I forgot to mention that I did have a circular polarizer on the lens. Your suggestion about a diffuser and a warming reflector is good. I'll try that. Thanks for the response.

Does anyone have suggestions for lighting and processing shots of a coal-black animal? If I adjust the levels for black in PSE, the rest of the pic becomes too light. Often highlights on the fur turn it silvery.

I guess it depends on whether you drive, fly, or sail. When flying, weight is a big factor. Tripod is a must, but in a pinch you can do without as long as your lenses are fast. I just returned from a trip to San Diego and Palm Springs, CA. I use a Nikon D5000, and took a 10-24mm (f2.8)for landscapes and tight positions, a 35mm (f2.4) for general purposes, and 70 - 210 mm kit zoom (f4-5.6) for my lenses. I also took a 2x extender for the 35mm and the zoom. Take extra batteries; a cleaning kit; and as many SD cards as you can. Storage is an entirely different matter. Depending on the length of your trip you might need both a laptop computer and an external hard disc with card reader.

Thanks phoneguy55. I will definitely give this a try. Good link!

Thanks MWAC. I think your answer is right. Just got 123di, and it explains it pretty well. It also explains the use of playing with contrast to increase sharpening. So damn much to learn!

Hello. I'm new to UH. My photography is eclectic; I take pictures of what fascinates me... mostly pets, flowers, scenery. Can anyone help me with the difference between PSE8 "sharpen image" vs. unsharp mask? I'm submitting 2 images: one is sharpened, the other used unsharp mask,

Venice, Calif. canal


Grizzly bear, San Francisco, CA