Meet photography guru, Laurie Excell

[GrafxEditor]

Hi guys,

I'm pleased to announce a brand-new feature we've never offered here on the forums before. This thread will be moderated by photography guru Laurie Excell, who has graciously agreed to answer all of your questions about digital cameras and equipment. This is a very exciting advancement indeed for our little forum!

Laurie spent the first 25 years of her career in photographic sales helping pros and hobbyists alike decide which photographic equipment best suited their needs. All the while, she was an avid photographer. In 2000 she left sales to become a full-time professional wildlife and nature photographer. She has been published in Outdoor Photographer, Outdoor Photography (UK), Photoshop User, and Layers magazines. You will also find her photography on Audubon calendars, as well as postcards, calendars, and posters for the National Park Service.

As if that's not enough, Laurie also leads wildlife photography safaris in North America and is an instructor with the Digital Landscape Workshop Series, Photoshop World, and Cruising Through Life training extravaganzas. She also runs a business called EQuipmentLady, where she sells photographic equipment on consignment for other photographers when they upgrade their equipment. Oh, and in all of her spare time, she's the Photo Equipment Advice Desk Guru for our very own National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

OK, I'm exhausted just going through all of that! I think you get the idea: She knows her stuff! So please make Laurie feel welcome and start shooting off every question you've wanted to ask but were afraid to.

One final note: This goes without saying, but if you have an answer to someone's question, please feel free to weigh in and join in the fun. Think synergy.

Annie

[mkctlc2001]

Welcome Laurie! It is wonderful to have you here. I am very excited. I don't have questions yet just because I don't know enough about it to ask but I will be reading and learning as the others ask. Right now I only know how to use the program settings on my Nikon coolpix8700. Again welcome aboard!

[mrod]

I'll second all that Annie just said. Several months ago I submitted a question to her via the NAPP Equipment Advice desk about DSLRs, and got a quick, in-depth and very helpful reply back!

Glad to have you around, Laurie!

Mike

[photoshopsusieq]

Welcome aboard, Laurie! I'm sure I'll have LOTS of quesions. Thanks in advance for your help and support.

[lexcell]

Hi Everyone,
I am glad to be a part of this great forum. As Annie mentioned, I have a fairly extensive background in photography and equipment. My friends call me a gear head...well, you get the drift. So, jump on in and fire away with your questions. And everyone throw in your two cents worth as well. Let's make this a fun learning experience for one and all. I find that I learn new things this way as well. Thanks for the warm welcome, I look forward to meeting many more members over the next few weeks.

Let me clarify the two new forums here...
The Digital Cameras and Equipment Thread is for just that...any questions you may have about lenses, cameras, flashes, filters, accessories. What to buy, what best suits your specific needs, etc.
The Technique Thread is for questions that are how to, and what is...just like the first question here about depth of field.

Keep smiling,
Laurie

[billz]

Welcome aboard Laurie ... I'm confident our questions will keep you busy!

Bill

[bayhli]

I'm thrilled to have you here Laurie.

Hopefully you will enjoy the forum as much as we all do.

[Diana]

Wow, our own on-board expert. Welcome, Laurie!

Diana

[Robyn]

How exciting..............welcome Laurie!

[efarnstrom]

Welcome, and here is a question. I've used my wide-angle lens before on landscapes, but for the first time I was taking a sea-scape. The way I 'fixed' the distortion was with the filter to straighten the horizon. Was there anything I could have done while taking the photo?