I got a set of Cokin Graduated ND's from Adorama several years back and love using them. A bit pricey but not too bad. The biggest issue was having to get an adapter ring for each of my lenses.

John438: I would agree with other posters; shoot against a light background for darker animals and the opposite for lighter critters. I use a canvas painter's drop cloth from any home improvement store for light and neutral backgrounds and a navy blue sheet I picked up at Goodwill for dark ones. Photoshop elements is probably the least expensive and easiest to use program to select a subject and add it to another background.
Good Luck, I really support any efforts to get abandoned critters into good homes!

You may be "double managing" the print process. This is when both Photoshop and the printer are trying to manage the printing. Turn either Photoshop's print management off or the printer's photo management off and check your results. You could also try soft proofing in either Photoshop or LR and make adjustments from there. Adobe TV has an old video by "Dr. Brown" on printing that really sorts this out and applies to the latest versions of either.

I have had similar problems-still do-but usually my monitor is too bright so I tone it down a bit and that helps a lot.

I know the feeling well, but I don't think a new purchase (unless previously planned) is the answer. I generally reset my DSLR to the basics and go find something familiar to shoot and spend some time looking for new ways to see it. I have been surprised at the results. Also, many of the professional photographers that I have read say that they will delete up to 90% of their shots in any given shoot. If they were shooting film that might not be the case but with digital who cares how may frames you snap. If you get one or two good ones you've had a pretty good shoot.
Hang in there, and relax. Someone told me photography is supposed to be fun.

Mad Mike:
Great response, but I'd sure like a little truth in advertising.

I took the course a few years ago before they had updated it to fully digital. It was OK, but really taught to the lowest common denominator. The feedback I got from the instructors on the "assignments" was pretty vluable, but awfully long in coming. I have heard that the new, fully digital course is better, but still costly. Best course I have taken was given through my local school system's continuing education for adults, both for basic photography skills and for basic Photoshop skills. At 180.00 for each 8 week course I felt is was money well spent. You might check with your local schools' adult/continuing education program.

I moved from LR 3 to LR4 and then 4.1 with no issues. But of a hassel to move all of the presents, but worth the effort.

Bioteacher:
Like Belle, I used both Adobe and Corel for a while, but gradually ceased using Corel at all. Issues with Corel's RAW handling, frequent lock-ups and work flow. Adobe is more complicated, but so much more versitile, especially the new Raw processing engine.

You might want to visit the XRite Photo web site and look at one of the archived videos by Joe Brady. He gives a very
concise and understandable of ganmut and color profiles. Yes, he'll plug the Color Munki, but the information is worth the commercial.

I'd like to hear others' thoughts as well before I reset things to Adobe RGB

I prefer Epson and have used them for years.With Epson papers the results are good and the cost per print is quite reasonable.

You should be able to add polorazing effects on PS Filters or in RAW.Haze is correctable, somewhat, with contrast adjustments in an adjustment layer.

Lost Hawaiian:
My son lives in Hawaii, loves it and I doubt he'll ever return. Art Wolfe has a web site and the schedule should be listed there. In Richmond he comes on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 (1/2 hour). I would imagine your local PBS could advise when/where. It may even stream, altho I've never tried.
Grumps 09

I don't care for the show, too much talk about the trek in and very little about technique. Not that many shots are shown, and he uses a lot of post processing which may mislead the viewer somewhat. Also, not too many folks I know use or can afford the large format camera he seems to favor. I much prefer "Travels To The Edge" with Art Wolfe generally found on PBS.