Hello all...
My name is Bernd Werner Herrmann (quite a mouthful, eh), and I go by "Ben." I've been posting on a vairety of forums around the net since around 2002 and have been activie in digital photography since 1998. You'll often see me quite active on DPReview on various forums there.
As a matter of background information, I was born in Germany - the town of Moosburg in Bavaria to be more specific. I was born in 1949 - my father being originally from Preussen (Prussia), and my mother being from Karnten-Villach ,Osterreich (Austria). My father was a Wehrmacht Panzer officer during WW II and following the war, both he and my mother came to conclusion to emigrate to the USA eventually. So he came to the USA first, working for the US Army and eventually he sent for us, with us emigrating to the US in the mid 50's. We settled in Philadelphia, Pa - which was a nice place (then) - a far cry what it is now.
Keeping with our family history (all of my family on my father's side served in the Germany Army), I entered the US Marine Corps in 1966 and wound up making it a career, retiring from the Corps in 1993 as a Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9). I served in Vietnam from Feb 1968 through September 1969. I also served as Marine Corps Drill Instructor with L Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at MCRD San Diego, training recruits there for 3 years.
My education is a BS in Tourism, Recreation, and Parks Management from North Carolina State University (summa cum laude). Upon retiring from the Marines I worked as a Park Manager and Lake Warden for 8 years. I then got the itch to get into real estate, obtained my North Carolina Brokers license and specialized in new home construction sales. I am now fully retired - but quite active in conservative politics, mentoring the mentally disabled, volunteering in assisting the homeless, heavy physical fitness and weight training, gardening, and gourmet dining and wine tasting.
I'm currently shooting with a variety of brands - specifically, the Fuji X system, Micro four thirds system (both Panny and Olympus), Canon EOS-M system, the Samsung NX system, and the Nikon system. So my attitude is not one of "fanboyism" towards any one brand - rather, I can appreciate them all for what they bring to the table.
We reside in the town of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina and live in a small, but quaint 4 BR home. I've been married to my wife Jane for 36 years now and have a son, Erik who resides with us.
And that's it in a nutshell - glad to be aboard since I really enjoy the Fuji X Trans system.