Mickey's Diner

Doesn’t everyone with a camera who lives in St. Paul take a picture of Micky’s diner?

A place to buy equipment

Buying camera equipment on the Internet is alright but there are times when I would rather go into a store and look, and try and ask questions.  I have found two stores in or near St. Paul that I like.  My favorite is the National Camera Exchange. This is just a personal opinion and I have only gone to the store in Roseville so I can not recommend any of the others.

I like their selection and I like the fact that when I ask a question I don’t get a doe in the headlights look and if they don’t know the answer they don’t try to make one up. It isn’t unusual for me to go into a camera store and ask a question that I already know the answer to just to see what they will say.

There was one Ritz Camera store that I liked but they closed, most of the local ritz stores closed. I suspect that the big box stores that offer cameras and film and digital photo printing put them out of business. For the most part I have been unhappy with the big box stores unless I have done all my homework and am just going to buy camera equipment.   Anyone reading this who knows of a good place to buy camera equipment locally please leave a comment.

Local Groups

I find that I enjoy photography even more if I go out and shoot photos with others. Right now the best place to hook up with a local groups either for sharing photos or for going on photo walk is Flickr.

My favorite local group is the Twin Cities Group, it is now way too big but I have met people through it and gone on photo walks. They are friendly and have a wide range of interests and a love for the twin cites.

I also like the Beauty of St. Paul MN I participate in at least 50 groups. Some are about local places, and some belong to organizations like the Minnesota Historical society. I belong to one that is just in my neighborhood, and I am sure there is one for your neighborhood too. Your best bet is to go to the search on the flickr home page and select groups and find local groups that are of interest. Groups have been an important way for me to learn from others and to share with others.  I had no idea that photography would be so social but it is.

I will add more to this page . . .