I shoot because it gives me a relieve from my constant pressure @ work.

I shoot because I learn a lot from it. I'm planning to learn enough to earn my life with photography, I'm a student.

Of course you can post a photo taken with another camera Nick! I'd love to see what you've got. You can post in the Photo A Day thread or just start a new thread with your pictures.

Glad you tried out the cameras and decided on the D700 for you. It's a very good choice. Shame you couldn't take one with you on this trip. But you'll be all set for next year!

The Nikon 24-120mm VR lens is a good start. Light weight and it'll give you the widest zoom range, but Tokina and Tamron both have some good lenses to offer as well.

Have a fun filled and safe trip Nick.

I'm back and replying to NikoDoby's nice "welcome"~
Currently I am using a "premium" P&S--a (shushhhh....) Canon SX10is. At least it has full manual capabilities but due to the build, it is really limited in terms of DOF possibilities. For my trip (I'm leaving tomorrow 5 am for a month of shooting at various National Parks), my neighbor has loaned me his Canon Rebel Xs and lens, so I do have a DSLR to take.

I have "joined" this group, because I have already decided that later this year/early next year, I will be getting me a Nikon, either a D300s or a D700x. Just this last week, I have played with various cameras, (thank you Best Buy, Georges, and Nelson Photo) and have decided on the D700 as it fits my hands much better. That is one of the current problems with my little Canon SX10; it's just too small. I can handle the weight of the D700 and I like the full frame possibilities; just hope I can get some nice lens without really breaking the bank. Have been looking at the Tokina and Tamron possibilities, but still very much undecided. I AM excited about the new D700x but am a bit concerned about an expected price increase. Nikon's poor profits (losses actually) announced very recently make me expect a goodly price increase on any new Nikon products. C'est la vie.

I am still really looking forward to shooting at the parks and am actually strongly considering signing up for a one day photo-tour with a guy from the Moab Utah region that provides private 4-wheel drive tours/lessons/advice. Should be fun. Will keep all informed and will show some of my shots. Is it ok, if I post a photo even if it was not taken with a Nikon?
Nick

Hey Technologic glad to hear that Gentoo brought you along to our side of the cyberworld. Admin, so does that mean Gentoo get's a refer-a-friend-discount on a brand new D700 purchase from your site?

BTW Technologic, I can finally stop bugging Gentoo for more of those, ahem Iron Man *wink wink*, pictures from Comic-Con now that your finally here :^)

Because my memory sucks.

Wow, well said nikyvee and Chloeanne indeed.

Glad to hear you guys enjoy photography as the rest of us here.

As nikyvee said, he does photoshoots because he enjoys it. That reminded me of when I was in high school. My friend was performing in a show, and he knew me very well, but obviously he couldn't take photos as well. He also knew I had interest in photography. That was even before I had purchased my D40. So he handed me his D50 with a SB600 and told me to do what I wanted with it. I went to the rehearsal to shoot to get the hang of where everyone was going to be and then I went to the main show. The pictures came out great, and afterwards he displayed the photos on Facebook and everything, and all the performers had thanked me for my work. I wasn't paid for it either, but I enjoyed the fact that my work was appreciated, and that's all that mattered in the end.

niko - You know that You are most welcome in my place, as we have this saying in poland, a guest in the house is like a God in the house

chloe - if that is Your dream just go for it, let nothing stop You from doing what You like, especially when You are still Young and have the ability to put Yourself on the right track

I agree, I did put it well :)

Well said Chloeanne, sniff, sniff, group hug everyone, group hug!

1-2-3, PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!

Hmm, i'm gonna try something new, and put my input on here.

My resoning, art is a big deal to me, drawing wise I suck, painting wise I just have fun messing around, but photography gives you more, it gives me insperation, it's relaxing and gives you a since of pride in what you take. And being proud of something feels great, am I right? It just lets you get away, when i'm shooting, thats all i'm thinking about. Now, it would be rediculous to spend so much money for no reason. But, if you enjoy and, and it makes you feel good, and you have a great time doing it, then it's worth it. If I got better, and was older, being paid would be great, I haven't reached that dream yet, It would be great don't get me wrong, but as of now, i'm just having fun, enjoying something, having something thats mine, that I did, that I can feel good about. And like NikoDoby said, I have met some pretty awesome people this way.

Adamz looks like you, willis, monty11, and I need to meet for a friendly competition 8^*

I'm sure I can speak for all the gang here at Nikonrumors forum in welcoming you on board Nikyvee. Great to hear that your enjoying your photography because that's what it's all about.

You didn't say what you currently shoot with, but if you already have DX lenses then definitely go for the new D300S. Unless you still have your old 35mm lenses then go get a D700 now and take it with you on your trip. Even if there really is a D700S, it wont be out until maybe the end of the year so think about all the pictures you'll be missing out on.

Although it's a bit heavier you'll love the bigger brighter full frame viewfinder. Plus it handles more like a film camera. But the D300S would be a great camera for you as well and having video would really make your pictures "come alive" ;^)

Goodluck, with whichever you decide to get and thanks for posting. Be sure to post your pictures when you get back!
I look forward to reading more about your adventures 8^)

This was a very interesting thread for me; a newby to NikonRumor Forum. In fact, this is my first post. To fill you in a bit, I used to shoot Nikon film SLRs back in the '60 and '70s, then my eyes went bad and I just couldn't focus. As a result I totally dropped out of photography. Now, almost 70, I a getting back into photography with the wonderful autofocus. And so much more. But why should I shoot? When folks don't pay me, they don't ask for my photos...usually, and my photos aren't so great?

I just LOVE it. Getting that good shot. Being able to SEE right away what I've got and then putting it on a computer. I have joined a couple of photo clubs and am loving getting out with others at various events. I now make a practice of taking shots of .... just people... and then asking for their email address and sending the good shots to them. They appreciate it and it makes taking their pict just a bit easier. As a result, I was asked to shoot photos at a Charity Art Auction, and I did it for free. Just for the fun of it. I guess I wasn't too bad at it, as I have been asked to do again for a different event.

I did take a beginners photoshop course and learned a bunch (still have MUCH to learn) but I'm started with some post-production work. And now, I am turning to making prints and loving that. My wife, who still works as a college professor, has been enjoying my photos and has appreciated me having a renewed enthusiasm for the activity. I am debating about whether to buy one of the new D300s or the expected revised D700s; lots of $$ for a not even skilled amateur. But I know that I have advanced to the point that I CAN use the features provided by those cameras and that I WILL use them. Even if only for me to load on my Epson viewer, my laptop, and soon on to a little website somewhere.

I hope you all don't mind me jumping in here, but the topic seemed really relevant to me at this time. I will be a regular attendee at these meetings in the future. Oh, I am leaving on 6 Aug for a month of shooting pictures at various National Parks from San Diego, CA to Glacier National Park in Montana. Can't wait.

Nick Vanmatre (Nikyvee)

Niko - You know that there are at least to guys with slavic blood in them (100% in my case, most likely the same in Monty's case), so don't speak about out drinking :)

Ok Willis, next time I'm in the Austin area I'm looking you up and your buying, but be warned that I'm half Irish and I can out drink 10 sailors 8^)

In some ways, I get what you guys are saying. When I put out all my effort into taking a photo, and know that I nailed the photo, I am extremely happy. It's especially fun with film- just finished two rolls, and the pictures I took were exactly as I expected. It is as if I had total control of the moment, and that makes me real happy.

Willis:
Very good answer.

@ Niko - I'll hang out with just about anything that can drink a beer. :)

I shoot because it allows me to make the pedestrian interesting again. I love the way cameras allow us to see the world in ways that our eyes don't. When I point my 11mm Tokina at something I've seen 1000 times, it looks completely different. When I shoot at long exposures, I can see lights that I never knew were there. Or I can position my camera above or below eye level to see the world from the point of view of a NBA basketball player, or a young child.

I shoot to transform.

I mainly shoot because I can :) I've taken up the challenge of taking concert photos way back in 2001 when I just got my CP995 and it evolved ever since. I don't or hardly ever get paid for my pictures but they do end up all over the internet, on cd/dvd's and in printing. I personally don't care too much about being paid for my photos because I have a great job that pays for all the bills. My main goal is to give all those who are interested a chance to relive the moments. A smile, a compliment and better even publication at some official place has been reward enough for me.

Do I expect the future generations to look at my pictures? Mmmm at least not all of them unless some of the artists I shoot get really famous and die ;)There is just no way people can ever keep up watching my stuff unless tehy are willing to have a very long sit. By now I have over 300,000 photos of concerts in stock (yes they are all in focus and good enough to keep) but my harddisks are patient.

Had to go through a lot of folders to actually find the photos for my upcoming exposition, hard to go through the pics eventhough I know where to get what shot. It took me over 10 hours to find all the pics so at least I'm still looking at them from time to time ;)

I'm also in it for the process and the feeling of accomplishment when you get that shot that makes even yourself go WOW. I've been fascinated by beautiful photos for for as long as I can remember and now I can't tear myself away from my camera ... well I guess I will be able to tear myself away from it once I upgrade :)

Hear, hear Robert! Thanks for sharing.

I guess I just can't get out of the habit. I usually carry my camera everywhere. A older gentlemen asked me the other day why I had my camera all the time. I told him it won't let me out of the house unless I take it. He looked at me like a calf looking at a new gate.

I shot photograps for 40 years as a living and just can't seem to break the cycle. I've owned just about every kind and make of cameras over my 40 years...Nikons, Canons, Leicas, Hasselblads, Sinars, Bronicas, most of which I have sold or traded. That I regret.
I remember purchasing my first Hasselblad 500C in 1970 for $500. That included the body, 80mm Planar and A12 back. Today that same 500C goes for over $1500 in good shape. I don't think I'll ever own a Haselblad H3DII-50...50MP at $30,000.00.
http://www.hasselbladusa.com/products/h-system/h3dii-50.aspx
My, how things have changed.

I shoot because I really enjoy it. Now, I can photograph what I want, not what people pay me to shoot. My wife has never really wanted to shoot, until the advent of digital. Now she enjoys shooting with her D40, it's something we both can enjoy together.

Do I go back and look at my pictures? ...ya betcha! I have two, 1TB external drives that I have as a redundant backup for all images. I use ACDSee Pro as the managing software.

Do I expect your future generations to sit down and look through your images? I could care less. They are there for those who care to. I shoot for me.
I imagine that image storage on HD's will become a thing of the past soon. Most everything is going to chips. It won't be long before 1TB chips will be within reach. I remember when the first 1GB HD came out...$1,000 is what it cost.

I've seen many changes in the art during my 70 years, when I saw my first Kodak box camera at the age of nine. When I realized that a piece or moment of time, could be frozen and kept, I was hooked. It's been a magnificent journey. I wish as much pleasure to everyone who picks up a camera.

I suppose my photo library is like a treasure chest. The trouble is it takes up a lot of space!

But don't get me wrong. Nothing's going to stop me from doing what I'm doing. Whether everyone else wants to see my pictures or not, I'm STILL going to be having fun and gaining experience.

I'll try out the photo-a-day thread—I often visit it but I have never actually posted anything.

@NikoDoby: I got your message, thanks for visiting my site!

NikoDoby has finally numbered us all curious minds who like capturing those moments in time of our world that would otherwise be lost like the tears in the rain, as someone said.