Pacific Northwest

Hello All,
I just joined this group and love photography. I started with an old 110 Instamatic I won in a contest at 10 years old and later used a Nikon F2 and did some film developing back in the late 70's. I was more focused on my music so I traded the big SLR and lenses for a simpler 35mm point & shoot as it was easier to carry and went through a few of these until I cracked it crawling over a log on a hiking trip in 2000. I decided to try digital and got a cheap HP digital point & shoot and liked the possibilities digital offered so I got a better quality Fuji Finepix S602 and used this camera for 4 years while also getting familiar with using Photoshop. In 2004, I decided to get more serious about my photography and bought a Canon 20D and a couple of lenses. I started taking a few online classes through Better Photo (www.betterphoto.com) and would take a techniques class along with a Photoshop/editing class and my photography started to improve. I continue to study and have gotten into Corel Painter (w/Wacom tablet), HDR imaging and playing more with filters and PS plugins. I have a day job with T-Mobile so I have the luxury of not having to make $$ with my photography and enjoy being an amateur although I feel I could easily do so if something happened to my day job. I grew up in Texas and have traveled quite a bit over the years but moved to Oregon in 2000 and hope to spend the rest of my life here. I am currently working on a contract in Snoqualmie, Wa (30 miles east of Seattle) and love living out in the sticks, surrounded by mountains, bears, cougars, elk and waterfalls. I traveled to Europe last summer with 11 other photographers and hope to make a trip to Costa Rica soon. I still play music on occasion and also love to golf but Photography, Camping/Hiking & Music Festivals are what I do most with my time.
I recently switched from PC to MAC and will hopefully get a Canon 5D Mk II soon. I love to help out beginners or others with my experiences and knowledge and have made many friends by doing so over the last few years.
Blessings,
Carlton