This is probably the coolest response I've received yet. lol. Thanks for the giggle. I just got a 35mm 1.8 in the mail today. Excited to use it. Nothing like a brand new lens. Now, to just master this one and all the others.. I already bought my kids summer clothes... it's a good thing too.. ha ha. Thanks for the welcome. :)

Thank you Hal... Glad to be here.. Just two days now and i'm really excited about all the advice, feedback and even the criticism I've received so far. Oh, by the way... love your smile ;D ~Leslie

I'd love to be on the East coast in the FALL! I bet you have a field day with those landscapes. The colors must be amazing. I've been reading A LOT about the D800E and landscape photography. i hear they're like peanut butter and jelly. It's not so good for what i like to do, but for you I think you'd be in love with it. Ive also heard rumor of a D400... hmmm that's a tough one. When I upgraded to the D800 I absolutely did have to upgrade my computer..although, my Dell computer was 6 1/2 years old when I got the 800 so it was already due time to get a new one. But, I was able to hold out until May of this year.. I just kept all my files on an external and pulled them into the computer only when needing to edit them. I have a 1TB and a 500GB WD external that i use to back up files, because the MP's do take up space, esp the RAW files. But so worth it Ed... I can't tell you how much more I love the 800 than the 300.. the clarity and the quality is just amazing. No comparison. I still have my D300 and use it when I need a back up. But when I do, I notice the difference on the back of the camera right away. So worth every penny I'm still paying on it...lol. I'd love to hear what you decide to do. I'll be around. It's only been two days and I'm really enjoying the critiquing, advice and feedback I'm receiving. it's refreshing and motivating. It's a good thing for me right now. Thanks for your time Ed.. ttys :) Leslie

Hello. Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here. And I'm here for posts like yours. No offense at all. Criticism fully noted and critiques accepted. The young dancer photo I think looks that way because first, i didn't get the sharpness where I wanted it to be through the lens, so I sharpened and softened to sort of mask that? The mom LOVED the shot so I had to do something with it. And you're right. I have not mastered my equipment and I'll tell you why. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a photographer who has, first of all, will even give you the time of day to teach you ANYTHING? not to mention the technical skills you need to be able to teach you and physically walk you through your technical issues. I have ONE photography friend that will actually help me out on occasion, but he uses Canon. He can't help at all w my Nikon equipment. I've PAID good money for classes that I've still wondered.. what the hell did I actually just learn? Answer was usually.. a lot about that instructor and his education, career, etc. etc.. (which is why I swear NEVER to pay and attend a seminar ever again) Most photographers, especially really established/successful ones, spend most of their/your time talking about themselves. It drives me crazy. You can throw a model up on stage w/ your equipment, backdrops and props that cost thousands of dollars, most probably donated by the fact that you are advertising for them, and this wonderful portfolio is produced but it always goes smoothly. There's no errors or note to possible errors or troubleshooting that has to happen, because they've done the same set up on 22 other stages in other cities and it's cookie cutter. Problems will always arise for me when I have no one to bounce it off of. There's "what if's" I'd like answered... i could continue to ramble on but I think you get my point. I subscribed to StudioStyles.net last October.. has lots of instructionals and videos by this guy whos actually pretty good at explaining lighting and strobes etc and the videos actually walk you through set ups in the studio and on location but again, no discussion of camera equipment. I think he shoots Canon too. Out of all the videos that have been shared with me, like Ben Wilmore's Photoshop and Sue Bryce's videos (both are still sitting in dropbox, no time to watch them). I have multiple books, again, no real time to dig into and really absorb all this info. I'm an ICU nurse. I learn best hands on. Always have, probably always will. I strive for perfection and my being just keeps striving and I will until I get this right and it finally becomes 2nd nature. Thanks for reading all this. I realize now.. it's a bit lengthy and I probably owe you a psychotherapy office call. lol. Thanks again, hope to hear back from you...

(I think you're right... ;) Thank you fellow Michigander :)

Thank you :) Glad to be here.

That is a beautiful photo, thanks for sharing that ;) Well, I definitely don't have a NEC monitor as I don't even know what that is... lol. I edit on an IMac. I shoot w/ a Nikon D800 and I do use a tripod most of the time when shooting portraits unless I'm at a weird angle or on the floor. I do have a good job. It's secure and pays well. But money isn't everything. I turned 40 this year. I'm not going to live forever. This has been a dream of mine since I was about 27 years old and yes, it is a pretty demanding profession and it requires so much learning, trial and error and a lot of money spent on equipment and gadgets but it challenges me. Nursing doesn't challenge me the way it used to. It's like riding a bike. I still love it some days, but other days I wish I would never have to step foot back into a hospital. Ever. Photography is my outlet. It lets me feel in control and what I learn is apparent in my work and it's rewarding. Thanks for your input :)

Well Howdy to you too ;) thank you! I was not aware there was such a thing, but I will research that possibility for sure. I'm currently shooting with a D800.

I appreciate your advice! Look forward to more "howdy's" too!

You're absolutely right. I just did a recent set of headshots and I encountered that very problem. Had my aperture set too low and the tip of her nose was as sharp as it could be.. Even though I thought I had the focus on her eyes. Lenses are tricky and I've learned the hard way that unless you're really paying close attention to where exactly that focus is falling, your image could be useless. But, the more conscious I've become, it happens less frequently. But it happened to me most often when using my 50mm.. Thanks so much for your input ;) much appreciated.

Hi Edmund ;) it is a nice lens.. Maybe it's me that needs tweaking to maximize its glory? I started w a D300 and bought a D800 last September.
I'm not sure i can say I have a speciality just yet.. But I've always been a fan of the dance world. Lois Greenfield is my hero. Her work is just amazing. I love Seniors, because they want to look their best in photos. I'm very much a photographer who feeds off her subject. The more into it they are, the better I am at what I'm doing. I've been an ICU nurse for the past 10 yrs and my people skills are pretty sharp, but when I'm photographing someone who is self conscious or isn't into having their photos taken.. I don't feel I do as well. Babies am small children are fun. I've learned early that you just have to let them do what they want, they'll warm up. I love spontaneous capture its the best. What do u shoot with and what is your specialty Edmund?

Thank you ;)

Thank you Brenda :) That is mostly my goal when taking a photo, so that the person, or someone who loves that person can say, "thats a beautiful photo of you" I strive to capture the best of a person that maybe they don't see..

I'd love to hear more feedback if you'd like to view more of my photos at melodyoflifephotography.com. Enjoy the slideshow :)

Thank you Lenf I appreciate your comments... especially the one about having the "eye"... one can only hope that's true for them when they love photography as much as I do...

Why, Thank You :) I do also have the 70-200 2.8 and i have used it for portraits also and it's done well now that I think of it.. that lens I'll never get rid of... I use it almost as much as I use my two prime lenses.. I also bought a used AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm lens made back in the early 90's.. I don't use it too often.. it's heavy.. I don't really carry it w/ me.. but maybe I should? So many possibilities. I just love clarity in a photo that almost has a sparkle and rich, even color tones. I like my images to look alive..

I like to soften my portraits a bit in post production, but the last photo... I didn't quite get the sharpness exactly on the area of the eyes that I wanted to.. I'm still learning to master the distance and angle to get that perfect sharpness.. I've done it as many times as I've not done it I think...