DSLRUsers.com

I've been involved with photography for a long time now, ever since my teenage days. It's been an interest that has waxed and wained over the years, but ever since joining this forum 13 months ago my interest and involvement had been constant and rejuvenated, due in no small part to the excellence of the images posted by other members and the feedback I get for my own stuff.

However, it's now causing a serious financial strain. In my pursuit of all things photographic, I'm doing photographic/PS retreat next weekend at Bundanoon (NSW Sthn Highlands) that costs several hundred $$$, and now I've just finalised and paid for a 10 day photographic tour in August of the Canadian Rockies - at a cost of a hideous multiple of thousands of dollars.

AND I BLAME THIS FINANCIAL DRAIN ON THIS FORUM!

So, I'm demanding a contribution from all members, proportional to their number of posts (Birddog, cheques not acceptable) to offset my outgoings - otherwise, the kids won't eat next week.
Thank you for your attention.

Frank

Good luck with that hehehe

Frank,

So how do you think I feel?




Tell us more about the tour though, and whether you'll be stopping en route somewhere in order to stock up on a new lens or three, or a better tripod, or something.

Know that feeling.
Being a newbie, I have put 10c in the post.
Hope that helps.

Here's the link to the tour:
http://www.travelimages.com/brochurecr.html

After looking at lots of photo tour sites on the web, Travel Images looked pretty good, in terms of what's available, the cost, and the overall feel of the website... and having already had a few email conversations with John Baker, I have a good feeling about it. It wasn't my first choice from what he has available - there is a longer Californian tour later in the year that caught my eye, but as there are no sign ups for it as yet, it's still not a definite starter, and I wanted something that I could book NOW. So Canadia, here I come.

I'll only be stopping over in Vancouver on the way back, and I don't anticipate buying any extra photo gear, as I've bought a new tripod/WA lens/ PSD / macro filters within the last 6 mths, so there's really nothing left to buy, is there? (Birdog, leave it there )

Frank

hehe - understand your thoughts completely there Frank, but understand this:
There are those of us who have felt this drain for a lot longer than you, and we have been lobbying Gary to charge an entry fee to recompense us. You can imagine how much luck we've had!

On the flip side of things, you have to admit, you're probably seeing a lot more of this great world than you world otherwise have, and probably seeing it in a different (and vastly more interesting) way. I know from my own point of view, that it is this re-kindled interest in photography that has encouraged me to consider running around the countryside as I have done recently.

I, too, look forward to hearing (and seeing) the results of your upcoming escapades - enjoy, and learn. Most importantly, SEE and LIVE the world - don't just live IN it

sheepie wrote: Most importantly, SEE and LIVE the world - don't just live IN it

Couldn't agree more. My wife has a congenital travel-bug condition which infected me when we were married, and unfortunately it's passed on to the kids - they expect an overseas trip every year
But the things we've seen and experienced are priceless, and the time they've missed from school has been more than compensated by the people they've met and cultures and sights they've seen.
And the photographic images I've got (and hope to get) are a bonus.

Frank

heheh i know exactly how you feel. I bought my first DSLR in Oct 05 and from there its has been an never ending list of toys er i mean photographic necassities thats on my "to buy" list, from fast lenses, wacom tablets, L grade lenses, framing tools, matt cutters, flash, diffusers, pbase/smugmug subscription, software, computer hardware, courses, club membership fees, it goes on and on...

But I must say i love it , only wish I had a money tree in the backyard.

I'll see what I can get out of our moneybox for you.

Perhaps you'd like double what you paid to join here?

Cut out the middle man Frank. Just sue Nikon.

Frank you are not Robinson Crusoe !!!!!!

My cheque is in the mail.

Frank,

YOU owe me money!!

As a result of you posting the above link, I will be booking the European Alps + Venice tour in July 2007

.......So, you can't blame it all on the forum!

Andyt

ps when I have the final amount, currency conversion, taxes and transfers all added up, I will send you an account!

Frank,

you should have asked me to be your guide, I would have charged you less, since you are a DSLRusers forum member. I have spent many days in that part of Canada.

You will really enjoy it overthere, it has some awesome scenery. You would not be able to get anything like that in California.

Neeper is a forum member based in Calgary and he does some photography in the Rockies, Canadiens are a friendly bunch , make sure to contact him.

Looking forward to those postcard photos. BTW, you don't have to go looking for Elk along rivers and far islands, they just cruise in the middle of town in Banff and Jasper

Have fun and look out for grizzlies

cheers,

André

Andyt wrote:Frank,

YOU owe me money!!

As a result of you posting the above link, I will be booking the European Alps + Venice tour in July 2007

Are you kidding??? That's great. I missed that one on their website, and it sure looks like a great trip. Now you've got me thinking what I'll be doing around July next year - DAMN YOU!!!!!

Frank

On the bear thing:

Parks Canada wrote:In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, Parks Canada is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and photographers to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.

We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity.

Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear & grizzly bear excrement. Black bear excrement is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear excrement has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Just thought you should know

G'day,

Wow that sounds like it would be such a ball! I'm envious of the fantastic photographic opprtunities and fun you're gonna have...

I've only become interested in photography over the last 18 months or so (so I'm still a newbie, almost a virgin again ), initially as a form of stress relief from work, but I've found it's given me a deep appreciation for the wonders mother nature has provided and a new found respect for the environment... I just wish it wasn't so damn expensive, but what the heck, enjoy eh?

Workshops like that are so much fun and you know you'll be in the company of people who have similar interests...

Enjoy mate, look forward to your stories and pics when you return...

Thanks for the link too, I'm sticky nosing at what's in their schedule too

radar wrote:On the bear thing:

Parks Canada wrote:In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, Parks Canada is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and photographers to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.

We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity.

Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear & grizzly bear excrement. Black bear excrement is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear excrement has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Just thought you should know

Thanks Radar - you're so considerate. If I have a bear incident, I will have its excrement donated to this forum.

Frank (now with bells on)

radar wrote:On the bear thing:

Parks Canada wrote:In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, Parks Canada is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and photographers to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.

We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity.

Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear & grizzly bear excrement. Black bear excrement is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear excrement has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Just thought you should know

An oldie but a goldie Andre. Here's another way to tell the difference between a brown bear and a grizzly. Climb a tree. If the bear climbs it and eats you, it's a brown bear.

If the bear knocks the tree down and eats you, it's a grizzly.

CAN WE PLEASE CEASE WITH THE BEAR-EATS-PHOTOGRAPHER JOKES?

Frank (now sneezing)

How many words or phrases are left that have the word "bear" or the sound the word makes in them?

You are going to love it! You should be thanking the forum for convincing you to go. These experiences are what life is meant to be about! The Canadian rockies offer sensational scenery and wildlife. In Banff we saw wild dear just walking off the main road. Look forward to the pics when you get back! I was there in winter. The bears were hibernating.

Sounds like a great tour. I'd love to head up there.

INstead I think this year I'm planning a trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands (BC's the Galapogos). Apparantly it's one of the most untouched and protected national parks in the world, and there are some totem poles left over from Haida Gwaii. I haven't planned it yet but I really can't wait.