I for one prefer the effect that you got in your first shot - Photomatix. I like the way the rocks look in the foreground and the shadows show more detail behind the waterfall.

This is great!

Thanks Sherry.

Can't brag about the food, but the people have accomplished so much! It is truly a working example of one of the most democratic societies in the world with different religions and nationalities living peacefully with one another. They have accomplished an oasis in the middle of the desert! It is a sight to behold.

You might want to try two different techniques. One would be to boost the ISO and then see if there is enough light to shoot available light (without the flash). Another technique to consider is to use an external flash on the bracket on top (one with bounce capabilities) and bounce the flash off of a wall or ceiling. I rarely used the flash that came with my earlier cameras with the exception that I used it outside for fill-in light. My current 5D doesn't even come with a flash even though it is a more expensive professional type camera....

Thanks - I have been enjoying your comments since going onto UHH.

I have a Canon 5d and used a 24-105 L lense and a 70-200
non IS L lense. I also usually use a polarizing filter for the scenics.

I changed browser's from Explorer 9 to google. Also, I initially tried to send 3 photos at a time. My files are large and it seems that they go through better when I only put one through and then add the others individually. Don't use preview prior to sending, your pictures will be eraced. Hope this helps.

The advantage of panning is that since you are theoretically following the birds (cars etc) you do not need as fast a shutter speed. You will also get the backround blurred which is beautiful when one wishes to show "action and movement." In other words the backround will be blurred and the birds sharp. If you use to fast a shutter speed you won't get this effect. With the widest lens opening as a limitation you should also boost your ISO as much as possible. I would think you could capture the birds with 1/200, perhaps even less and still get shar photos with the birds motion frozen.

Michael - Thanks for the comments. I only suggested HDR to the person starting the post to let them know that Photomatix has this possibility. I myself usually shoot HDR by using +2, reg. exposure, and -2 and in RAW and then processing it in Lightroom and then Photomatix. I agree with you, sometimes the +2 or -2 is the best shot and is best left as is.

The story of Masada is famous. Masada was built on top of a mountain and the Jewish people built walls on the plateau in order to protect themselves from enemies. When the Romans came to conquor this land the Jews collected on Masada with enough food and water to hold off the Romans. The Romans gathered below and built barricades to protect themselves until they could have enough forces to attack. When they finally attacked they found that close to 1000 men, woman and children had committed suicide rather than subject themselves to becoming slaves. I believe it was 10 men that killed everyone and then themselves. The last man impaled himself with a sword.

The view from the bottom of Masada is equally spectacular and you would readily see how difficult it would have been to mount an assault against this fortress.

Thanks for the feedback. I don't know what caused the halo - have to see if it was something I did in processing it in Lightroom. Also, I never noticed the car - good catch!

Thank you.

Thanks for the feedback. No flash was used. I was shooting with a 200MM lens so the subjects were not posing and didn't know that I was shooting them The lady wondered what I was doing after I snapped her and made an obcene gesture. She was sitting in a chair in her store.

Some shots I thought were nice. Took these shots in Israel last year.

Street Corner - HDR








Looking at the Dead Sea from Masada