I like it. :thumbup: I think I prefer the color version a little more. I don't agree about the photo quality comments. I don't prescribe to the idea that every image needs to be "perfect" in order to be a great shot. Thanks for sharing.

Here you go. I was able to get rid of the wires and poles, but getting rid of the picnic table was a little too disruptive (and I'm not that motivated :-D ). I also straightened it, lowered the exposure and brightness a little bit, and boosted the yellow and green and contrast. I hope you like it. I can always see my mistakes when I do that much editing.

I am definitely going to try some of the things people have suggested here tonight. Here are some that I have taken. I love getting the detailed shots of the moon, but I also like catching shots that include something else to look at. Here are a few that I like.
All of these were taken with a Canon 2Ti with EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS.

ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/320 sec, 232mm


ISO 200, f/5, 1/2 sec, 123mm


ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, 250mm

I'm not, but I have a friend who does and he seems pleased with it.

I use Smug Mug and so far have been pleased with the service. I like that it lets you customize the look of your galleries, stores original versions of your pics, and gives you stats on the activity on your site (yes, I'm a geek for that stuff). I compared a bunch of them before signing up and felt that it was the best deal for the money.
On the negative side there have been a couple of times over the last month where the entire site was down. Never for more than a few minutes, but it is frustrating when things like that happen.
I just ordered my first set of prints through them. I haven't gotten them yet so I can't comment on the quality. I've heard they're good, but won't now until I see them.

Here are a couple of shots that I took after the storm that hit the northeast last weekend. Critique is always welcome and appreciated.
I am sure there are more pictures out there, let's see them.

MWAC that is an amazing picture. Love it.

Here is one of mine.

Bob at Dresser Hill

Here are a couple that I took recently w my point and shoot. I like to keep it with me whenever I go out. You just never know when something might catch your eye.

LOVE IT! My daughter is looking looking at me like I'm nuts as I chuckle away.

I love the second and the fourth shots. It seems to me like ducks are always swimming away. It's great to get the eye contact.

Thank you very much :thumbup:

Thanks. I was just playing around with that myself. I'm torn... I often use photoshop to tune things up, but I don't often remove elements of the shot. I do like how it looks though.

Thanks everyone. I'll play around with some of those ideas.

Picman, Jean, and FotoSteve those are all really cool shots. I love shooting flowers, but sometimes I feel like they can be a little boring. I mean, flowers alone are beautiful so as photographers isn't it our job to somehow add something to the inherent beauty that's already there? I think you've all done a fantastic job of doing just that.
I'm having a hard time picking a favorite but if I can go with 3 my picks are picman12's second shot, Jeanhdl's first shot, fotosteve's first.

I took this shot on a very foggy morning over the weekend. Since catching leaf reflections on the mist covered water was out of the question I had to shift gears and try something different. I considered removing the lifeguard chair, but that's a little more invasive than I prefer. I'd love to get some feedback on this one as I am just not sure how I feel about it.