Photographyreview: The People

[Speed]

Name:
Robert McCabe
AKA Speed

Meaning of handle (if it's not obvious):
I picked up the nickname during my missile training days. A fellow officer gave it to me during a game of football

Dorky PR club I belong to (if any):
Nikon Samurai #1
Nikon Rocks!

Location:
The Crystal Coast of North Carolina, AKA Carteret County
Specifically, Newport, NC

Born:
Morehead City, NC
American by birth, Southern by the grace of God

Other places I've lived:
Chandler, Arizona during my pilot training days
Lompoc, CA during my missile training days, and my missile launching days
Minot, North Dakota during my missile crew days, where I pulled 193 alerts UNDER North Dakota. Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason! And remember, it's true that "-40 degree's keeps out the riff raff." Actually, Minot was my favorite place to live.
Montgomery, Alabama while attending Squadron Officer School

Like to Retire:
Newport, NC....there's no place like home
Would love to have a cottage in Myrtle Beach, SC

Ethnicity:
Definitely of the caucasion persuasion. Dad's roots are German, Mom's are Scottish, with some American Indian mixed in.

Marriage/Family:
Married and divorced (something I do not wish on anyone) and remarried to the love of my life! Five kids, one boy with four younger sisters. Praying for the day the last one moves out! ;-) Trying to enjoy them while they're home.

Languages I speak:
English (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Education:
BS in Industrial Technology
MS in Administration

Occupation:
Environmental Health Specialist (Offically called a Registered Sanitarian)
My job is to protect the environment - Scientifically
(I'd love for the Sierra Club, Earth First and others of their ilk to fall off the earth.)

Religious affiliation (if any):
Independant Baptist (One of those of the Christian right that's ruining America, according to the mainstream media. Which also makes me fair game to be hated, despised, and castigated. But remember to be civil, open minded and accepting of the Islamic fundamendalists.)

Political affiliation (if any):
Republican......a little right of Rush Linbaugh, a little left of G. Gordon Liddy :-O
I agree with a previous poster who suggested that all those in Congress and the Senate should wear clown suits. It is so appropriate for most of what they do.

Other hobbies: Hiking, camping, astronomy, shooting, hunting, and most sports (basketball, football, soccer, biking, road races, triathlons, ... you get the idea)

How long I have been a photographer:
Seriously: 3 years and counting since I got my first "serious" camera
From my Kodak 110 days: 30 years (dang, that makes me sound old)

First "real" camera:
Nikon N80, the best investment I've made since I said "I do" to the lovely Dawn.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
I was searching for reviews of the Nikon N80 and found PR. Started with Critique, but like the Rickster, once I found the Viewfinder I was hooked!

Date I joined PR (sometimes people's listed join date is innacurate):
November 2001 - if I remember accurately ;-)

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder

Photogatherings I have attended:
None, YET!
But I've tried to sponsor one here!

Favorite subjects:
Landscape/People/Wildlife/Astrophotography/Sports/ Weddings
Sounds like I don't have a "favorite". Maybe I haven't found my niche yet...

Current Gear:

Digital:
Nikon Coolpix 5700

35mm:
Nikon N80
Nikon F5
Quantaray 70-300mm
Sigma 28-70mm f2.8
Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro
Tokina 20-35mm f2.8
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Two SB-28's
SC-28 Snyc Cord
Stroboframe 350
Various Filters

Pentax K1000
Pentax 50mm f2.0
Pentax 50mm f1.4
Sears(?) 80-200mm f4
Vivitar SMS 30D Flash

Camera I use the most:
Right now the F5 is getting the biggest workout

Why I prefer film or digital:
Again, like the Rickster, I prefer the look of film to digital but I prefer the convenience of digital to film (Rickster is so eloqent)

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
Hands down, it's the people! This place is like an extended family. We don't always agree (politics and religion mainly), but we support each other, and help each other. I have learned so much here, I can't begin to express my gratitude to all of you!

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
Become the best photographer I can. I want to take photo's that come out the way I want them to, and I want them to grab the attention of others.

A few of my favorite pictures:
The love of my life, in my arms, where she belongs
My most popular sunset shot
My favorite subject again
And my best (IMHO) Coolpix shot