Thank-you @jamesstaddon, @nasa, @buddingphotographer, and @dfrazer for your comments! The positive pressure on the 50mm was fantastic for helping me take the plunge and actually order it. It is now attached to my camera and I’ve had fun with it already! 🙂
@nasa, no worries at all on the ramble. I know next to nothing about flashes, so it was most helpful! @buddingphotographer, thanks for the article! It’s going to be a great resource as I figure out working with a flash. @dfrazer, your pictures were instrumental in helping me realize I wanted to be able to take my flash off camera. And the recommendation of a reading a photography book is great – I did some fresh photography reading soon after reading your thoughts and hope to continue.
I finally made a decision last week and ordered the second one @nasa recommended. And it arrived today!!! The box is awaiting my excited opening. The funny part is – I have a short space of time to figure out how to use it. I’m on call for informal family photos a day or two Thanksgiving week. Nothing quite like a deadline! 🙂