Brrrr! Fantastic images. Now that's why photography is art.

Fabulous shots (all). You had a great vantage point. Where were you in relation to the eagle? As for the eagle, he (or she) certainly traveled some distance with that branch as it doesn't look like there are any trees nearby!

Very artistic image. Works well with high contrast like this. I have a few done in the film days but none digitized. Will have to compliment you by imitating! Where in Maine were you from? I'm between Bangor and Ellsworth.

Thank you for posting this thread/link.

Those potential students are learning basic skills through blogs like this and others. Photographing is nearly kaput, while Imaging is king. The school of hard knocks has been made easier and simpler with digital. Like CaptainC says everyone has a DSLR or even a DP/S that is as fine as my initial digital camera and 1/9th the cost Kodak DC290 at 900 /+ dollars).

The odd thing about the "New Photography" is that it has become so competitive to enter professionally, but most of these same pro's almost always/ are willing to assist anyone who asks.

A good topic to philosophize about.

Hey folks...check out Corel ProPhoto (10th through 15th editions) filters. I have used Corel to sell more than Adobe's PS even with Corel's 4th edition! I sell privately because it is more of a hobby than a business.

You can also purchase additional textures on-line.

Just follow the recommendation in your manual. Please read, read and read the manual. Carry the manual in your photobag. At. this time, it is more important than what aperture or shutter speed you select.

It may sound like heresy, but shott the camera in Automatic/Program Mode just to get used to it (100 images should do it).

Best of luck!

Print in within a large glassine envelope.

What happens if you turn the shutter sound off in your camera set-up?

Welcome! As a former Mass. resident I have found that using Aperture-priority works well. I will use a f-stop of perhaps 8 (as it is just about at the sweet spot of the lens). I will then meter at partial sky where light and use the AE lock on the Nikon camera to hold the exposure. Then fire away.
another option I use is to start with the step just discussed and change to Manual Mode at f 8. Adjust the shutter speed accordingly as the light decreases. Give at least 45 minutes to get some beautiful images as the light dims. If you have a tripod...all the better. If nothing is in the fore ground like a fence, tree, etc. put yourself in for an interesting silhouette by using your timer, tripod,etc.

Best of luck. Everything takes practice, practice and more practice. Check out Photo Courses at nearby Comm. Colleges (usually run by the Art Department).

Just a second there! I only shoot miniature golf. I feel so embarrassingly small despite have 3 figure-scores.

As a respiratory therapist, I am fond of these sayings.

When you can't breathe nothing else matters.

It happens.

When you can speak to me, you can breathe.

Breathe!

Being short in height is not as bad as being short of air.

Try the following: 1. awrap a wide elastic band around the lens portion of the filter connection. Then twist while holding the elastic band tightly to prevent slippage. Keep the elastic band or 2 in your camera bag for the future.
2. Similar, but use a roughened-side of a leather belt
3. Grab a large pair of adjustable non-locking pliers.Open the pliers to fit at the connection. Apply a small dry face cloth to prevent the pliers from damaging filter. Place the pliers grippers (teeth) only on the filter. Apply just enough pressure to squeeze the cloth and rotate the filter CCW.

Hope this helps,.

Ray

P.S. Examine the threads on your lens and filter to be sure they haven't been cross-threaded. Next time, lightly screw the filter CW finger tight (it's not a lug-nut).

Still like the joke.

One-third of my images are converted to BW. My flow is to shoot RAW +JPEG. Import to LR4. EDIT IN nIK sILVER. Save as a TIFF.

Conversion of color to B/W within the camera is easy but certaily not as detailed because it is essentially removing the saturation and perhaps uping the co0ntrast.

BW in the caamera is more of a promotion tool for the non-serious photographer.