Job- Sailor, Passion- Photography

Hi Jared, I did my shipping out a little easier. 3 months it took me driving to Wilmington, CA, 3,4,5 times a week a good 50 miles one way and asking to be a member of the Stewards Union, not as illustrious as your position but it got me out to sea. I earned a B card rating and worked for Matson, the S.S. Legislator it was the best ship for my first ship, an old rust bucket, it had character. Port Holes made out of brass and they opened and i left my open, quarters for two crew and I threw some bomb parties in there, 15 to 20 guys laughing, drinking beer, singing and playing the guitar and heading to Honolulu. Flying box kites off the stern and the old timers tripping out because nobody ever seen that done before. The Master chewing out the chief steward, Scottie for the two crew members Larry and Sal for being topside by the funnel sunbathing naked and drinking beers. We had finished our work by 10:00 am each day what else were we gonna do? We found out... Honolulu, Oakland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and even Guam on that first ship and with my best friend from childhood to adults Sal Lopez, we were neighbors and shipmates, and we had a blast.Boy that was a rush of memories. I shipped out for 4 years, and once I worked on a passenger ship I had no interest in freighters any more, why, girl crew members. One became the mother of my two daughters.  Larry

I understand.  I tend to shoot old barns and any building that may fall down soon, within the next two to three years and then I do many portraits.  I shoot sunsets but the lenses I have work fine for what I want to see.  I was a sailor, United States Navy, 1961-1965, three years aboard ship, USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) and I got my start with photography with my Leica M3 that I purchased in Hong Kong.  I had only three lenses and a light meter; I  had the 50mm, a 90mm and a 135mm.  I learned accidentally about portraits with the 90.  I had no idea what I was doing but I learn from mistakes so when I noticed the difference between the 50 and the 90, I made my first photographic discovery.  I have an 85mm lens now.  I love it but once mounted, it does impose limits as I have to back up substantially to get my subject in the frame; c'est la vie, n'est pas?  Stephen

And oh yes, do spend your money on lenses; I really like the 70-200 mm, f/2.8 IS lens but they aren't giving them out, so if you like that lens, it's a great one but often around $2,300.00.  There are several places where you can rent a lens and test it.  The lens I just mentioned is heavy too so I am undecided if I will take it to the car show.  Stephen

Jared, there will be those who will say to that they can see differences in the image between the 7D and the 5D because of the full frame sensor, but again, some commercial entities require a full frame sensor but I would bet a Wookie that 99% of us and the viewers won't be able to tell a difference.  With the 7D, I do suggest planning ahead for the day you may just get a 5D and buy your lenses for EF and be careful not to get too many EF-S lenses which will work fine with the 7D since it accommodates  both EF & EF-S; the 5D takes only EF lenses.  I hope that is of some help.  Stephen

Jared, I have had my 7D more than a year and I've made many photographs with it.  I wanted the 5D Mark II to have a full frame sensor.  Other than the full frame, I have not found a lot of difference.  There certainly is not any difference in how I shoot.  The controls are the same except for the off/on switch which are in two very different places.  As far as images, what I see is great with both cameras.  The two cameras are not that far apart in price except that with the 7D you usually get a kit lens for the roughly $1,800.00 price while with the 5D no kit lens is supplied.  You can buy the suggested kit lens, which is another $1,000.   I did that when I had the money.  At first, I just kept one of my other lenses mounted on the 5D.  I have the less expensive version of Canon's 85 mm for portrait so I had it on the 5D.  Now I have kit lenses on both and I change up for the specific work I want to do or that I am required to do.  Let me suggest that if you are not doing specific work for a commercial unit who requires a full frame image, the 7D will do everything you want it to and I think it is a faster camera because of having the two Digic 4 processors.  The 5D is a Canon staple product and they do not do a lot of messing with it so its changes have been minor, its price has not varied a nickel while the 7D was an inception camera and its price has dropped significantly.  I bought mine for $2,000 and I can get that now for around $1,600 in some markets.  The 5D has been $2,500 plus or minus a dollar since Noah first took his on the Ark.  Truth is, I don't think you can go wrong with either camera.  I like both and if I do not have my #1 camera, the 5D with me, I have the 7D and I am happily shooting away and posting my images.  I've never yet said, "I wish I would have had my 5D with me."  I have said, "I wish I had had my _____ lens with me though.  I know that doesn't help since I have not said what you wanted to hear, the old "The ___ is the better camera."  It's up to you, the photographer and a lot of is is just budget.   Now, if I had the 5D and the 7D combined into a single camera for $1,500.00, well, I'd get two of them then and keep the best bracket of lenses mounted.  Best wishes to you,

Stephen Joe "Red Boots" Payne

Glad to be friends Jared.  You do great work.

Jared for someone who has just turned your photography into a passion you have more than that in your whole gallery...you have a wonderful talent and bless your Mom and Dad for that first camera as you are amazing with that baby....Don't stop!

Fantastic shots, looked at your gallery.