Hello from Japan.

[RLong31]

Hello everyone. My name is Ryan. I'm in the Navy stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I bought a Nikon D5100 in January 2012 as my first DSLR so I could try to document my adventures in Japan with a good quality camera. For the first 7 or 8 months I rarely touched it because I had no idea how to get it to take good pictures. Luckily I started working with some folks that are photographers and they recommended some books and I got hooked, reading and shooting, reading and shooting. I'm here to learn, look at pictures, ask questions/advice, and share some of my pictures to get some feedback from people other than friends and family on facebook. I'm pretty critical of my own work, so I expect you to be also so I can learn from my mistakes and get better.
Anyways... figured I'd fill you in my equipment and I'll soon make a signature to include it so others don't have to ask when I'm making a post.

Nikon D5100
18-55 AF-S VR kit lens w/ UV filter
55-200 AF-S VR kit lens
35mm 1.8 AF-S G w/ Tiffen UV filter(my new favorite toy)
55mm 2.8 AF Macro (old, cheap ($65) and in rough shape and only manual focuses on my body)
Cheap amazon ring flash for the macro lens
Dolica Proline 60-62"? Tripod
Black Rapid Sport Limited (camo and orange) - Awesome strap, even if expensive
Dolica DK-10 Backpack/Sling (soon to be replaced with something a bit bigger)

Future equipment: (might take a while because I'm on a budget because I'm married, lol)
Yongnuo flash (because it's inexpensive)
Nikon D7100 - Awesome viewfinder, focus motor in body and a ton of focus points
Wide angle lens (I like landscape/nature photography) - Looking at Sigma 10-20 , Tokina 11-16 or Nikon 10-24
New bag (trying to decide now... something bigger to hold what I have, and to fit future purchases, plus my Nexus 7 tablet, small books, and snacks/drinks, lol.

That's all, sorry for the long post. Hope to see you all around and share with all of you.

 

[ShooterJ]

Welcome to the forum .. looks like you have a great start. Look forward to seeing some of your work.

 

[krystalynnephoto]

Welcome! I'm living in Okinawa, my family and I are stationed here! Not to far of a flight away. Enjoy the forums and your journey in photography.. I've found the members here most helpful.

 

[ShadowKingpin]

Welcome aboard!!! Totally jealous of you living in Japan, by the way

 

[IceCanAm]

Welcome to the site.

 

[smalltowngirl13]

Welcome to the forum Ryan and thank you for your service!

 

[EIngerson]

Welcome Ryan,

I'm another one down here in Okinawa. Enjoy.

 

[RLong31]

Thank you all for the welcomes Japan is nice, and a once in a lifetime experience I'm trying to take advantage of, but I definitely miss the states. Especially my truck, lol. Already have done a lot of searching and learned a lot so far, so thanks for such a great and active forum.

 

[ShooterJ]

Any chance you could bring me back a cherry blossom grove? Not a tree... the whole grove. I'm working on where to put it.

 

[RLong31]

Haha... I'll see what I can do about that one.

 

[that1guy]

Okinawa here!