Hello Everyone,
I've been lurking here for hours on end for a little over a month. First and foremost, the members here are great! This is a fantastic web-site and I look forward to gleening more information and contributing down the road.
My background in photography has been very limited. I used a Rebel G for about 3 years mounted on a helmet for air-to-air camera work in skydiving with a Sigma 24mm fixed lens. As embarrasing as it is to say, I pretty much kept it on the same settings the entire time, and never really learned much about true photography. (I was shooting video and stills for tandem skydives) I've been dying to get into photography for real, and the time has finally come in my life where I have the time to do it right. POTN has been an extremely valuable resource in helping me determine what to buy, where to start, and where to go from there.
I've done my homework, and here is what I think will work for me:
I've been in Iraq for quite awhile and will be coming home in late May. I'd love to wait for the 40D, but why let another summer (or more) go by? So I am going to purchase a 30D once I get home. Besides, the 30D is an awesome camera and will accomodate everything that I need (and more).
I am going to start out with 2 lenses. A 50mm 1.4 and either the 24-70L 2.8 or the 24-105L IS F4. Don't worry, I'm not going to ask which one is better. I'm going to wait until I can get home and feel them both on the 30D and then make a decision from there.
Already waiting for me at home is Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and "Learning to See Creatively". I have a lot to learn.
I'm also understanding of the fact that great pictures are a learned skill, and not something you can purchase with expensive glass.
I look forward to sharing many more posts with you guys and gals -- it's going to be a fun ride!
Bryan
