Hi from Gold Coast, Australia

[kezmal]

I thought it was about time to introduce myself, I've been lurking ever since my husband Mal aka GoldCoastGolfer joined. My name is Kerry, I live with my Husband and three children on the Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia. I've always had a love for taking photos, and feel that my artistic side gives me a good eye for photography. Its the technical side of photography that stumps me! So I'm hoping to learn a lot from this site.

[Markvetnz]

Welcome. I'm sure you will find everyone keen to help where they can.

[FrankMi]

Welcome to CiC, Kerry!

If you go to Forum Actions, above, and update your profile with your name and general location, I won't have to go looking for this thread to find your name when I respond to the beautiful pictures you are planning to post!

[jprzybyla]

Hello Kerry, welcome aboard. This forum has helped me improve as a photographer new to digital photography, I am sure you will find the members and advice helpful to you also.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Kerry,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me too, great to have another family member join.

Could you refresh my memory regarding what you're shooting with please?

Thanks,

[Rob Douglas]

Welcome aboard Kerry.

[kezmal]

Hi Kerry,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me too, great to have another family member join.

Could you refresh my memory regarding what you're shooting with please?

Thanks,

Hi Dave, currently shooting with a Panasonic Lumix 635Z however Santa has bought me a new one for Christmas, all I know is that its a Nikon, he wont tell me anything else His lips are sealed, and no amount of bribing will get him to fess up. Have to say I havnt been too fond on the Panasonic, much preferred my old Fuji Finepix 602Z which has now been handed down to my eldest son.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Hi Dave, currently shooting with a Panasonic Lumix 635Z however Santa has bought me a new one for Christmas, all I know is that its a Nikon, he wont tell me anything else His lips are sealed, and no amount of bribing will get him to fess up. Have to say I havnt been too fond on the Panasonic, much preferred my old Fuji Finepix 602Z which has now been handed down to my eldest son.

The clues are hidden in this forum somewhere

I thought the middle son got the Fuji

[Dave Humphries]

The clues are hidden in this forum somewhere

Ah, good job I didn't say, "Are you the wife with the Nikon D....?"

Might have spoiled the surprise

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Ah, good job I didn't say, "Are you the wife with the Nikon D....?"

Might have spoiled the surprise

Yes - thanks for that

Now that Kerry's joined I might not be allowed to post anymore contraversial photos either!

[Dave Humphries]

Now that Kerry's joined I might not be allowed to post anymore contraversial photos either!

Or Kerry might of you

(no offence, but I know which I'd prefer already)

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Or Kerry might of you

(no offence, but I know which I'd prefer already)

You and everyone else!

[kezmal]

Ah, good job I didn't say, "Are you the wife with the Nikon D....?"

Might have spoiled the surprise

Mal has said I can open my pressie early, but I'll be a good girl and wait till Christmas

Then, I can be the one stalking my partner in every little thing he does I tell you sometimes I forget what he looks like, his face is behind his Camera every minute of the day LOL.

[rpcrowe]

Hi and Welcome Kerry,

You posted, "I've always had a love for taking photos, and feel that my artistic side gives me a good eye for photography. Its the technical side of photography that stumps me!"

Obviously, the best of both worlds is having artistic talent combined with enough technical expertise to get well exposed and well focused images. However the artistic side of photography is the most important and one that cannot easily be learned.

IMO, a photographer who has an "eye" for imagery and is shooting in the Programmed Mode (I never recommend having your camera in the Auto Mode) and with autofocus will achieve better imagery than the technically expert photographer who is lacking in artistic ability.

The great aspects of digital photography is that you can shoot multiple variations of any shot without the worry about cost, have instant feedback and also have a record of how you shot each image.

I recommend that you peruse your owner's manual from cover to cover and make notes about the things you find confusing. Access the tutorials that are listed above which also contain some excellent information. Finally, I might suggest that you obtain a supplementary guide book for your specific camera. The owner's manual will tell you HOW to adjust your camera's parameters but the owner's manuals are often lacking in giving you any in-depth reason for WHY you are making the adjustments to the parameters...

We will not know which camera you have until old St. Nick or Santa delivers it to you. However here is a selection of Nikon supplementary guides...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ikon&x=12&y=12

I personally don't like the "Guides for Dummies" (although some people enjoy the way information is presented in these books) but, "Magic Lantern Guides", "Digital Field Guides", "Snapshots to Great Shots" or the David Bush books are all great for my Canon cameras and I would assume that they would also be helpful to new Nikon owners.

Remember also, we are always here to assist you in any way we can. Don't ever be worried about asking even the simplest questions. We all began where you are...

[kezmal]

Thanks so much Richard. I'm not sure my family will see much of me Christmas Day or how the turkey will get baked, I'll have my nose in the camera manual. On a different matter would love to see a pic of Holly your Goldendoodle, here in Aus we call then Groodle's, we have a Golden Retriever, and poor him always has a camera in his face, I cant get enough of those beautiful big brown eyes.

[rpcrowe]

Kerry,

Your wish is my command...

Here is Holly:



Holly has her own gallery at:

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Pets/Holl...55061604_wrj4H

The rest of my galleries can be found at:

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/

I love all dogs but have a special place in my heart for Golden Retrievers and Doodles.

[kezmal]

Oh Richard, thank you so much for sharing. Holly is beautiful I also love all dogs, but there is just something special about Retrievers. Our old boy 'Brinkley' is slowing down now, but he tries with all his might to keep up with the kids. He's such a loyal dog and so gentle.

[JPS]

Hi Kerry,
welcome to CiC.

[PhotoRob]

Real nice Richard...