Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=960405&Start=1&Artist=TomDart&ByArtist=Yes

Dear Photography Forum Friends,

This is posted for one primary reason: To encourage those photographers out there who cannot afford and do not have the "best of the best" cameras, 35mm or digital, who shoot pictures because they love to do it. I am among the "cannot afford" group.

Yes, better equipment means technically better images from the quality of image point of view. This does not mean the best image for others to see nor does it mean the best in artistic value, to you or to others.

As I recall from a recent post, the wonderful photographer of macros, Enmos, uses a non-SLR Nikon digital for the macros. Hummmm...there is hope here! See the Enmos images and you might agree.

I am for fostering in me and in others the desire for good, better and fine photography. It is easy to start to believe that the "equipment wars" or the perceived need for better and more expensive cameras means better images.

Please draw the line somewhere! My dentist can take an image and make my teeth look wondeful in his imaging methods of what "may be done" but these are not the images you want to see. His images are techinically correct, for certain...lacking totally in what makes a good photograph for public viewing and artistic merit. His images are not intended for either artistic merit or public viewing.

So, whether you use 35mm, DSLR, point and shoot digital with manual overrides...take heart. There are those here like me who are behind you.

Note, I am not very good at photography compared to the really good ones you see on 'rosity with a few looks through the galleries. Then again, my good stuff is not bad and some is really nice. This started with a digital camera from my ISP as a giveaway, about the quality of a cellphone photo. Then to an old Minolta DiImage F100 to a Nikon D70...still not pro level at all but nice.

A brief history of a father who had a darkroom in the basement and tri-x film, rangefinder cameras and decent ones...that was the real start revived in my later years.

Take heart. We are good folks for the most part and encourage everyone who tries. That encouragement from others has meant the world to me. It will mean the same to you, at any level of photography, in receiving and in giving.

Attached is a link to one image of mine I like, not great but fun and not too bad either. I post this just to say that a couple of years ago this image would have been impossible for me. Now, it is not impossible but better is in the works.... ; )

Speak as you might on this late night thought. Some folks out there need the encouragement and the advice to keep it in focus! Thanks for hearing these ramblings. TomDart.

Message edited on: 06/15/2005 22:16