Dan, I'm not sure if there is a word that means "less than a novice", but that'd be what I am in the photography world. I just bought a Sony DSC RX-10, because I knew I didn't want to pack around 20# of lenses and equipment, but I wanted more options than my little point-n-shoot provided. Now, I'm trying to learn the ins-n-outs of the camera features so I can take some decent pictures. I've always saved pictures as .jpg and viewed on the laptop and printed a few off. Some have been used in PP presentations on occasion. 90% of what I shoot on the trip will be scenery, some at a distance, some up close and personal. So........that's where I stand in this adventure. Any guidance is always appreciated.  ;~)