A Word about Equipment

In case you’re interested in what camera and computer equipment I own, here’s a list of what I’m currently using:

Camera: Canon EOS 30D (3-years old)

Lenses: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

Computers: Toshiba Satellite M35X Laptop (5-years old)

Gateway 700X Desktop (7-years old)

w/ HP 2159m Monitor (Recent replacement)

Software: Canon Digital Photo Professional

Adobe Photoshop 7

Here’s a list of camera and computer upgrades and additional lenses I’d like to be using someday:

Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II or Canon EOS 7D

Lenses: Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Canon Extender EF 2x II

Computer: Apple 24” iMac

Software: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Rationale for upgrades:

The Canon 30D is an 8.2 megapixel camera, and even though it’s not quite 3-years old, it’s already getting outdated in this age of 18 – 24 megapixel cameras.

As you can see, I have a range gap between the 17-40mm and 70-200mm lenses that needs to be filled. Also, I’d like to get more into macro-photography.

My computer equipment is also showing its age when it comes to processing power and speed. I’ve been keeping an eye on the iMac line for awhile. I think it may be time to “come over from the dark side”, as the Mac-enthusiasts say. As of this post, there are pretty solid rumors of an update to the iMac line in the near future, so I’m waiting to see what improvements that will include.

I use the Canon DPP software to do all of my basic digital post-processing (e.g. color, brightness, saturation, cropping, etc.), and I use Photoshop 7 for more advanced manipulations. I’m no expert, but I’d like to move up to CS4 to start developing more advanced processing skills, like HDR processing.

NEXT POST: Living in Amish Country

Introduction and Welcome

Welcome to my blog!!

My name is Lou Ford. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and have lived in Southeastern PA for most of my life. I currently live amid the Amish farmlands of Chester and Lancaster counties. I’m not much of a writer and have never written a blog before, but I hope this will develop into something meaningful, not only to myself, but anyone else who happens to stumble upon this page.

I’m not a professional artist. I’m not a professional photographer. In fact, at the moment, I’m not a professional anything. Just a guy looking to have a hobby in his retirement years that will not only pass the time, but provide something that will be enjoyed by myself and others.

I've always been into photography - going back to my childhood days with a Kodak Instamatic. Through the years, most of my work has involved filling photo albums with family pictures and documenting family vacations. Only recently, through retirement, have I been able to dedicate more time to developing a style and building a portfolio. I really enjoy photography. To me it is a way to get out and enjoy and celebrate the beauty of God's creation.

I haven’t developed a specialty yet… I have a wide range of photographs in my galleries - flowers and water lilies, cityscapes, travel and landscape photos, photos of rural Pennsylvania around my home, hummingbirds, and digitally altered works. I hope to add even much more variety as we go along.

I don’t know where this blog will be taking me, but I’ll probably start out with photography around the southeastern PA area, where I live. Maybe throw in some topics from trips we’ve taken in the recent past, or will take in the future.

I have no grandiose expectations that this blog will be read by many people – or even ANY people. But I hope to use it to improve my skills in digital photography, and hopefully the skills of others.

Lou Ford

PS - If you have a chance, please check out my ImageKind Store and Flickr Collections.

NEXT POST: A Word about Equipment