ConanDLloyd

I have a very nice Asus laptop that I use for my photo work.  It came highly recommended by the folks at DPReview and does a wonderful job.  However, I think I have gotten to the point where I need to get a dedicated monitor and use a color calibration device.  I say this because I carefully edited and posted some B&W winter shots a few days ago and when I asked a coupe people for feedback one comment was they looked flat.  I just viewed them at work and they do indeed look flat on my monitor here but do not look flat on my laptop.

I realized I was getting caught up in worrying if my photography was any good.  I was shooting less and less and worrying more and more about getting feedback.  I have decided to forget all that stuff and just shoot whatever pleases me at the time.  No specializations, just whatever takes my fancy.  If others like it, then great.  If no one likes it but myself, still great.  Moral of the story, don't your head get in the way of your art.

I know I only have a few followers and am very much an amateur, but I am absolutely craving feedback.  Good, bad, suggestions, complaints, anything.  If you see one of my pictures and can take a minute to tell me why it is or isn't any good, what it did or did not make you feel, or anything about it at all, please do.  i feel this is one of the main ways I can grow as a photographer.

I also launched my photoblog at conanlloydphotography.com and would love feedback there too.  It will feature many of the same photos as here but will also have descriptions of how I arrived at the print, maybe some "behind the scenes" descriptions and other ruminations of my thought process.  Please swing by!

~Conan

So far I have taken a moon shot, a stacked moon shot and a wide sky pic of Orion from my deck.  I'm hooked!

~Conan

So I need to get another lens and will have a max budget of about $750 for it.  On one hand I'm thinking of getting a "walk around" lens that does it all but i have also seen suggestions to get a 50mm prime and a separate telephoto.  Keeping in mind that I'm using a Canon Eos20D, suggestions???

Secondly, I am looking at getting a small starter lighting set so I can start  learning studio work with lights.  I will be working on portraits and still life, and am looking for low cost lighting kit suggestions.  Anyone?

~Conan