If your SIL is shooting Auto, her output images are almost certainly JPGs; what format are yours? If you're shooting manual, is your image format RAW? If it is, that's your answer: RAW files will require some PP to bring out their best qualities.

If you're both using the same format, I'll shut up.

Close, but I'd change this to experience/dedication/equipment or, maybe, even dedication/experience/equipment. A professional keeps up with the equipment scene and has the gear to get the job done, and enough to ensure that lose of one or more components won't endanger and assignment.

Experience and dedication, in whichever order you prefer, are the keys. If you don't really understand your subject, you can't create an image that truly represents its character.

A dedicated photographer will get the needed experience and an experienced photographer is that way because of dedication (to photograph something).

Pretty much what you've heard -- a wonderful place to visit and observe. Just one piece of advice: try to get there around high tide. There are a lot of views of the marsh area, but most of the wildlife (what will still be there around Columbus Day) seems to be active when the tide is in.

Absolutely. We're on the same page.

All true and I endorse the above comments. However, there is one place where the monopod is better than the tripod: when fast-moving action is involved. In this latter case, the monopod gives you some support (better than hand-held) and allows you to change your camera angle very quickly (it's great for panning situations).

Also, the monopod makes a much better "walking stick" for use when shooting outside (e.g., on a hike).

Then you've clearly never photographed a fast-moving sports event where the best you can do at composition is make sure that all the action is at least somewhere in the frame -- cropping and repositioning is almost always needed here.

Or, you've never photographed a family group of twelve or more people where, no matter how hard you try, you can't get them with good expressions and not blinking all at the same time -- with proper planning, PS or PSE can help you save this situation.

Or, you've never had to produce a portrait of a teen who wants his/her braces to not show.

Some things are just impossible SOOC and anyone who thinks otherwise is just fooling himself.

Spectacular

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

IMHO Art results from the translation of a vision (visual, aural, tensile, etc.) into an end product that accurately represents that vision. A photograph can be art (or it may not): Cameras and post processing SW don't create art, but they are used by the photographer in the creation of art.

Likewise, paints and brushes don't create art, but they are used by the painter in the creations of art.

Ditto for pianos/guitars/orchestras being used by composers and performers; typewriters or word processors by writers; chisels and hammers by sculptors.

The tool doesn't matter, the end product does.

And, just for the record, are large number of end products aren't art either -- the final decision is made by the viewer/listener.

This is actually very good advice. My prime cameras are two Sony A850 full-frame SLRs. They're not the loudest made, but they can certainly be heard. I shoot a lot in churches (first communions, holiday celebrations, etc.) and I try to be as unobtrusive as possible (within the bounds of my assignment). To this end, I just invested in a Sony A77, a crop-sensor translucent mirror camera with a much quieter shutter and a max frame rate of 12 to 15 frames/sec. Now I can shoot multiple shots with minimal intrusion.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I personally only know one realtor who is a stickler for high quality photos -- although there are some high-end ones who are willing to pay a professional photographer.

As you've been told, ReMask 4 is out (a free upgrade). It's probably one of my two or three most important post processing tools. With practice (and it does take some), it makes generating accurate masks a breeze. The remaining part of the image (after the masked stuff has been removed) is place on a separate layer. And layers are where it's at -- I've had as many as four stacked so I could get the right processing on various parts of my images. Just my opinion, but I think it's worth 3 or 4 times what they charge for it.

Just keep in mind that if you read the license agreement of your pre-cloud software, your still didn't "own" it. It was simply licensed to you; and, in addition, you had to pay for the periodic upgrades. With the cloud, the lease arrangement is a more obvious, but it really hasn't changed; and you're automatically provided with updates as they occur -- no extra charge beyond your normal lease deal.

I very much agree. If your pupil doesn't see results quickly, she'll likely start to lose interest. Try this:

Lesson 1: Camera on/off, battery changing/charging, shutter release. Set the camera to AUTO (you do it if your have to). Assignment: Take pictures, lots of pictures.

Lesson 2: Review the pictures -- on the computer if you wish. You can gently critique: show different cropping and explain how she can do that in the camera (e.g., get closer, put subject off-center, etc.). Assignment: Take more pictures.

Lesson 3 to N: Same as 2, but hopefully the images are [at least a little] better. During the critique, look for frequently made errors (tree out of the head, busy background, blended background/subject). With each critique show her how to get a different/better effect by adjusting one of the exposure triad. Assignment: Take more pictures, but you might want to help her focus by suggesting the subject matter: "Take 20 pictures of fire hydrants." or "Take 10 pictures involving staircases." -- you get the idea.

Up to this point, one rule is "no flash". Pretty soon, she'll get frustrated by the restrictions placed on her by the "no flash" prohibition. Now you can introduce her to off-camera flash (and why we don't normally get good results with on-camera flash).

Keep the atmosphere positive: laugh off the inevitable shots of the floor; always find something good to say about the images being critiqued -- maybe let her lead the critique session and you gently nudge her to the right conclusions.

This is just off the top of my head. Given more time, I could probably refine the ideas.

You're right. It does use the same battery as the A900. I have the original A77 and a pair of A850s and swap batteries at will.

Speaking of batteries and charges: My advice, turn off the GPS unless and until you need it. It really does a number on batteries since it's on all the time.

Good luck and congratulations!