To "George": When starting out, first figure out what type of images you want to make. No point in purchasing a P65+ back and a camera to accompany it (even if you can afford it) to make 8x10s or images for the 'net. Second, find a camera store with a clerk who knows what s/he is talking about and will invest time with you (an hour or two or however long it takes) explaining the features of a few different cameras. Hold them in your hand and see how they feel. How's the balance? Do the menus make sense? Are the buttons in the right places? After you've narrowed it down some, take the nice salesclerk's card and go home. Think back over your visit and which camera seemed best to you. Go back tomorrow and buy it. Ignore the kit lens that comes with the camera. Buy a body and a fixed lens that fits your subject matter. Learn how to use the camera and how to see. Add equipment as your photographic style and your needs demand. Yes, 'needs' is such a relative term. Mike.

What's the best lens to shoot _____? The one attached to your camera. I firmly believe in that. I've owned a number of different lenses over the years, and I've also shot with cameras (TLR for example) that have one fixed focal length lens. I've found that with 35mm for example one can create almost any effect by changing lenses, whereas shooting with a TLR with a 6x6 cm image and one lens forced me to be more creative in my approach. I'd like to see a return to say a 50mm f/1.4 lens as a standard (or maybe 35mm for cropped format sensors), especially for new photographers as it does challenge how you see what's in the viewfinder and what you have to do to make it look the way you want. Mike.

Thanks for sharing this, Lianne! I added a tribute on our blog for you, as a way of sharing this wonderful work. Hugs, Mike. http://www.wolfnowl.com/2010/04/what-is-dying-to-be-born/

Photography and the Art of Seeing and More Photography and the Art of Seeing have been among my favourite photography books... and yes, I even did the exercises! I like the one-shot exercise - could be done with digital but it would take discipline. With my TLR only 12 images/ roll, so discipline goes hand in hand. Mike.

Hi Jennifer: Listening to your 2010 Body Dialog with Soul Song as I wander through the web. I clicked on your link: http://www.healingrelease.com/markjenn.htm and it comes up with a 'page not found' error. Thought you might want to know... Hugs, Mike. (http://www.wolfnowl.com)

Ctein: In Toronto (and in other places) is a place called 'Covenant House'. It's a no questions, few rules place for street kids. Now their operations are concentrated in one building, but back then they had several. I had supported them for some years, but finding myself in Toronto one day decided to drop in. I was quite surprised to discover the level of security there (although in retrospect it made sense). I couldn't get past the front door. Went home and made up a 16" diameter dreamcatcher for the residence, and mailed it to Ruth daCosta, who was then the Executive Directoer. In exchange she offered me lunch and a visit to the residence. As mentioned, the place has very high security, so generally the building saw only residents, staff and some volunteers. When I showed up the kids had no idea who I was, until, one by one they associated me with the thing hanging up in their living room. Only then did they approach me, saying 'So, you're the artist'. Artists create. What we create is art. It may also be functional, it may also be craft, but if someone puts thought and focus into creating it, it's art. I may not like it, you may not like it, but who gets to decide - for anyone but themselves - what 'art' truly is? Mike.

Beautiful image, Mike. Reminded me of Roberto Dutesco's work on the horses of Sable Island: http://www.dutescoart.com/gallery/sablehorses/index.html Mike.