Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Thank you for the explanation. If you note the shutter speed for the HDR image, you will see that that is exactly what I did. Welcome!

dda53 Loc: Greenfield, Indiana

Thanks for responding to my enquiry about your equipment. Your answers have cleared my confusion. I too am new to photography and consider myself a bit more of a novice than you having only been involved for about nine months. As you have suggested I have been studying on-line via "Digital Photography School" and "Secret of Digital Photography by David Peterson". Both have been very helpful. I have also read nearly everything on the self on the topic at the local Library. I have also posted several pics on the stock photo site called Can Stock.com, but with no sales to date. The camera was a birthday gift and I have been very satisfied and amazed with it's capabilities. The more I have learned the more I realize how little I know. But it sounds as if I am doing pretty much the same things as you suggested and based on what I have seen of your work, it makes me confident I'm on the right course. Thanks for everything, and I look forward to your future postings. Good Luck with the photography and so long from the Hoosier State.

Heron in my backyard (abstract and a early effort)

TheSickness Loc: Maricopa, Az

I have no idea what all of you just said lmao....But the Pic's were brilliant thanks for sharing.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Another place you may want to check out is BetterPhoto.com; they have on-line classes in many different areas and skill levels, as well as on-line photo clubs, a monthly contest, etc.

You should have seen how confused I was when I first started trying to figure this stuff out. For the first 3 1/2 years, or so, I was completely in a vacuum; no photography friends, no local photography club, no Internet (I finally got a home Internet connection last Sept.). With this forum and everything else you are doing, you should learn more quicly than I did.

For your heron image, I really like the composition. Since the focus is a little soft around the eye, and the colors are sort of going in that direction anyway, I would suggest considering adding a watercolor filter to it, if you have software that could do that; I think that would make a neat image. I would also crop it in from the left side somewhat so it isn't so centered and appears to be looking out of the frame more.

Keep working on it , and you will know when it is time to look for a better camera; the camera will be the limiting factor.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Then I think you've come to the right place; there are a lot of opportunities to learn from others about photography and to ask questions about subjects you don't understand. Just remember to carefully read what is posted; not everyone is 100% correct. Welcome, and thank you.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

The bees in HDR is an awesome photo. They, bee, don't stay still long enough to take a couple frames of them.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Thank you, although I should clarify that the bee image is a single exposure. Here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, anyway, in the evening bumblebees stop wherever they are and sleep for the night. This was captured about an hour before sunset, and they were all sleeping. The biggest problem was waiting until the plant was still enough. I've never seen so many on one plant before.

dda53 Loc: Greenfield, Indiana

Thanks for your advise and encouragement. I don't have the watercolor tool that you spoke about, but I'll look around on the Web to see if there might be a free download program that does have the feature. I found Picasa for free on the Web and it is very nice; for beginners especially. Thanks again from Indy. I'll also look at cropping the shot like you said. The pic was taken before I discovered the "rule of thirds"

dda53

Glen Loc: Oregon

Ditto on the HDR shot. Fantastic! What program did you use?

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Thank you. I used Nik Software's HDR Efex Pro. I find that I can make realistic looking images with it without an inordinate amount of work, which is my goal with HDR.

mady Loc: Texas

What beautiful pictures.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Thank you, mady.

Glen Loc: Oregon

Thanks. I'll check it out.

RogerD

Beautiful work, Paul! I love them all!

nerfherder photography Loc: Michigan

Great shots