See my post in the above post " AI Clear vs DeNoise.

I have Topaz DeNoise. When Topaz came out with Studio I watched a number of the webinars and really liked the outcome of AI Clear so I bought it. It does work as an Adjustment in Studio. It has recently been upgraded and has more features. It works not only to remove noise but to add sharpness to the image because removing noise does tend to soften the image. So in my opinion, AI clear does the job much better then DeNoise. The Topaz Studio program is free and comes with lots of good FREE tools. You just have to pay for the extras. And AI Clear is so much easier to use. For me, it was well worth the cost. And Topaz has been offering some Black Friday deals. Or if you sign up and watch any of the Webinars at the end they include a 20% discount code to buy any of their products. Well worth looking into.

I always try to remember to turn my camera off when changing lenses. It just seems to make good sense. Not only from the standpoint of the sensor being charged, thus attracting dust, but from the fact that there are contact pints on the lens and camera that make electrical contact. BTW I have a mirrorless camera so the sensor is right there when I remove the lens.
And I try to do the same when I remove the memory card - turn the camera off. Again electrical contacts, granted a small amount of charge but you never know. Better to be safe than sorry.

A while back a member was asking about recommendations for photography books. I ran across this link and thought I would pass it on. I'm not endorsing any of these books, although I do have some of them. Just passing on the information.

https://www.phototraces.com/best-photography-books-for-beginners/

Read Ian Plant's book " Visual Flow" and you will better understand all these rules.

"Any so-called "rule of composition" can be successfully broken." In this book he goes on to say....."you will soon learn that there isn't any such thing as the "rules" at all: there are only compositions that work, and those that don't."
He addresses the "rule of thirds" the "rule of odds" etc. Well worth reading to better understand the rules and how to achieve a successful composition.
You can get the book in eBook format on this web site.

How so? What would cause this to happen? Trying to make sure I understand why - so I don't mess up.

I have an iCloud Photos app on my PC. All my photos on my iPhone go to the iCloud. So on my PC I just tell it to either download or upload. It works both ways. Just go out to Google and search for the iCloud to PC app and download it. Set up your iCloud account and your good to go. The iCloud app is FREE.

And if that doesn't do it, there are the sliders in Lightroom, Photoshop, ON1 - or whatever post-processing software you use.

I understand your concerns. You might try MACRO photography. So much of it, you can do in your own backyard or even at home in the house. Go to the grocery store or flower shop and buy some different flowers and try some MACRO photography. Check out the Mike Moates Macro facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/339994816429444/permalink/567557167006540/ Check out other MACRO information on YOUTUBE - tons of good ideas.

Really great - As mentioned by someone else - when I first saw them what came to mine was "A Norman Walkwell" image. How did you get the dog to interact so well in the photos?

A little humor goes a long way.

Lonewolf 456 - I don't either. No matter what, there always seems to be some ###### on this site that needs to make some unnecessary and unwanted comment. I just don't get it. It happens all too often, and it's not called for. Some new photographer to this site is just asking a simple question to get some feedback about something they don't understand and along comes #### running off at the mouth(keyboard) with inappropriate comments. I was under the impression that this site was about sharing our experience and skills with other upcoming photographers. My mother always taught us when we were kids, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything.
I think that the administrators or monitors of this site need to put out a warning to the person(s) making unwelcome comments that if they continue to make crass remarks they will be banned from this site. I for one am sick and tired of having to see inappropriate comments.

Well if you look at the features of the Olympus - E-M1-MK II you will not find some of these in any other camera on the market - mirrorless (motherless) or DSLR. Two that come to mind are the; Pro Capture - what to get the photo of a bird just as it leaves the nest or brach - Pro Capture will do that for you. Takes 14 shots at half press of the shutter button - then when the shutter is pressed all the way down it is in Hight or Low burst.
Next there is LiveComp. Want that long star-sky exposure or cityscape - Live Comp - takes a shot of the initial light, then continually adds new (light) to the image every 2 or 3 seconds (whatever you have it set at) until you press the shutter again. You see the image developing in live view - and just turn it off when you are happy with the image. How cool is all that?

That's a really neat explanation. I like the cake and frosting analogy.