Some Sort of Syndrome

I have some sort of affliction. I've known it for years, but I'm just now acknowledging it. I think it may have contributed to at least one divorce - maybe two. It doesn't have a name that I know of. I'll give it one. Poverty Inducing Spending Sickness...or PISS. Yes, I piss away tons of money. The thing is, I don't have tons to piss away. And therein lies the problem.

Most of my life, I've been interested in photography. I had a color darkroom back when you had to THINK about it. This was before computers and chips and smart hardware. In other words, this is a well-established fixation. But, now I've gone over the edge.

Unhappy with the quality of pictures I've gotten with a series of point-and-shoot digital cameras (expensive ones, mind you), I finally did what I've wanted to do all my life. I bought a Nikon. Yikes! This is the cheapest Nikon SLR available (that means non-point-and-shoot camera, for you non-photo people). The initial set-up...camera, basic lens, high speed memory card, high-power battery and charger and nice, padded case...set me back about $750. Since I'll be doing a lot of low-light concert photography, I decided I'd need a really fast lens in addition to what came with the camera. That's another $300+. I will need a fancy flash eventually. Ring up $300+ for that as well.

So, my first concert opportunity was Friday night. I quickly realized that I MUST have a long zoom lens that auto-focuses...and it'd be nice of it had anti-vibration capabilities as well. That little baby is a mere $1050 or thereabouts! It's the add-ons that will kill ya!

This camera requires a sharp learning curve, and I'm not really happy with my first efforts, but I'll get there. Here are some samples from this week's shots. Click the little one to see a bigger version. The subject is BJ Thomas and The Memphis Boys. I have no idea who The Memphis Boys are, but people came from all over the WORLD to see them, so I am clearly an oblivious idiot. Anyway...here's some pix from the concert.

They're not bad for first shots with new gear. But, just wait 'til I get that thousand dollar lens!

PISS strikes again!