Before you invest a penny in a class to become a professional I suggest you talk to several pros. See how they run thier businesses. Learn how they get customers/ clients and see how the market is in your area.

The computer and the ease of digital cameras have taken much of the marlket for pros. I have been to several weddings and where normally there would have been a pro photographer there was none, just a lot of guests with digital cameras.

Keep shooting away! Carpe Diem!

I don't think what you did was funny. If fact I find it annoying that someone would have the nerve to go and alter what another photographer put on line to share. Where is our respect for one another? I have a good sense of humor but not when someone violates my creative work.
I think you should have asked permission first.

I was just about to post my photos but now I'm re-thinking. Thanks to you.

Yes I agree the tech world is getting hard to keep up with. But, we only have once life, so live it, don't stress it.
Remember some of the very best memorable shots were taken pre digital and pre computer.

Are these the originals or were they enhanced with some computer program like photoshop?

Just wondering...Because I can get these result on photoshop here in Tampa Bay area of Florida.

Please ! Not spiders.. I don't do spiders.

Hello ,
I am a retired woman. I have always been interested in photography and now I can finally devote time to go and run after inspiring scenes and people to shoot. I now just have a NIkon cool pix with 12.1 megapixels and ISO 6400, wide 24X zoom. I can get pretty good shots but cannot seem to get clear in focus extreme close ups.

What camera should I get next? I'd like to go a few steps up.

Congrats on catching a few great shots. The trick with sunsets in NOT to bother on a clear night. It's the clounds that add the interest to the shots. They give the light something to do.
I'd like to know what type of lense you used and which camera. I* live in Central West Florida in the Tampa Bay area and we get both Sun rises and Sunsets. People forget how beautiful a sun rise can be. You just have to set the alarm clock early to arive at a lake or beach just before the sun come comes up.

It looks like your clense just needs cleaning from a blast of air held downward so the dust doesn't re settle. You can also get a very soft camerse lense cleaning cloth to go over it gently.
That photo is not the most impressive anyway so why not just retake it. Or just crop that "dust" out. or even leave it there and keep people wondering.

I don't care what any federal judge says ..in my book no one should just take photos of someone else's children without first obtaining permission from their parents.
That's how I feel as a parent and a photographer.