Linden, US
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Am I a lurker? (I've been a lurking member for too long to be considered "new", even though this is my first post.) This is a combination "new user / contest entry / praise for Nikonians" post.  I've been thinking about writing a thank-you post to Nikonians for a while, and I might as well take advantage of this opportunity to offer my praises. 
After years of wishful thinking, I decided to finally take the plunge and buy an SLR camera. At that time I was using two APS (Advanced Photo System) cameras (a Minolta and a Canon) and a digital camera (a Canon), but I wanted to practice photography as a hobby rather than for recordkeeping. I began my investigation on the web, and soon narrowed my choices down to Canon and Nikon. It was a tough choice, until I stumbled upon the Nikonians website. By searching old posts, I found someone who had already asked all of my questions -- and some I had not even considered yet.
Those posts were the deciding factor for me choosing a Nikon. I wanted to be a part of these people who were friendly and encouraging to someone who was just starting out, who gave many reasons (beyond "because it's better") for making one choice versus another, who were willing to share their experiences and offer their support, even when it's a question that I suspect they've answered many, many times before. Reading through those threads made me feel as if the people of Nikonians really care about everyone else in the community, no matter what level of experience or type of equipment (as long as it's Nikon and Nikon-compatible accessories, of course. )
The reason I enjoy visiting Nikonians is because the community here is knowledgeable and friendly, at every level of expertise. Even as a beginner, I have gained many valuable tidbits of information to apply to my "training", and I am not nearly as intimidated by my camera as I was the first time I put the lens on it and tried to figure out what I was supposed to do with all those knobs and dials. "Relax," I've read over and over, "and play with your new toy in auto everything. Learn the rest when you're ready. Most importantly, talk to us if you need help and be sure to share your experiences with us."
I also enjoy looking at other people's pictures for ideas about what I might want to photograph, and to understand what makes a good picture unique. It is wonderful how everyone tries to help each other out -- even constructive criticism is accompanied by positive reviews! Besides, seeing so many wonderful pictures taken by people with equipment almost exactly like mine, shows me what I might someday be capable of doing myself.
Do I see a difference in the quality of my photographs since discovering Nikonians? No, but I am definitely taking more pictures and taking more chances than I used to do. (I am ashamed to admit that I have only developed four rolls of film in the six months that I have owned my N80!) Someday I hope to be a frequent poster to Nikonians, with my own Silver Donor account, guiding other new users on their journey to eternal happiness and fulfillment. But in the meantime, while siphoning advice and encouragement from within the Nikonian community, I'm going to just keep trying to take more pictures!
--Katie
Edit: Corrected "Silver Donor".
--Katie
My Nikonians Gallery
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Silver
