Hi Denise,


I think it gets easier with time, certainly. My 'learning' curve has been rather quick this time, such that I now have no problem walking around even in urban areas holding a big, gripped camera and a long white lens... [] I say quick this time, because many years ago, I shot for my high school newspaper/yearbooks (using a Pentax film SLR - that was around the time when the latest and greatest innovation - autofocus - was way out of my budget).


One thing to have handy in your bag is a printout of the card from THIS SITE, just in case.


In the cases you mention, the real concern is not you or the camera, it's your car - but as long as it's safely and legally parked, you should be fine there.


Just go out and have fun shooting!


--John