In St Petersburg Russia....

New to the forum, active photographer for portraiture, architecture, weddings, lifestyle, club and event, theater, studio in the St Petersburg city center.Avid traveler with 90 countries visited, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area(Marin Co.) My only dslr experience was Nikon, after decades of shooting film, when I switched in 2008 when the D90 was released. I currently shoot with a D800 and D7000, but thinking about getting a D500, but not one to upgrade for features, and advise others to stay with what they have until they learn everything they can about lighting, posing and composition. I don't need a better camera but the D500 AF is of interest to me. IQwise, with proper lighting the D800 and D7000 are all anyone really needs unless a pro- sports shooter.
Subjects are mostly people, outdoor or in remote locations with speed lights in soft-boxes/stands/beautydish/striplights etc. I seldom use my home made strobes nowadays and if needing real pro lighting, there are dozens of rental studios here which are very low cost per hour. Also,due to shooting theater know a lot of actors costumers and makeup artists I can call in for modest rates. During late spring and summer there are always a lot of full day wedding shoots, 14-18 hour events that include the wedding party moving round city to parks and monuments so usually need a second shooter to assist.
It is nice to meet you all
Stan

Welcome to Nikonites Stan, I hope you will enjoy our friendly group's discussions.

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.

Thanks to all for the warm welcome.

hello and welcome

Howdy Stan and welcome to Nikonites!

Hi Stan, welcome to Nikonites.

My wife and I have been lucky enough to visit St Petersburg twice. We have good friends who live there, and maybe one day we might be able to return.

Welcome to our community!

Welcome along..

Welcome to the forum Stan. I have seen some good input from you on some of the threads on here. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Walt, If I have something share, I enjoy sharing it. I have had a lot of life experiences, more than most dozen or more people combined, so there is usually some connection related to the threat topic. Settling here rekindled my interest in photography after shooting for years with film. I returned to it when the D90 came out as my first digital camera. I still have and like it but seldom get it away from my GF who has taken it over. The camera is how I met her in fact. Most of the people I know here was due to taking a photo they liked. Almost all my friends are much younger,20-30s and I am 67. Mostly we met in dance clubs or cultural events where I am a regular....so that keeps me young and active. At the beginning of my moving here I became known as the guy who recorded or produced music that all knew from the west but later they knew me as the guy who takes the photos;>)
I still shoot a lot but not as often as when I got the D90, kit zoom and 50mm 1.4, and by the time I added the 70-200 2.8VR I was shooting every day and totaled about 100,000 frames in the first two years. It was a light weight kit that went everywhere with me. Now the the kit is too heavy to go out casually so my shot count is a lot lower and more are specific requests or assignments. I still have a D7000 that is quite capable and gets used as my second camera at events. The go-to workhorse is the D800. I might add the D500 but I don't really need it....just like it. My lens collection has filled most of my needs long ago but sure want to try the 105 1.4. That would be a useful lens for me. Also on my list is the 20mm 1.8g I seldom use my 24 1.4G but like it, not wide enough however. IQ is unique, and is shot wide open always. If I get the D500 it will be the core of a light weight lit I would assemble with 2-3 1.8g primes, 20, 50, and 85 that would be nice to carry a smaller kit daily. My most interesting shots were from the d90 simply because it was with me all the time. That is what I want, maybe only a 2 prime kit,20 and 85. For what I actually need, a D5x00 would work also

Welcome Stan!