This page is all about Mike, the webmaster and photographer. Coming to this page either means you want to know a little about me, or you just want something to read. Either way, here you go. My name is Mike. My age, well, if you know how to add and subtract I'll let you figure it out. I was born in 1963. If you can't figure it out, you don't need to know. How much do I know about photography? Not much. Seriously. Compared to the average human, I know quite a bit, but there are many who know more than I do. Certain photographic subjects I can be considered very good at, but there are things I know nothing about also. As time goes by, I will know more, because one thing I enjoy doing is learning, especially if it's something I enjoy, like photography, electronics, computers, or the internet. I also like learning things like woodworking, metal working, auto repairs, and other things like that. I like being able to do pretty much anything myself, but since this site is about photography, I'll stick with that here. I got started in photography many many years ago, (1977), when my parents gave me my first real camera for my birthday. My first camera was a Praktica LB2, the first real camera I had that did more than just point and shoot. Those simple point and shoot cameras are nice for some things, like quick picture taking, but it was so much different having full control over my pictures, and even being able to use "real" lenses. I still remember my very first roll of film. The Practica LB2 is manual focus, so guess what? Anyway, I learned a lot from that film. I found out I need to practice, so I did, lots of it. I never went anywhere without my camera, and I spent a lot of time reading books about photography, and when I was 16 and working, I started buying photography books and also subscribed to several photography magazines. I then made my first serious photography investment by buying a Minolta XG-M camera and selling my Praktica LB2. I also started reading about doing my own black and white darkroom work and when Christmas came, my parents got me an enlarger and some basic darkroom equipment. Now I was having fun. Black and white isn't as colorful, but I was making my own prints. A year later, I decided to have much more fun. I bought some equipment, like a color enlarger, and I set up a much better darkroom, and I started doing my own color printing. Not too long after that, I decided to go all the way and do my own processing also. I followed up with a new camera, a Minolta X-700, keeping my XG-M as a backup. For the next several years, photography was my life, but I eventually settled back down and started going out without my camera now and then. In the early 1990's I had to take down my darkroom due to finances, and soon after that I even had to sell my cameras. Since I had lots of spare time, I ended up discovering the internet and getting into computers, and eventually digital imaging. In late fall of 2002 I had the opportunity to get my X-700 back affordably on Ebay. I got an X-700 with 2 lenses, flash, and winder, for $200. I then gradually got back into photography and got myself several more lenses, also through Ebay. In April of 2003 I decided to mix my hobbies together and put up a photography website at www.daphotography.com. In August, 2004 I decided to pass on some of my knowledge by putting up this website and offering photography courses. I've been using film cameras for a very long time. A few years ago I accepted the fact that digital was taking over, but a digital camera that could match the quality of film was still only available to rich people or serious professional photographers. I decided I was not going digital until I could afford something worth switching to. The decision was made in March, 2012. I bought my Nikon D5100. Now I only have 1 problem. When I shoot, I need to choose film or digital. They both have their advantages and sometimes the decision is easy. Other times, I just use both. The End   By the way, if you want to know more about me, or if you have any questions about photography, feel free to email me at Mike @ photographycourses.net, without the spaces of course. (spam ya know) I don't know everything about photography, but I'll do my best to answer questions. If you have a website, or are thinking about it, check out the web hosting company below. You get quality services and top notch customer support, but at prices that are very competitive. Site Navigation - [Home Page] [Basic Photography] [Film Photography] [Digital Photography] [Portrait Photography] [Nature Photography] [Still Photography] [Close-up Photography] [Courses] [about the webmaster] See our other site for general information, and other products and services.

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