APG-Angus
31st of March 2006 (Fri), 11:18
Hello everyone. First I want to say this is a great place and a wonderful resource! I have been reading threads here for quite some time but
only signed up about a week ago.
Next, I should tell you all something about myself and what brought me here.
User name "APG-Angus", this is simply an online persona that I have used for nearly 10 years, ok 7 years. It is from online gaming starting
with WWW.APGaming.com (http://www.APGaming.com) and now I just use it everywhere on the web. I still game with the same bunch of people but it seems less and less each
year.
Real name is Richard, I am 43 years old, married with 3 kids ages 8-14. I live in the beautiful state of Vermont, USA. I will answer to Rich
or Angus.
My interest in photography comes first, from my love of art. I have an uncle who is a successful painter living in Maine, his influence was
probably the most significant though there are many in my family with artistic ability. At an early age I developed a love of sketching and
drawing. Early adulthood brought on different interests and hobbies and the sketch pad was put aside for cars, girls and beer. After I was
married and had purchased our first home, my interest in science and art came together in amateur astronomy which lead to astro-photography
and the purchase of my first film SLR, an Olympus I think. There were so many variables to consider and the learning curve was too steep and
too slow since I did not have darkroom experience nor a endless supply of money. Vermont is beautiful but not the easiest to be a backyard
astronomer. It is either too damn cold or you are being eaten alive by mosquitoes, there are perhaps 2 months total where viewing is good and
weather is nice without insects. I put the camera away and took up the sketch pad again, sketching the planets and a few deep space objects.
Astronomy gave way to computers and gaming until the advent of the digital camera. My first was a simple, used 1MP Kodak that my wife picked
up for me from a friend who was upgrading, 3MP was the best of the best then. I loved the thing, it allowed my to share photos online with
friends without the hassle of shipping out film and hoping I didn't screw up. The images were small and very fuzzy but at least it was an
image. I soon realized that I needed something better, afterall I had a 19" Sony Flat panel monitor and this made the flaws of the camera
very obvious. I researched online and saved my money. Last summer I bought the Canon 20D with the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S), I loved
it! I borrowed a 10 year old 80-200mm f/5.6 EF from my dad that gave me a little more reach and a few more options but was limited to fairly
well lit areas but small enough to allow the built in flash to work.
Now, armed with a digital SLR I dusted off the telescope and was simply amazed with the moon all over again, then came Mars, Saturn and
looking ahead to Jupiter in June. Again the weather of Vermont comes into play, its cloudy here alot! Also, astronomy usually takes place at
night, I work a regular job and need to sleep, so I found myself wanting to use this wonderful instrument during the daytime hours when I am
awake. So I purchased my first piece of L glass as a Christmas present to myself, I wanted to start out with something for mostly landscapes
and small groups of people. I chose the fairly inexpensive Super Wide Angle EF 17-40mm f/4L USM for under $700 this was a bargain. This has
been a great improvement over the kit lens. The one problem was it revealed the short comings of the borrowed 80-200mm, but that upgrade
would have to wait, I needed a flash for the indoor shots, got the 580EX. I love it. Now I am afraid of becoming just one of those people
that think better equipment will mean better pictures, I don't have enough money for that...Though I have reached the technical limits of
some equipment I have and was able to replace it. About 3 weeks ago I got my second L glass, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, with that I believe I
have entered dangerous territory, so I bought a new sketch pad and make sure to, at the very least, doodle once a week. The kids love it
cause I give the sketches to them.
I learned last night that I have become quite famous in my son's third grade class, for both my sketches and my photographs, its a start but
third graders are easy to impress. Soon I will submit some pictures here so that I can get a dose of reality.
I am not looking to become a professional, though paying for equipment would be cool. I am looking for help with the technical aspects of
photography, especially post-processing. Right now, my large-fine jpegs look way better than my processed RAW's.
As you can tell, if you read this far, that I can ramble on, so let me end this with a list of equipment and say if you are still reading you
deserve either a MEDAL or a Life!
Currently in bag:
Canon 20D w/ 18-55mm Lens
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM AF
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM AF
Speedlite 580EX
assorted 77mm filters
Quataray tripod (crappy)
Tamrac adventure 75 backpack (great but going to be too small)
Current wish list:
BG-E2 Battery Grip
Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3
good tripod, need suggestions...
Astronomy gear:
Meade 8"SCT (f/10, 2000mm)
f/6.3 focal reducer
assorted eyepieces, extention tubes, camera adapters, etc.
big-ass tripod with equatorial wedge
only signed up about a week ago.
Next, I should tell you all something about myself and what brought me here.
User name "APG-Angus", this is simply an online persona that I have used for nearly 10 years, ok 7 years. It is from online gaming starting
with WWW.APGaming.com (http://www.APGaming.com) and now I just use it everywhere on the web. I still game with the same bunch of people but it seems less and less each
year.
Real name is Richard, I am 43 years old, married with 3 kids ages 8-14. I live in the beautiful state of Vermont, USA. I will answer to Rich
or Angus.
My interest in photography comes first, from my love of art. I have an uncle who is a successful painter living in Maine, his influence was
probably the most significant though there are many in my family with artistic ability. At an early age I developed a love of sketching and
drawing. Early adulthood brought on different interests and hobbies and the sketch pad was put aside for cars, girls and beer. After I was
married and had purchased our first home, my interest in science and art came together in amateur astronomy which lead to astro-photography
and the purchase of my first film SLR, an Olympus I think. There were so many variables to consider and the learning curve was too steep and
too slow since I did not have darkroom experience nor a endless supply of money. Vermont is beautiful but not the easiest to be a backyard
astronomer. It is either too damn cold or you are being eaten alive by mosquitoes, there are perhaps 2 months total where viewing is good and
weather is nice without insects. I put the camera away and took up the sketch pad again, sketching the planets and a few deep space objects.
Astronomy gave way to computers and gaming until the advent of the digital camera. My first was a simple, used 1MP Kodak that my wife picked
up for me from a friend who was upgrading, 3MP was the best of the best then. I loved the thing, it allowed my to share photos online with
friends without the hassle of shipping out film and hoping I didn't screw up. The images were small and very fuzzy but at least it was an
image. I soon realized that I needed something better, afterall I had a 19" Sony Flat panel monitor and this made the flaws of the camera
very obvious. I researched online and saved my money. Last summer I bought the Canon 20D with the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S), I loved
it! I borrowed a 10 year old 80-200mm f/5.6 EF from my dad that gave me a little more reach and a few more options but was limited to fairly
well lit areas but small enough to allow the built in flash to work.
Now, armed with a digital SLR I dusted off the telescope and was simply amazed with the moon all over again, then came Mars, Saturn and
looking ahead to Jupiter in June. Again the weather of Vermont comes into play, its cloudy here alot! Also, astronomy usually takes place at
night, I work a regular job and need to sleep, so I found myself wanting to use this wonderful instrument during the daytime hours when I am
awake. So I purchased my first piece of L glass as a Christmas present to myself, I wanted to start out with something for mostly landscapes
and small groups of people. I chose the fairly inexpensive Super Wide Angle EF 17-40mm f/4L USM for under $700 this was a bargain. This has
been a great improvement over the kit lens. The one problem was it revealed the short comings of the borrowed 80-200mm, but that upgrade
would have to wait, I needed a flash for the indoor shots, got the 580EX. I love it. Now I am afraid of becoming just one of those people
that think better equipment will mean better pictures, I don't have enough money for that...Though I have reached the technical limits of
some equipment I have and was able to replace it. About 3 weeks ago I got my second L glass, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, with that I believe I
have entered dangerous territory, so I bought a new sketch pad and make sure to, at the very least, doodle once a week. The kids love it
cause I give the sketches to them.
I learned last night that I have become quite famous in my son's third grade class, for both my sketches and my photographs, its a start but
third graders are easy to impress. Soon I will submit some pictures here so that I can get a dose of reality.
I am not looking to become a professional, though paying for equipment would be cool. I am looking for help with the technical aspects of
photography, especially post-processing. Right now, my large-fine jpegs look way better than my processed RAW's.
As you can tell, if you read this far, that I can ramble on, so let me end this with a list of equipment and say if you are still reading you
deserve either a MEDAL or a Life!
Currently in bag:
Canon 20D w/ 18-55mm Lens
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM AF
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM AF
Speedlite 580EX
assorted 77mm filters
Quataray tripod (crappy)
Tamrac adventure 75 backpack (great but going to be too small)
Current wish list:
BG-E2 Battery Grip
Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3
good tripod, need suggestions...
Astronomy gear:
Meade 8"SCT (f/10, 2000mm)
f/6.3 focal reducer
assorted eyepieces, extention tubes, camera adapters, etc.
big-ass tripod with equatorial wedge