As I sat in the Zodiac boat amongst people I had come to recognize during our 10-day trip to the Galápagos, I was finally getting acquainted with the first digital camera I ever used or owned, the Nikon D200. I was a late adopter of digital cameras as it was mid-2007, and here I was doing something I would never recommend to anyone: trying out your first digital (or film) camera on an expensive vacation! But that is how I sometimes do things: in a rush! At least back then, anyhow.

It took me a whole day to realize I did not have to advance the film and that I could change the ISO (ASA to me back then) anytime I wanted to! I immediately fell in love with these two changes.

The other thing I did that was not good at all was only having one lens during the trip, the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Wide Angle Telephoto Zoom-Nikkor Lens, which was a crappy lens. At least the copy I had was. I got a few great shots with it, but it was not what I would call a great performer at most reaches. But the D200 kit was a recent gift, and I was anxious to give digital a serious tryout since, from what I had been reading at the time, it indicated that the time had come to get my feet wet.

What Darwin Saw was captured from a Zodiac as our group explored the misty waters near the Isabela and Fernandina islands. The early morning air was crisp and cool, with the sun gently rising, casting a magical glow over the scene. The Nikon D200 performed admirably on its maiden voyage with me, with any hiccups being user error rather than technical faults.

At the time, I backed up my files on a portable hard drive recommended in an article I’d read, and to this day, those files remain intact. I sustain my catalog and portfolio files by copying them annually onto a new hard drive each November. This routine includes both digital files and digitized film from the year’s work, ensuring my archive remains secure and up to date.

The following year, a non-profit organization featured What Darwin Saw in a calendar of Galápagos images to raise funds for habitat conservation efforts in the region—a cause I was thrilled to support.

The D200 went on to produce many great images, though I eventually retired the 18-200mm lens in favor of a carefully curated selection of Nikkor glass. Nikon’s color science is superb, and I still find it more appealing than my Fujifilm files in some cases. That said, Fujifilm’s backlit sensors in my X-Pro3 and X100V cameras have brought the gap closer, and I hold these cameras dear for their unique qualities.

From the D200, I upgraded to the D700, which became my last Nikon DSLR—aside from the D750, which I used as my “teacher camera” during my final teaching role at a technical college. If Nikon’s mirrorless systems had been available when I transitioned to Fujifilm, I likely would have stayed with Nikon. But the timing led me down a different path, and I’ve embraced it wholeheartedly.

Will I ever go back to Nikon now that its mirrorless offerings are on the table?

I am deep into Fujifilm and have a preferred lens that only Fujifilm makes, the 56/1.2 APD. I have retired from full-time work, and since my income is not what it was in the past, I have to like what I have, which I do. I chose Fujifilm APS-C for portability and ALPA-Hasselblad as my medium format digital system alongside my 6×6, 6×12, 6×17, and 4×5 film formats. I think I have my bases covered for now, but I do find Nikon color (Hasselblad as well) to be sweet!

Embarking on our photography journey is an exciting and deeply rewarding experience, whether we’re just starting out or transitioning to new tools like a digital camera. I always keep in mind that the key to growth is not perfection but learning through experience.

One lesson I learned the hard way is this: don’t take an unfamiliar camera on a big trip without understanding its workflow first. From my initial D200 experience, I learned the importance of spending time exploring my gear at home, practicing with different settings, and getting comfortable with its quirks before I take it out for a Zodiac ride!

That said, even mistakes and risks can lead to remarkable results. My image What Darwin Saw, captured during my maiden voyage with a digital camera, remains one of my favorite images in my portfolio—despite being made with a 10MP file. It’s proof that creativity and vision matter more than megapixels or technical perfection.