Photography Forum

As some of you know, I have been a hobbyist photographer for a long time. I guess about 15 years now. I mainly do photography for my own enjoyment, and have never really pursued getting published or making money. In fact I have only sent one contact sheet of photographs to a magazine and that was Ducks Unlimited. I ended up selling a few small thumbnails to them. I think when you do something that you enjoy and then you try to make money at it, it becomes less enjoyable. So for me, I shoot photography when I feel like I'm in the mood to shoot. I have sold quite a few prints over the years but mainly just on a here and there basis.

Some background on my photography. I started with a Nikon film camera and eventually moved to DSLR (Digital SLR) with a lower end Nikon (all I could afford). Got some great shots with that camera using my favorite film lens, a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8. Not an ideal "birding" lens, but talk about gorgeous quality. When I got into DSLR, I really got the photography bug because I didn't have to buy film! I could see my images immediately and it was awesome. I could shoot with hundreds of different settings and not worry about breaking my wallet. Obviously once I got used to the digital camera, my actual photographing ability surpassed what the camera was capable of. I saved up a lot of money to purchase a setup that could work with my ability. I ended up switching brands to Canon and the 20D semi-pro camera. I sold all of my Nikon gear (I regret this horribly) and purchased a Canon 400mm f/5.6 lens. I got some amazing photographs of wildlife with this setup. In fact I literally shot that camera to hell. I took it in the marsh, on the bay and even crawled through mud with it to get shots of Pintails. In just a few years I ended up doing some fatal damage to the camera through my excursions and before long, I had a useless camera body and a great lens. So came the need for a new camera - again.

This time I pulled a Britany spears and "Did it again". I switched brands back to Nikon! I sold all of my Canon equipment, including the camera body to a guy who was going to spend the money to get it repaired. I purchased a Nikon D700 camera, which in all reality is far more capable than the Canon 20D was. The problem is I have been stuck with sub-par lenses since I sold my 80-200 a few years ago! This Nikon D7000 really takes amazing photographs, even using the cheap 18-105mm lens that I have. It is just not a "wildlife" setup right now. I am looking toward purchasing a dynamite wildlife lens from Nikon that should knock the socks off the Canon lens I had before. The only problem is, at $3,500, she is not a cheap lens! So for the time being, I am kind of at a standstill with my wildlife photography. I feel terrible too, because my online website and gallery has been stale for over a year now with nothing new to show. Of course I have taken some great family photos with my new Nikon and I'm extremely pleased with this camera. Just need that long lens!

So here is a sample of some of the work I've done over the years. Some photos taken with Nikon, some with Canon. Regardless of the equipment, some fine images can be had with a little knowledge and practice. In the future I may start a monthly photography column here on the forum for those who are new to photography and learning the ropes.

If you like what you see here and would like to see some more of my work, you can go to www.davidwelsh.smugmug.com and have fun looking through the galleries.

Davey
I have got a nikon F 65 body brand new still in its box, plus a nikon zoom nikkor lence 70-3001/4-f/5.6g plus jessops autofocus electronic flash,
All this stuff are brand new still in there box,s but my faverit film camera is a Minolta Dynax 3xi with a AF 35-80 /4.56 plus a 200 zoom lence as well.

Post them pics you took of the pups today

Stevey Welsh wrote:Post them pics you took of the pups today

I gotta get them off the camera. Not sure how they turned out yet.

Those are some incredible images.

I usually always have my D80 just in case. Currently, my dog is my favorite subject.

Great stuff Dave. If I had to pick one I would say that the 2nd pintail is my favorite.

Davey I have the almost same pix of that 2nd one. Took it about 3 years ago in rockland lae hiking around it.

Rick

Great pics. I just got a canon T2i this fall. Both for family pics and outdoor stuff. Got a cheap 300 zoom w/ it to get started. Kinda in the same boat as you. Need a nicer lense for the waterfowl shots but dont want to drop the $$ right now. Hopefully I'll be able to squirell some money away before fall and get a decent lense before next duck season. Luke