Drink more water...stay away from soft drinks. Expand your interests in digital photography...step away of fear that keeps the creative juices flowing.

Depends on your savy in the digital environment. CS5 PhotoShop is tops in features, but if you do not have digital savy, you would still need to learn the functions of either program. Talk to someone in both evironment and learn the difficulties of the learning curve and benefits of both. Watch out for "preferences" because they are already savy and comfortable in their frame of mind....so to speak!

Is that like the deer in the headlights? Ha!

Though the "devil" is real, our wants ("en vie") are sometimes revealed as our weakness, or fortune. If the "devil at home" has a household "budget", you also own such budget. If communications with your lady is under stress, that is another issue. If your lady is in support of your "find" and appreciates your enthusiasm, she might be called on your cell phone for discussion of your find.

Sounds like you are an avid photo enthusiest, and sensitive to a budgetary issue. All in jest, but it is about a loving relationship...yes?

RAM is one issue but computers use "scratch disk" to process what the RAM cannot process...that is it streams to the hard disk and feeds back through the resident memory as it loads into the document. You either have too much running in the background (multiple file download, or other unnecessary programs) for which you can go to your task bar and close, or your hard drive has limited space. Or you may need to "defrag" your hard drive to retrieve maximum hard drive space.

Technology does not make a photographer. However those photographers who embrase technology have many options to enhance and create their photo canvas. Money's ability does not make a photogrpher, though fine photographers who are masters at their work are being ignored by those in industry and print creativity who don't know the basic elements of the professional field. Intuitiveness and skill catches the real photographer's eye...with old camera and new camera, old software and the newest of software. It's all about the capture of the photographer's intuitive frame.

Yes. Save your photos in JPG, PNG or Gif. Make sure they are RGB colors and between 72 -100 dpi. Make sure they are also sized not much larger than 3.25" in width. Otherwise, it will take many computers longer to download the photo content.

CMYK saves Cyan, magenta, yellow and black atributes. RGB is for red, green and blue television and computer monitors require. As is on a stage, equal amounts of red,green and blue mixes to a white lighting. CMYK combines on a printer's white substrate surface to create any color in a PMS chart.

Tiff (tagged image file format) holds maximum image data. JPEG is a "compressable" to use as small or smaller than 72 dpi for web use. Always save the full size JPEG before reducing the resolution (name it separately so as not save over the larger file.) If you are using Tiff or JPG for print production, you will need to save it in CMYK for the press. RGB is used for video or web use.

In my early days, I had a Miranda 35mm SLR that allowed a reversal of the lense, thus giving a 1:1 image on the negative. The image was crisp as the camera lense was moved into focus. Had lots of fun with macro in those days.

Depending on the use, a JPG file is compressed in size to accommodate the usage. A 72dpi JPG (RGB) is fine for web content. A GIF is also. An animated graphic is in a GIF format. I would think a JPG in most cases can be downsized for most uses. Be careful about using GIF file that are going to the printshop. They are low resolution and will translate in a pixelated appearance. A 300K or higher resolution in "CMYK" JPG is preferable for print. What can be produced on desktop inkject printing is not necessarily appropriate for a printshop.

I'd use a polarize filter and focus on a sharp facial object on the photo plane. You would also need a soft reflective bounce on both sides (45 degree angle) to prevent a reflecton on the glass. Make sure the glass is pristine clean!

In PhotoShop, increase your "canvas" size according to your frame. Use your stamp tool and center your pickup point. Stamp the image into the new white or transparent area of the new canvas size.

It's all about the utilization of the image. Shoot large and send "drafts" small (reduced). That way, the receiver does not get the high definition for your professional work. If they like the compressed .jpg, they will be willing to talk about the potential use of your higer-resolution original.

Tripod and level together.