Paul--I have a question. I have a Nikon D750 and a Sony Rx 10 IV. I bought the Sony for the reach but really like the Nikon for the full frame ability. I don't care what camera I use and since I live in Palm Desert, CA. there isn't a whole lot of great items to capture. I do have great sunsets an some some animals--roadrunners, birds, etc. but I'd like to start taking some serious quality pictures. I have the 24-105 lens for the Nikon and also the 70-300 zoom. I would like to go a step further in my ability and wondered what your thinking is about the newer mirrorless availability is and whether it's worth it to change. I like the Canon products but only have a small point and shoot, but it's a great little camera for what I do in taking pictures of buildings for insurance purposes.

I'd love to talk to you about this. If yu can call me, I think I'd get more out of it than a dialogue here. 760 333 3319,

Hug Curtis

Annie--I'm not that familiar with photoshop, primarily a lightroom user--what is the process to do this---absolutely beautiful

Mike --what was your equipment and lens selection

Great pictures--well composed. It doesn't look like you used a flash in the pictures of the ladies. How far back were you and what settings did you use to black out the background--looks very nice with no clutter.

So Linda--whenever you want a black background, do you always use the EV to get it

I think you did a good job with the focus point on these, considering the surrounding greenery. Very nice. I would have thought 1/2000 would stop the wings. I've done a few at 1/1000 and stopped them, but these are nice.

Haydon--not sure how to do the high speed sync-I'll have to look into that-it was sunny out and I could have shot these at 1/1500. Thanks for the comment! I think they look pretty close to stopped

I've tried to shoot with less than 1/1000 but unless I crank the ISO up to get there--it's still blurry

Our neighbors have this feeder which hummingbirds seem to love. There are times of the day when 7-8 are there all feeding. Hard to get too close. Nikon D750 1/1000 at F 5.6 ISO 200

Make sure you visit the Indian Canyons in South Palm Springs. There are a couple of different places there--Andreas and Palm Canyons--great photo opportunities

Beautiful--this looks like a postcard. Love the framing.

Down in Palm Desert, the Southern California desert, we have these craft roadrunners skimming across the valley picking up insects, snakes, and just about anything they can manhandle. This one happened to be in my back yard--then the front yard, and I was able to get a few shots before he moved on. Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-300; Aperature priority; F6.3 ; 1/125; ISO 400; 240 -300 MM.

Hi Sherry--I'm new to the site a well but enjoy learning form all those with so much experience. IMO, I think you need to be a little further back to capture the whole scene--give it more detail. You're better off being able to crop more than to have the subject too tight you can't do anything with it. I understand your limitations with the bars being in the way however. These didn't turn out too bad considering what you had to work with--lighting, F stop to create that lighting, ISO..... Like has been mentioned, I think you keep snapping pictures. They will get better as you become accustomed to settings and conditions. Lighting is always an issue in some form, but the lighting on these is ok. I agree with Tony--keep doing your best--if you get one picture out of 10 in a setting like this, with it's limitations, feel good!

I thought so--something about Canon stuff is pretty amazing. I have a Nikon D750 and only the 24-120 so I need some more reach. I've looked at Nikon glass, Sigma, Tamron, but I'm starting to like the Canon gear. Would you buy the 6D again or go up to maybe a 5D Mark 3 or 4? They're expensive but my Nikon hasn't done much for me up to this point. I live down in Palm Desert so not far from you. Not a whole lot down here to shoot other than lizards, birds, etc. Your results look great, clear and sharp. Juist picking your brain I guess.

Thanks Brent

Hugh Curtis

What's your gear consist of Brent? Great close ups!