Wonderful Macro. Eye shine and perfect focus shows what a macro should look like. Take heed, all you macro shooters out there.

Great first shot, Michelle. Your treatment of Looking Glass looks good, also. It's nice to see someone local on here, I live just north of Asheville, and fish in and around the Davidson River all the time.

I believe Iguanas were introduced into Florida, originally as exotic pets, along with the boas and pythons now plaguing the state.

I agree about the dark background, almost loses the head.

Great shot!

Wonderful shots. I would like to thank all veterans for their service. Mid 60's, USS Saratoga, CVA-60.

I'm curious...is that poster an antique from WWII?

If you're able to re-shoot, get the tracks out of the center. Go for a more diagonal shot, coming in close to a corner, and going out towards the opposite corner. Shoot both horizontal and vertical images, at each location, as well as under different lighting conditions...gives more choices in the end.

Remember, images on digital media are cheap, shoot, shoot, shoot!

Here's another thought...since the other person is not identifiable, and is obviously looking into a stall, I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, it may actually be a friend of the person in the wheelchair.

I think it's wonderful when handicapped folks expand their horizons to the limits of their ability.

I don't know about unethical use of original boxes, but I keep my boxes and warranty cards...yes, I know they take up a lot of room, but they came in handy as proof of ownership when cameras and other things were stolen when my vehicle got broken into. I staple my purchase receipts in the back of owner's manuals, also good for proof of ownership. I recently gave my old Minolta A200 to my daughter, along with the box and owner's manual.

I don't worry about buying used from reputable dealers, but e-bay listings require careful scrutiny. No accurate description, or good, clear photos, calls for passing the item by, no matter how bad I might want it.

Oh, by the way...the Canon SX30 has been supplanted by the SX40. You might find a good deal on a new SX30. They were $400 retail.

If looking at e-bay, read every word and buy from someone who allows returns. I have been crawling e-bay looking for lenses and many vendors do not allow returns. Some of the e-bay vendors are established camera shops in their local area, more likely to not pass off a pig in a poke.

Used equipment vendors like KEH, B&H Photo, and Adorama stand behind what they sell.

I wonder...are the pro cameras of today as stout and tough as the pro cameras of yesteryear. Those old Nikons and Leicas could "take a licking, and keep on ticking." My Minolta 7D has a metal body (except for the back) and is built like a tank (about the same weight, too.)

Fujichrome 50 was great film, but had little on Kodachrome 25, the main drawback of which was the slooooooow speed. I don't miss using film, no matter whose it was.

Sunset on Raquette Lake, 2007. If you look at my avatar, you will see the same group of trees behind me that are in shadow on the left of the sunset photo.

Actual lighting

Do not carry your passport in luggage or carry around bag. Use one of those cloth wallets which goes against the skin, under your clothes.

I don't know how it is now, but if you're staying in country at a single hotel, it used to be safe to leave your passport with the concierge, unless you needed it for a side trip across the border.

If this is your first trip, keep a supply of local change for the stalls in the WC (public bathroom), and also to tip the attendant.

I'm from Upstate New York, and I can tell you there are swamps and wetlands all over the place, especially north of the Thruway. That's why there are so many mosquitoes.

Other than that, it's a great place, especially the Adirondacks. Now that I'm retired, I'm planning to move back.