PossumCorner

Limited market for SLRs - some collectors around, but they know the models that were top of their range, limited edition or whatever. One way is to contact local TAFEs or colleges that offer photography courses. Most courses insist on the students having a good SLR to learn the fundamentals well, before they move to digital. I think the usual requirement is that the camera have full manual controls with either nil or minimal auto features. (Or better camera stores stock some traded-in SLRs that are suitable for photography students). Some of the old Pentax lenses suit DSLR and are lovely lenses, worth finding if they are compatible as part of the advert wording. (Nifty-fifty has stood the test of time eh!).

Camera Clubs run good basic courses for members - membership is around $50, good value. It's probably worth looking at a DSLR, kit lenses are fine for general use as you are speaking of. You could stick with the Finepix but put some honest time into getting the best from it - the book "Understanding Exposure" has been a basic starting point for quite a few of dol's good photography people. For clubs, depends where you are in the Dandenongs or the Valley. The Knox club is excellent, their website is http://www.kps.org.au and there is a link there showing where other clubs are located. Used to be one in Lilydale, one out Healesville way, one in Ringwood. If you can get to Croydon, visit Camera House in main street, it has good staff - ask some advice, they won't oversell to you, they do run basic classes not too expensive, and in general they are very helpful - also discounts to Knox club members and excellent printing, much better than the Kmart or HarvNorman machines (for when you get home). (They do a lot of wedding stuff for professional wedding photographers). The trip you are doing (even aside from the importance of the wedding) is too good to not be able to get the best out of your gear, not long to go either.

One of the (lesser) reasons we left the Dandenongs was the lack of anywhere to let the dogs run where there was no risk to them, or other dogs and cyclists etc, or wildlife. We adjoined Sherbrooke Forest, beautiful, but no dogs allowed. So we moved house to twelve acres sort of middle of no-where, with no resident neighbours, dogs were beside themselves with joy. For a while I did toy with the idea of fencing it dog-proof, and allowing people to come and run their dogs at no risk, with maybe a lure set-up. But when I priced secure fencing it was some thousands, and even with a token entry I doubted if enough people would want to make a day-trip to help pay for it over a few years, so the plan didn't get off the ground. I still think it's a good general idea, with basic needs, like a loo, a big shed in case it rains, (pigs might fly but we live in hope) and being safe and secure the main thing. Do other people with small acres do this? Or is it not worthwhile because of insurance etc needs? LeoPuppy, the Glenfern Bushlands used to be excellent, but becoming 'busy' even just a few years ago. Worth checking. Or the old quarry at Ferntree Gully, unless it has been fenced off to protect the idiots from themselves and spoil it for everybody. (Yesterday I took Piper for a walk off-lead on the dirt roads for nine kilometres "around the block" and saw only three cars, and a lot of sheep and kangaroos - I still don't let the dogs loose in bushland).

So am I Huga - but have to say I'd really miss the Sony if it wasn't to hand. Think I said somewhere else I use the Nikon for serious and the Sony for fun - and am doing less and less serious and having more and more fun with cameras. Sony has some gimmicks like sunset light enhancement, and panorama settings which are addictive (embarrassed emoti if I used emotis) - but the quite old Sony lenses are beautiful, very worth hunting down and fine on the new bodies. And Sigma etc do all their good lenses with Sony attachments.

Just about everyone says this, so I am out of step, but totally disagree. If a camera has all the features you want/need but isn't quite the size you are used to, of course it will feel a tad too big or too small, too light or too heavy. So it gets side-lined to stay in the comfort zone of what you "think" is comfortable. It will feel 'right' after some use, it's more what you are used to that makes it feel right, so don't let that put you off a camera that otherwise has exactly what you want. Large hands don't need a large camera, small hands are not limited to teensy cameras. It it's heavier than you are used to - well work out a bit, doesn't take much muscle to pick up just an extra chocolate-bar weight. My other nit-pick is that people often steer 'beginners' to barely entry level, lowest common denominator models. Nothing wrong with a beginner starting with the best they can afford - and the technicalities of getting the best out of it can be learned. It beats getting something less than terrific, and being frustrated twelve months later because results don't pass a certain point.

I just read a similar thread on a (USA) photog's forum. One of them said "You'd make more money picking cans out of the garbage". Probably true in some cases, not so much in others, I did think it was funny though.

Glad you like the Sony Alasse. I'm a Nikon girl when I'm serious, but seeing I haven't done anything serious since we moved 18 months ago, I usually pick up the Sony A55. They do have handy features don't they, and really reliable. A paddock fence was covered in tiny spider webs this morning, each just set in one ring of the chook wire - and some big ambitious ones trying to fill a square of the dog wire but not quite cutting it. No rain (I wish) but a touch of dew still on them. Didn't have a macro lens, just going to look at the ponies with a 24-55 on the little Sony, so was happy with these. There were hundreds of small webs, all different (like snowflakes?) But only a few silly enough to try the oversize wire: Edit to add: Behind the lambs bopping around on the project vegetable garden (if it ever rains - they are kicking up dust) you can see the webs on the fence against the wheat silo.

That's a good link RevJo, keep us up with what you are doing/learning. I am still blown away by the skies here in central Vic after moving from where we were hemmed in and over by forest. I've looked at what I need/would like for playing with it and can't justify the cost, self-indulgent. Have to be content with the little I do with the little I've got, sort of. But I did like his hit yourself hard comments about people using weak tripods etc, all good on getting the best out of simpler equip. Persephone's link today in photography tips (for exposure) has a button for an astro on-line book at $20, also looks like good value.

Or you could leave it on the tripod with a long exposure for long star trails. I forget what this one was, about an hour I think, fun but needs more planning and some practice.

There is something sad about seeing a Rottweiler have to give up it's marrow bone to a bantam White Leghorn, and sort of walk off looking depressed. Same when said Rottweiler is bravely hunting rabbits across a paddock, comes across a few Guinea Fowl, and they herd it back to the house. It's good though, I wouldn't like having to manage chicken-killing dogs.

Thanks, have bookmarked and will try to catch it on the night. It would be good to be able to do proper nightsky shots, but it's so equipment-hungry so not going there. This was a month or so ago in a try to do star trails, forget what the exposure was, an hour or so I think not sure. Not great, but a starting point so will have a go on the 21st for some shots. Edit to add: it's funny about ADT, that's just Australian Daylight Saving Time (otherwise it's like now, AEST Australian Eastern Standard Time). But Daylight Saving has finished, so it should be aest (I think).

Great vids, the last one in the studio was a crack-up, someone saying the python had fed, there was a lump in its belly - and a background voice heard saying "a small child". Not intended for broadcast, cute.

Quality prints, well cared for (pro-lab, not home printer on paper that makes stupid claims for longevity). They will outlast all the techy storage. All storage discs, drives memry stix blah blah will live long and hold the image: but there will be nothing to "play" them on because the hardware will all have gone off with the dinosaurs. A little like the way cassette music tapes, or even super-8 film are headed. Technology will leave stored images behind: maybe like the little 4x4 floppy computer discs - boxfull here, nothing important on them, nothing to read them if there was though. So the next generation times two will be the poorer. But if they can open an old container full of hard copy prints, it's all there, great great great grandmother and her dog Spot, and some weird ancient computer on a desk behind them, what's that? I suppose it depends on the end-use, if images are only for the current owner in their lifetime it doesn't matter, any mix of discs and drives will keep them safe for a few years. But this is unfair on future generations, denies them their photographic heritage.

First set your alarm clock. (After checking on the interweb thingey what time sunrise is). Use a monopod or tripod for the smidge of extra sharpness that will give you. Take some on automatic, then base your manual shots on the auto "suggestions". Try the sports and landscape auto options for comparisons. The little Sony A55 has a nifty 'sunsets' setting that does not change auto settings, but enhances colour in camera. So you can say hand on heart "not photoshop manipulation" but the camera has made extra adjustments. This is the Sony take on a sunrise the other morning. It was a smashing sunrise, OH stopped to take it on the way to work, and emailed it from his whatever phone (I lose track) so I'd just taken this and did a return email, blew his away, (pistols at dawn). For mine the exif was iso 640, shutter 125th, f4.5. Higher iso allows faster shutter and if I did that manual I'd use slower shutter but smaller aperture for wider depth of field. And need to use a tripod, or monopod at least.

There was a good tutorial/discussion piece on street quite a few years ago on dgrin, I'll dig it out, I thought at the time it was good so be interesting to see how it has stood up. Here tis - http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=202833 Let's know how you think it jells with your idea of street, the why and the how.

Confirming here my PM to kja that I'd better officially be "dropped off" (but left as a 'guest contributor' for now and then). Getting out and getting shots - the camera keeps me sane - but otherwise too much hitting the fan and the wheels falling off (cliches like that). The work on the blog is just knock-out, don't know if I'm more impressed or envious (both, in a good way) at the time and thought and effort everyone has come up with for some amazing results.

This blog is worth a look through for anyone interested in Patterdales - BeAnne could be the widest known Patterdale there is, with quite an international following. Helps that her owner is an excellent photographer with a great sense of humour. http://myshetland.co.uk/the-deal/ Edit to add this one, it's from their earlier blog on a different carrier. Play the little vid. http://shetlandponyeverything.posterous.com/getting-on (There are some of her puppy photos somewhere on this one as well).

I think my head is a Manfrotto 3265 grip action. It was about $250 a few years ago. But I think the model is discontinued. (It's in OH's locker at work this week, he's doing some staff shots). The one that was stolen was a Sherpa Velbon head on the Manfrotto monopod, that was a 3-way tilt and just as good to use. Yes tilt head is fine for birds - you don't really need the up/down tilt of the ball head because you can move the monopod itself. But the ball is good for macro when you can't always move the monopod in case the spider shoots through. The ball head suits me as I can use it on tripod or monopod instead of buying two heads. Or using the tripod as a monopod (as I do) I have the extra convenience of using it as a tripod. Just for more opinions or options, here are two threads on d-grin discussing them. http://www.dgrin.com...nopod+ball+head and http://www.dgrin.com...nopod+ball+head

I love them and yes you need a good head the same as using a tripod. My monopod was stolen at Melbourne Royal a few years ago and I've never replaced it, it's still on the wish list. I've started to use a fairly light Manfrotto tripod as a monopod, just clip the legs together. And still use a good ball head with it. Does the job, just not as quick to adjust height. I leave the IS on, bird shots are generally full telephoto which can waver a bit. What MnDM said: the cost is a con, I can't justify buying another pro one. But definitely think worth paying for a better head than you even think you need, (and one that's interchangeable onto your tripod for times you are using it).

Good link. Interesting there is still no limit on number of dogs at a residence (as long an no neighbour complaints re barking, nuisance). Are they the only Council this relaxed about the numbers?

At a property clearing sale (near a regional city, not way out bush) I picked up a double horse float in sound running order for $75. Not registered. My good pony float I bought in SA was fully reg and I still had to jump through ludicrous hoops to get Vic reg onto it. So I'll take a chance with the double and hope the need doesn't arise to take it on the road. But will do if evacuation makes it necessary to use them both. Anyway - a float allows crates double-stacked along each horse bay (same as crates stacked at flyball comps for a day) just need a secure rail bolted in to keep them in place. Front compartment can take cats or poultry in carriers on top of fixed food/water containers.

1- Kristin (kja) 2 - Kerri (Snook) 3 - Tanya (CrazyCresties) 4 - Kristen (Piper) 5 - Larissa (gapvic) 6 - Sam (Clicking Mad) 7 - Hannah (Rallyvalley) 8 - Taylah (DogSportObsessed) 9 - Meagan (MnDM - Monet n Diva's Mum) 10 - Lorrella (Cougar) 11 - Judi (PossumCorner) (Sherbrooke)

Whew still here, only just, been mired down in heatwave repercussions and OH being on the sick list. Think mostly normalised now. I missed the first round and so impressed with everyones' work! For Round 2 I have some shots to sort tomorrow, very simple and PJ, nothing thought provoking. Just had a quick look, some stunning frozen moments so well thought through. - And Round 3, love the bird theme!

Same here Clover, wouldn't have missed the expo at Caulfield few years back, I hope the Showgrounds works well for it. I think with all of the expos, including papercraft, patchwork quilting and craft etc. the organisers become too greedy, milk the large exhibitors excessive hundreds of dollars for stall space, which prices the smaller ones out of being able to attend. So yes the expo has shrunk both stand holders and attendance. Flyball demo is on, I'd like to go along but a bit far, might decide on the day (if I can feed the goats lambs ponies chooks early enough). (And if not a total fire ban day, better still if it's a low risk day). Frodo's flyball days are well over, age and some injuries catching up with him. He used to love meeting lots of people at the expo.

Yes the cubes are great Persephone, and the cube without the light kit costs less again. But the cheap Bunnings garage lights (with the yellow tripod stand) work well with the cubes. They give a good soft light if the globes supplied are swapped over to "daylight" which cost a little bit more. And they do run quite hot so needs some extra care or just awareness, especially if dogs are being photographed in the "home studio".