Hello from Scotland

FourRingCircus

FourRingCircus

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John
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Hello everyone! The welcome forum asks us to say hello so this is it. My wife and I are not new to amateur wildlife photography (or filming wildlife for that matter) as we were both enthusiastic about animals and birds from the days of her EOS100 and my collection of Canon EX1's over twenty years ago. I'm also an old hand at the forums - although they predominantly involve my other passion which has four wheels and an engine. However, I'm a newbie here so just following protocol.....;)

We are based in the North East of Scotland and we decided to expand our digital equipment collection into some slightly more serious kit a couple of years ago, but we have absolutely no pretensions about doing anything serious with photography. It's simply an excuse to get out more and do something with tangible results rather than just sit and watch and go home empty handed.

I used to be very disappointed when I was filming wildlife on Hi8 because I could never achieve the sort of results I saw on TV. Age and experience has taught me that we (myself v's tv pros) were not working the same way. I now realise that I was never going to achieve the 'professional results' from a single day in the field with truly wild birds and ad-hoc locations etc.

The filming 'thing' has passed-on now, and I'm much happier joining my wife with a stills camera - albeit digital now. Anyone want to buy an old EX1 or three?? :lol:

I've had a 5DII for the past year and I love it. SWMBO is perfectly content with the 550D for now as she feels it's more suited to a ladies grip. She enjoys the 1.6x crop sensor whereas I appreciate the full frame. One things for sure though, we both appreciate decent glass and we have spent a small fortune on the stuff. The collection currently includes:

  • 24-70 F2.8L
  • 70-200 ISII F2.8L
  • 100-400 IS F5.6L
  • 300 IS F4L
  • 400 F5.6L

However, most of these became redundant last weekend (:eek:) when we picked up one of the first of the new 500mm IS II F4L's in the country!!

It's incredible!!! :D

Now I know people will say that's not an amateur lens, but we've always believed in getting the best we can and we've worked long and hard for something like this. We don't know much about going for nights out, or peeing it all away the next morning, nor have we had much in the way of holidays for years on end. So please don't think it's a case of money to burn. :shake:

Anyway, I'm off to look at the bird forum and perhaps post up a few shots from our first outing with my OUR new lens! :love:
 
Hello Scots_quine!!! With a forum name like that, your location may be Fife but I'd guess your from the same granite filled place as me? ;)
 
Originally from Morayshire but now down in Fife............
 
I've lived most of my life moving between Aberdeen and Fife and back again and again and again.....(seven times in total!)

I can now be found somewhere in the middle and don't intend to move again!:cool:
 
Hi FRC,

I cant be that far away from you, almost on the Aberdeenshire/Angus border.
 
hello buddy, loads of scots on here, more than I expected. Pretty new here my self and I can say its a great place even for a learner like myself.
 
FetterieSteve said:
I cant be that far away from you, almost on the Aberdeenshire/Angus border.
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Hello FS!!! If you're in Fetterie, I'm closer to the border than you!!! ;)

And SB, welcome to you too.

:)
 
Welcome John. I'm relatively new here too, but i think you'll enjoy it.
I'm also from Scotland but a little further west - Perthshire, but I do know Fife and Angus, not particularly from Photograghy but from both Golf and hill walking excursions.
I have to say I am very jealous of your collection of L lenses. I've just realised the importance of L series lenses now that I have a 5Dm3
Look forward to seeing some of your images taken with those lenses.
 
Thanks Roger. We've crossed paths already in your thread about the 100-400 lenses. If it's just golf and hills, I wonder if you know Fife/Angus as well as I know Perthshire?? ;)

Had a look through your web-gallery and there are only a few (Perthshire) shots there which have me scratching my head. The bridge at Kenmore, Glen Quaich (to Amulree), Glen Lyon etc. All very well known to me as a very frequent visitor and I even met my wife there! :naughty:
 
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Hello John.
I'm based Inverness way. Can't wait to see some of your shots.
I'm a relative newbie at Photography but old hand at forums :D
Really jealous of your camera/lens collection. :)
 
Hi Caz. I've just returned from Inverness today - went up with the intention of an overnight and some birding/dolphins early tomorrow, but decided my own bed was better than a wet night in a tent, so just got home. Yes, I wimped-out, but the wife had a hand in the decision too!:lol:
 
I don't blame you. The weather has been terrible today - I was out for 5 minutes and was soaked to the skin.
It came on quite suddenly as well so I ended up tipping a bucket upside down, over my camera to transport it back to the car!
Did you get any shots today at all?
 
carrobes said:
Did you get any shots today at all?
Click to expand...
Yes, but probably not the sort that would interest anyone here. I have a rally car being built in a motorsports workshop near Inverness and I popped-in there to update the build album. Technical close-ups of the underside of a car bodyshell probably don't count as 'photography' :thumbs:
 
Welcome along to the forums.

Nice camera collection and a tastier lens line up :)

Derek
 
Thanks Derek. Love the avatar by the way!!!:thumbs:
 
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