Nice!

Very nice. I would like to know more about your techniques - It looks like you did some intriguing processing on the background to make the rose stand out. It is effective and improves the image dramatically. Can you share please? I am learning...

Thanks Jo! Your Christmas cards are lovely! I like the way you use graphics with the photos. Inspiring.

Such fun! I am a volunteer photographer for a rescue organization (German shepherds). Photographing dogs is challenging and rewarding. These are lovely photos of the dogs at play. I especially like the one in flight as he enters the water. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Tim.

Thanks for your comment. I agree that it is key to capture what's in the photographer's mind. Second is successfully conveying that image to viewers. Not everyone will like the final effect but that is what makes life interesting.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm curious - how do you reach those horse people? Do you have a website?

One thought I had to start is to expand my volunteer photography for the German Shepherd Rescue of New England to take portraits of people and their dogs, then sell them to raise funds for the rescue organization. It would get me out there and help a good cause.

Thank you.

Lovely shots - I especially like the eagles. If those are your friends, please spend more time with them!

Took this is my sister-in-law's backyard in the UK. Challenging set up as I wanted both the flower and the sunset. A few quick adjustments in LR seems to have helped get them both. (I tried HDR, but as there was a slight breeze, the images couldn't line up correctly. That created its own unique effect, but not what I wanted.) This was taken with Canon 5d miii, EF 24-105, f4.0, 1/80, ISO 200.

Hollyhock sunset

These are lovely. I like the way you have edited the flowers, especially the first image. I would love to know how you do this - with Photoshop? The textures in the first and last shots work particularly well.

You're doing the right first step -- taking a lot of shots. Practice is key.

I would like to know more about how you are shooting the birds: What settings are you using? How are you focusing? Metering?

I recently sat at a friend's window with a bird feeder, camera in hand. I found the following helpful: 1) patience; 2) willingness to take not-so-great shots; 3) preset the exposure to be sure I'm getting the birds right rather than the background; 4) fast speed and relatively wide depth of field (although I could have gone wider to get more in focus); 5) sport mode - i.e., take a lot of quick shots in a row. I'll spare you the (many) shots I didn't like. But I did finally get this one. It's still not great - too dark and the focus could be better. I also cropped to bring the bird in closer. I was nonetheless pleased after a lot of time and photos.

Hope this helps. Keep sharing; it will be nice to watch as you get this!

(Download)

These are lovely! What camera and lens did you use?

The clouds in the first one with the colors on them are wonderful.

Thanks - I am glad I took so many photos of her, although I miss her dearly.