Thank You

Tennessee is not one of those states that routinely has deep snows every year. The last big snow (and yes, 6 inches is considered a big snow here), was several years ago. Here is a shot taken a couple of days ago, the morning of the 'big snow'.

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I use wool glove liners, with insulated mittens over them that flip down on thumb and fingers, for when I want to trip the shutter. Pull the ends and thumbs back up when not shooting. I have a problem with my hands getting cold also.

I also think the extra lines at the top make for too many lines, although one way to look at it would be that the line brings the eye back to the center. One thing about judging is that almost every set of criteria that I am familar with has incorporated points for impact. We are each impacted by different things, some the subject, some the colors, and mood, etc. Therefore acceptable variations with the judging process.

It depends on what the subject of the contest is, who the judges are, and how well they like an image like this as to how your image will hold up in a contest. Have you tried cropping the bottom to just below the round on the white portion (cropping out most of the overexposed light there), then crop from the sides, more from the right than the left, to square it up? If the subject is a smile, or a portrait, or anything near, the child's expression is priceless.

I am interested in the teleconverter if it has not yet sold, please pm me. Thanks. You have some great prices on your gear.

Shot about two weeks ago. Four images combined.

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The above-listed article explains the difference between the two programs well. I am a user of Camera Raw/Adobe Bridge for my editing along with photoshop. I also set out to learn PS many years ago and am comfortable with it. I attempted to use Lightroom several years ago, at one time, and actually had it loaded on my computer, unused, for several years, and then erased since I found I never used it. I have my own cataloging system (it's not perfect, but has worked for me so far) that I like better than lightroom's. I didn't like how lightroom sent my images places I didn't want them, so since the editing part is almost like camera raw's, I have just stuck with CR. I do think that lightroom's editing portion is a little more user-friendly and maybe just a little improvments over CR, but, not worth the hassle for me. But, I'm retired and not in the 'business' unless it's something I want to do, and if I were shooting professionally, I'm sure that I would more than likely use lightroom. If I were young, and anticipating a career using the camera and editing, I would choose lightroom over CR, I am cofident. However, in my situation, it's not worth the time and effort, and then the hassle of having my pictures in different places, and having to go from one program to another, and then having to store all of the edits along the way. It's probably more of an issue of what you become familiar with using. Both of these programs are good, IMHO.

Thanks for the picture and reminder of how pretty super white pictures of snow scenes can be, especially with just a little color! Well-done.

I like how the tiny blossoms that are open are silhouetted with the yellow color.

GSMNP

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Bryce and Smoky Mountain National Parks stand out the most for me. Every NP I have visited have had beautiful things about them. Thanks for asking.

It looks cozy for sure. Bet it's easy to heat. With a porch built all around, it might be just livable for one! Interesting picture.

Nice shots, but I'm curious as to what you are using for feed for these little blue beauties? They don't come to my seed feeders during the winter, and I have sometimes in past years kept mealworms in the refrigerator for them, and put up a little feeder on the clothesline. What else do you feed them? I don't have the worms this winter......must order them ahead of time and I failed to get an order in. Just wondering what it is the bird is eating? Thanks.

Cosmos flower. Easy to grow, and I suppose they could go wild, but you can purchase the seed. they are a delightful flower.