I believe you can still purchase Lightroom for just $99. If not, LR5 is just $150 and that's still a great deal on the most powerful photography editing software in the business. It gives you tons of flexibility for post-processing versus just using Photoshop. I have tons of free presets that I use and would be glad to share with you. Makes editing photos a breeze.

And I know what you mean about finding time for photography. I'm just now getting back to the point where I carry my gear with me almost everywhere I go. Just never know when you'll be inspired to shoot, or catch the perfect light and location for a photoshoot with the Mini. Good luck!

Oh, and for you and anyone else who is on Flickr, here's the link to my photostream. Add me as a contact if you'd like.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crashmattb/

 

Cool. That 18-135mm gives you a good amount of range. I'd highly recommend the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens. It's incredibly fast, very sharp and only $100-$125 to boot. Bargain for what you get. It's my everyday portrait lens that I can throw on when at family events or shooting detailed shots and need that short DOF (depth of field). I actually just broke mine in half 2 weeks ago when I dropped my camera bag. Guess it landed awkwardly and the lens took the force of the drop since nothing else in the bag got damaged. Doh!

 

 

 

There is something weird going on with your images. I think they are being saved out incorrectly, the resolution and quality looks blurry.

 

Some new shots of our Justa

 

 

That is one bad MINI!

Just saw all the smoke in the background... was there a fire?

 

from a local VW show this past weelend:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xstartxtodayx/9400311949/ by xstartxtodayx, on Flickr

edit: something isn't working right, first the site kept duplicating my image when using Flickr image codes, I edited the tag and removed 1 image but now the image is super low quality, oh well.

 

Took my Clubman out for some country mountain road driving in North Georgia this past weekend. Had a blast on those curvy roads and the Clubman handled them all in stride. Made sure to also make a few stops for photos along the way.

 

Haven't posted in awhile, thought Id share some recent pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22718278@N02/9488197169/

 

I loved finding this today. I'm on a 7 week cross country trip with the family (Suburban pulling a 28' camper - miss my MINI) and haven't been on NAM in weeks...

But we were at Devils Tower 2 days ago - Sturgis was in FULL effect. Had fun there. Thanks for sharing!

 

Here's my '04 R53...the grille needs to be refinished and the bumper and bonnet are full of rock chips. Pic was taken at 10pm...gotta love the summertime daylight in Alaska.

 

Have fun. We did the trip as far as Rapid City two years ago.....yes, leaving our mini's behind too. South Dakota is an amazing place. So much to do and see! Did not make it as far as devils tower though with 10 days vacation. We hit the Sturgis bunch too.....all over the place- Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Badlands etc. Travel safely. Keep us posted if you can.

 

One from the hillclimb in Reading PA yesterday.

 

What hill in Reading? I used to be through all the time.

 

http://www.bmr-scca.org/TimeTrialsHi...9/Default.aspx

Up to the Pagoda.

 

A couple from a weekend cruise on the North Cascade Hwy in Washington State.

 

Hi All, my first post in NAM, 2006 Cooper S Checkmate, I took these photo in 2009...

 

Nice shot, GRAW.

 

Wow....that is a good lookin' car! I want to get tints, stubby, and stripes too.

 

Hear he his tough guy! Whatchu say about my Big Brother?

 

Here's a beautiful Oklahoma sunset from tonight.

 

Nice pic, roseyposey. The night sky was just as beautiful in Chicago. You have to treasure these days when living in the Midwest.

 

Here is my R53