My dad was also interested in photography, so I am sure that helped plant a seed in my head. Then, in about grade 8 (+/-) I had an opportunity to take an intro to photography course with some others in my class (a classmate's mom was a pro photographer ... we got to take some B&W pics and develop the film and make a few prints in her darkroom. By mid-way through high school I got hooked on Ansel Adams and bought my first real camera (just sold it 2 months ago, after 30+ years). Still have a soft spot for B&W.

Now that makes perfect sense ... would also explain why what I thought were gaps between boards had no apparent depth to them! I'll blame it on having been at my desk since 6:30 this morning (it is just shy of 3:00 p.m. and I really want to get out of here ... but too busy right now :( )

I really like #3 ... a few other angles of view might have also produced some interesting perspectives.

Strange shadow in #2 ... not even a hint showing of the lines/boards of the pier (or dock, or whatever it was). Was the shadow almost solid black before any PP was done? (just curious)

Love it ... closing my eyes and picturing a loon instead of a duck, and playing a clip of a loon calling inside my head :thumbup: Darn ... reality sets in and I have to get back to doing my work :thumbdown:

Hello from Calgary :) I do a lot of winter photography out here, down to the mid minus twenties (Celsius) so far ... lots of fun either trying to shoot with gloves on, or taking them off and seeing how fast one can take a shot before fingers get numb.

As for condensation, going from inside (warm) to outside (cold) is the easy part. You have to be very careful on the flip side or yes you can get condensation. I have heard about various tactics for dealing with this ... most (all?) centre around SLOWLY reintroducing the camera to warm moist indoor air and/or limiting the direct exposure of the camera to the warm moist air by sealing it inside something while it warms up.

I have to drive to get to my favourite photo spots, and find that the gradual rewarming of the car is perfect. I put camera back into camera bag before getting back into the car, after I have been out shooting in the cold, and have never had condensation problems.

okey dokey ... one from Vegas and one from the Tropicana Club in Havana, Cuba ... both a bit "noisy" because of high ISO

Like them both :thumbup: Particularly partial to the first one ... a good example (at least in my opinion) when a dead centre composition works well.

D: 2 x Olympus (e-520 and E-P2)

Inspired by recent posts ... I figure I might as well jump into the Golden Gate series :)

Very nice ... not too overprocessed (a fine line, but very much an individual taste!). I am also a big fan of HDR and have been using Photomatix for several years now. Look forward to seeing more shots :)

Thanks ... as I replied to the other person who brought up the crop issue, I did try a variety of crops. This is the one I liked the best ... but not sure why. As shown in the next shot from just slightly farther along the same marina, I usually have a bit of a bent towards loads of symmetry in my shots (maybe its an engineer thing) , even though that may break some "rules"

same Sausalito marina ...

Thanks ... I tried several different crops, both portrait and landscape, and settled on this one. Can't articulate for sure why I prefer this one.

Welcome Brad ... glad to see another Olympus user (I just joined here a couple of days ago, and also find it to be a very "friendly" site with some very helpful and knowledgeable contributors).

Like the pic ... I might have offset the flower a bit to the left (e.g., crop out a bit of the brick on the left), but that is just me.

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps "newbie" was not the correct term ... I was thinking of "new to this site" not to photography. I have been an "avid amateur" for over 30 years, but only got into digital about 5 years ago.

This next shot is taken looking directly back (i.e., turned 180 degrees) from that first shot overlooking the Canmore area.

Above Canmore, looking backwards :)