(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I snapped this picture of my Beautiful Bride in March, 2010. We were celebrating my birthday in a cabin at Serenity Falls near Cosby, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains. We were both learning how to use our new cameras at that time, and Betsy was on the deck of the cabin taking picture of the waterfall while I was on the ground below. I snapped this picture while we were discussing camera settings.

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The annual Fourth of July fireworks display is one of the nice things about living in the Glade. I captured this picture at last year's display when I was learning how to use my new camera. I rather like the way this picture came out.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I was experimenting with manual settings on my camera with my macro lens using one of our roses that was still blooming as a subject. This is more 'artistic' than the photos I normally take, but I like the color and the folds of the half-open bud.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The waterfall above is Hurricane Falls in Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia. The picture was taken October 14, 2009.

Betsy and I were home for about 12 hours Thursday evening and early this (Friday) morning. That gave us just enough time to repack for Ray's memorial service and to do a quick post to let you know we survived the first of our quick trips. By the time you read this we will be on the road to Jacksonville, Florida.

As you know, we went to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia to see what the waterfalls looked like when water was released from the dam above the gorge. We hiked a new trail (for us) and the views were wonderful. There was a light rain most of the day, but that didn't stop us from our quest to enjoy the waterfalls.

Unfortunately about half way through our hike my camera decided to start acting up. For the rest of the hike I could only take wide-angle shots if I could get any at all. That was definitely a bummer, but as Betsy said that just gives us another excuse to go back.

Now that Betsy has her laptop, I'm hoping Santa will bring me a new camera. I've been wanting one with interchangeable lenses so I could get closer to waterfalls we can't reach on foot. I would also like to be able to get macros of our flowers.

I know many of you are great photographers. I would appreciate any advice you may be able to give me regarding a camera that will fit my needs. Thanks.