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I wasn’t sure I’d have anything for this one, but I thought it sounded fun. I mentioned it to Hubby and he suggested something like a chess board with the kings missing. I then thought of later a carton of eggs with one or two missing or something like that. Another thought that just hit me is if anyone has Jenga, could do something with those I think. Not sure if it’s allowed or anything, but a spot on a store shelf where they’re out of something perhaps.

Obvious I can do. Not so obvious, I’m not so good at, but can use practice. We’ll see how it works out anyway.

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I’m also amazed at the entries in this contest. Mine feel paltry and pathetic at this point, but it’s the best I can do with what I have. My best shots are outside, or lots of ambient light, but I’m trying and learning anyway. Plans for new (or new to me) camera are on hold since we had to get a vehicle (a loan to make that possible, actually), and to top *that* off, my company announced today they’re filing for bankruptcy and are being bought by our #1 competitor unless someone else makes a bid on us (Google Spheris for more information).

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I guess I never added in my congrats sentiments here. Thought I did. Well, it’s belated, but add my congrats! to the pile! I’m always looking for something new to read, so I’ll add this to my list of reading material.

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Wondering if anything is going to or has come of this. (not trying to be insensitive or anything)

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I’m taking my chances as well. I had a couple of ideas early on, but couldn’t figure out how they would work or fit the definition. I might replace one of my 3 with one of my earlier ideas based on what I see.

For one of my definite shots tonight, I made use of the fact that my 3-year-old is making some strange shapes/designs with his Tinkertoys.

I just took about an hour or so snapping extra shots hoping to get something I was satisfied with (my ideas that I didn’t get to photographing earlier). They’re okay and I think they work, but I definitely have to get back to work. I get out around 2 or so a.m. (I flex my schedule, a perk of working from home) so I’ll be posting, when I’m done with work.

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I plunged in and posted 2. I didn’t want to have too many flowers flooding the screen. Of the ones w/o family, flowers are my favorites, not sure why since I have no green thumb and am not inclined toward such things whatsoever.

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I really wanted in on this one, but have zip to use. I remembered that there were some possible sunset/sunrise pictures from when I was in Alaska in 2003, but when I looked at them I was less than enthused. Also wasn’t able to get out or find a good spot for a sunset picture (not a sunrise person). Beautiful shots, and I’m impressed with all the entries!

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http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/01/20/Prize-winning-picture-used-rented-wolf/UPI-73821264034485/

Posted on Fark today, the guy rented the wolf for the shot. Granted, it’s a neat shot, but he was stripped of the title and forced to give back the prize money. Thought I’d give an update. When I saw the link, I was hoping it wasn’t this picture because I liked it so much, but it was.

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The only thing I’m worried about as far as distance shooting is concerned, is sitting back and watching my kid(s) play in the yard, or trying to get a shot of Mt. Katahdin (we have a couple of GORGEOUS spots to shoot from). I like taking closer shots myself (close-ups of flowers, mostly) and I figure being in the house should be fine (small house anyway). I noticed on my current crappy Kodak, it says the lens is 34-102mm, so with an 18-55 will I be able to shoot out in the yard as well, or will I have to get into the action and/or buy another lens to capture that stuff better? If yes on a second lens, that will be a later purchase (perhaps birthday if I’m lucky).

We discovered that Olympus has a propriety storage system thing, so we couldn’t use the SD cards we have (a HUGE downside) so it’s apparently up to Nikon and Canon. I wish Minolta still made cameras because my Dad’s done some really cool stuff with his camera, and it’s been around for a WHILE. I almost want to steal his, but long-term use of film is out of the question.

A while back when I surfed NewEgg for cameras there was a pretty good combo deal on a couple of Canon cameras I think that included another lens for a decent discount, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. I’m hoping there will be something else soon. That open box Nikon is looking pretty good. I’ll keep in mind about the auto focus versus manual focus with the different Nikon lenses. It looks like Amazon might have some good deals, too, or at least some good discounts. We’ll see how it plays out.

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We did get a chance to hold some at Best Buy I think it was some time ago. We didn’t find an Olympus, but there were some Canons and Nikons. I forget which one, but Hubby said one looked better or felt better in my hand, and it was different for him because his hands are bigger. I have small hands (for anyone who gets this reference, I can only reach an octave on a piano), so for me buttons closer together isn’t a big deal. They both felt similar to me so I guess it doesn’t matter. I will see if we can pop in at a photo place or something when we’re next down in Bangor to get a better feel for them. That’s the best I’m going to be able to do (Bangor).

I made sure to check it would seem all EF and EF-S lenses work with the Rebel, and all Olympus lenses work with any Olympus model, so it seems to be the same for any brand like that. I also noticed on NewEgg there’s a Tamron brand of lenses, and some are compatible with Nikon, others with Canon, so we’ll see.

I made Hubby look at this earlier: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830113222R (the open box one) and he said we’ll consider it. He worried about the 18-55 mm lens, something about it being more of a macro lens than anything, so I’ll see if we can’t squeeze a lens to go with it, but I’m not counting on it. About that type of lens seems to be what’s in the kits that I looked at.

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I asked Husband about the price range we were looking at and he said $300-400, so I looked at the suggestions. I realized (after it was pointed out) that for another hundred or so we could get the entry level DSLR with a kit lens if we bought a Nikon D40 or an Olympus or something like that. The Canon EOS Rebel starts at like 570, or there’s the used for 250 at B&H, if we get the one with a kit lens and it’s still there when the tax return comes in (filed yesterday and accepted).

I checked at NewEgg and Canon, Nikon and Olympus are the only brands I really recognize there so I’d be willing to stick with one of those 3. There’s an open box Nikon D3000 for about 400. The D40, however, was out of stock and on auto-notify, not sure when it will be in. A new Canon was still in the 500s for a Rebel, but about 50 or so less than what Canon was offering directly, so I’d probably go there if we chose that. I told my husband to pick what he would be comfortable with (he’s done some photography before, but not since his camera was pawned by his ex for a stupidly little amount of money and he didn’t give permission for that), so he’s left it up to me with the camera we were given at Kiddo #1’s baby shower. He hates that camera, so I’d like this next one to be something we can both use. I guess I figure if we do the DSLR now then we can add lenses later to round it out, not to mention filters which I have thus far been unable to use.

Thanks for the suggestions. We’ll probably look at the options in closer detail in the next few days to see exactly which one we’d get and have a firmer idea of what to get when the money does come in. I’m excited, but at the same time, I know a couple of things have to happen with the tax return first before the camera can be purchased (like car repair), and I also don’t want to go too wild and crazy (so easy to do).

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I posted a picture in the other (Themes area) thread asking if it would be okay. Any chance I can get a yay/nay on that? I’m thinking smaller scale since I doubt I’ll be able to get the people I have around in on it. Thanks. (and a welcome back from me, too)

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One of SilverStag’s pictures got sent into the ether. 2009-11-04 08:05:35 PM

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So many double rainbows. Makes me wonder if they’re common, yet I don’t see them.

/Been a while since I’ve actually seen a rainbow in person though.
//I do make it a point to take my camera with me everywhere I can though.

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Much better!

Thank you. I’m feeling better about this now.

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