Yes.. thanks Frank. That's about as close as I got... still under scrutiny one can tell. But if that's the best we can get, I'll use it! I just wish the person who took the shot realized the flag was on the wrong side in the first place! Now just trying to "un-ring" that bell!

I tried using the "magic wand" to carefully select the portrait... cut it, then flip the background, then paste. That all worked, and looked not at all natural. I did see some folks that swapped out backgrounds with a portrait in the foreground that looked great... as though the picture was shot that way... just looking for some help here.

Thanks... I could've done that. I need to keep the portrait and just flip the background... Thanks anyway.
-Mick

I've tried without real success... could one of the Photoshop gurus help me flip the background keeping the portrait the same, but flipping the background so the flag is in back of my right shoulder? I've seen some of you background changes that were pretty amazing. THanks!
-Mick

With respect to the others responses, I'll offer up a different point of view. I'd save everything in RAW as long as you have a photo/image manipulation/storage app that will accept RAW. Once imported, your RAW images can at anytime be exported to JPEG, TIFF, etc etc... You can always get your JPEGs out of RAW, but never get a RAW image back from JPEG. Even though you might be novice, you might (probably will) get some stellar shots that you would need in RAW to get the post processing that you might want.. large print etc.
I'm all for not babying anyone.. it'll force you to move forward ... Of course that's just my opinion.
Good Luck
Mick

Here's a shot of that beautiful Sugar Maple back.

Your wish is granted!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqsqxgGLPbU

Your

Thank you Everyone for the words of encouragement. I guess there's nothing wrong with my lens, as this shot was probably 100 yards away.... if you take into consideration the height of the tree. I was complaining about soft shots with this lens, but I realize it's most probably user error. I'm learning NEVER shoot birds (or anything?) in Auto mode. There's just never enough shutter speed for sharpness in bird shooting. I've been starting in S mode and as high as possible, but nothing under double my focal length.. which is 1/800... but feel more comfortable around 1/1000. Then I adjust ISO up as necessary. With good strong light, I can keep the ISO down in the under 400 range.. as it starts clouding up, I've learned to put the camera away.. for bird shooting at least.
-Mick

This bird is a Red-Tailed Hawk.. Probably the most common bird of prey in North America. It's commonness doesn't diminish it's reagal or majesty in anyway.

Ellis "A" Style Mandolin that I've had the pleasure of playing over the past year. It sounds every bit as woody and delicious as it looks!
The top on #1 is Adirondack Spruce. The dramatically flamed sides on #2 are Sugar Maple.
Shot at dawn in the living room with the sun creeping in the window... Sony A900 and Zeiss 24-70mm f/2.8 at about 50mm with no flash.

A few more

What camera? Lens? settings?
Nice shot!

So after what seems like an eternity of being beaten into Winter dullness with only a few species of little birds to shoot.... Along came this Masterpiece of the Aviary Kingdom... and just took my breath away. He saw me fumbling out of the car, using anything but stealth and grace in an attempt of training my lens on him... sat and posed for me as if I posed no threat to him in the least, and as if he were the very king of his world.. then effortlessly flapped those massive wings like once and glided away like a stealth fighter.... What a gift I was given today! Thank you thank you thank you!!
Shot with a Sony A700 and Sony 70-400mm G Lens at 400mm S-1/1250 in S mode
-Mick

Stood up strong to a hard crop

Picked up the A100 for the wife. If you're interested, I'd ship you the VG-C70AM for $205 ($200 + $5 shipping). It is like brand new.. not a scratch.
Let me know. It's a shame it just sits unused.
-Mike

Getting a shot in overcast skies are so hard... Try and keep the Shutterspeed up past 400, and deal with underexposure, pump up the ISO, and get noise... what a damn juggling act!
I did get some nice bokeh at least.
Sony A900 w/ Sony 70-400mm G out at almost 400mm, AF then tweaked the ring to try and get sharper