thread where I posted some of my ATF's.

Unlike when I wa growing up, when it was rahter expensive, digital photography has become so affordable that ANYONE who wants to do it CAN afford to do so.

And you may have the time of your life if you do get into it...