Okay -- I may have spoke too soon last night. I've been looking at the BMW F 650 CS, too. Nice bike. Lighter. Less expensive, and probably a better choice for someone who hasn't been on a motorcycle in a very long time. I may change my mind again - but the 650's really look nice. The MSF class will help a lot in helping me determine my ability and confidence. So many choices...

Now. My rules of photography. In no particular order. I'll whip one out every now and again. How about that?

First one: Know your camera! Yep. Know your camera. When I got my first camera (way too many years ago - I still have it), I read the manual cover-to-cover before taking my first photo. In fact, I would pretend the camera was loaded with film (no tomatoes from the digiheads, okay?) and take practice shots. I think I started taking live photos with real film the next day, but I knew how to set my ISO, f/stop, speed, and focus. I didn't have to fumble around looking for dials while I was taking photos of the cute girl next door in her bikini. Nope. I was a smooth operator from the get go.

That is - until I got my Canon 20D. I hate to admit this, but I DIDN'T read the manual before going out. How hard can a digital camera really be (no tomatoes from the film fans)? Well, I decided to take the 20D out for a spin at the Botanical Garden - not far from where I live. Great place. Lots of nice flowers and fresh air. Funny people looking at them. Lots of photo opportunities, right? Oh yeah, IF you read the manual first! I can't remember what it was that happened, but the camera locked up on me within 4 or 5 frames, and I sat in the grass for about an hour trying to figure out how to get it to function again. You know that feeling, right? Sweat pouring down your face, flushed, mad, swearing, feeling like an idiot, everyone looking at you. That was me. I finally had to take it home and -- you guessed it -- read the manual to figure out what the problem was! I believe it was as simple as having the focus selector set properly. I didn't, and was trying to do something the camera wouldn't let me do - and the electronics got all screwy -- and, well, I looked like a dork.

So -- remember -- Rule #1: Know thy camera!!

I'll write up a little something about the 5D, too. Let me just say this. I am not sponsored by these people, but the folks at Visibledust do an outstanding job with their products. Yes, they are expensive, but worth every penny. The Arctic Butterfly is a dream to use, and I use that and a little bulby blower thing -- that's it. My sensor is always spotless after I use the product. Get one, you'll be happy you did. REMEMBER -- read your manual to understand how to clean your sensor. There is a difference between mirror lock-up and clean sensor mode.

Before I forget -- have a wonderful weekend. With any luck, I'll be in my motorcycle safety/learning/riding class thing!

Listening to: Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

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