Gessman cut to the chase, headed 'em off at the pass, pulled out his pistol and blasted the guy with the scimitar, "It depends on what you want and what you're willing to accept."
If you have the editing skill and want perfection go for it. If you can set all the controls and buttons and are willing to accept the results toss your editing program just use your camera and your skills. If you are like most of us though, you need to hone both sets of skills. Learn your camera, what it can or cannot do and how to make it do it. And hone your editing skills in an editing program you are comfortable with to get the best out your photos without getting rediculous, (whatever that is). BOB

Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't. I am seven and a half decades old. I have been taking pictures since I was about five years old with mom's old bullet 35 mm that dad carried all over Europe.I didn't know or care whether it was 35mm or 45 caliber. The camera took this celophane stuff you put in the camera. You rolled the little wheel until a number appeared.You looked through the peep hole and pushed the button. When the film wouldn't go any farther you rewound it and took it to mom. She took the film out and got it made into pictures. Neat huh? That went on for about sixty years. Only difference was I learned to put the film in and take it out myself and that when you didn't roll the film right you got double exposures and if the film wasn't hooked up right on the little cog wheel you could take pictures for days without filling up the film. Opening the camera to discover the cause of this mystery resulted in exposed film that turned black or was it white for some dumb reason. About fifteen years ago I got a little more serious about picture taking and advanced to point and shoots and digital. Around Christmas this year I really got serious about photography and learned about aperature and ISO and f-stops and wow! EXPOSURE. The internet has so many many people who know so much about Everything and they want to teach every body about it. I ordered a Canon dslr. I heard about Ugly Hedgehog and joined. Should've done that first. Anyway, (I have been accused of being wordy,) I have been learning all kinds of things over the past 75 years and expect to continue to do so over the next 20 , hopefully. My point being,after all this, is everybody gets a little testy once in a while. Some more than others. A few are always looking for an excuse to take a poke at the guy on the next bar stool for any reason. Most of us not so much. This group is so big (50 people usually on the same birthday!) We have several of all kinds of people and personalities. That's what makes this group so much fun. So let's timid ones not get disheartened. Play nice like you did in kindergarten even if you didn't have kindergarten. Be patient like patients in the waiting room with toe fungus or AIDS. And be brave! I'm still too scared to send in a picture. My new 50mm comes tomorrow. I will be brave and send three pictures for your disection, er critique. BoB

I grew up fourteen miles west of DuQuoin. First job off the farm was at the Maid Rite there. First fiance' there. Never did go to the Hambiltonian (world's Richest Harness race at the time), though. Fed a lot of the fair goers and horse people. You got the action covered. The leading horse is not even touching the ground. BoB

Good, I just bought one from B&H. It's supposed to arrive Tuesday. According to the internet it's a nifty-fifty, a must-have for all serious photographers. I'm trying to be serious, (most of the time) BoB

Is it me or are my old eyes playing tricks? The first and last shot seems to be the same only with a very good telephoto on the last. Another BoB

Love to hear from Graham. He always brings a chuckle. Another BoB

This is my first attempt at a post, so we'll see if it flies. I have just got a brand new T6i for myself for Christmas, birthday and a couple "honey thank yous". I took a picture of some family members and a Christmas tree just last week. As I am new to the camera and a number of photography classes I payed it safe and shot it full auto. My wife made a similar shot with her old point and shoot. My next challenge is to upload the two for your inspection. i think this is called breaking the ice. Hope I don't break anything else. Stein