Been a long time since I last posted.

Would love your constructive criticism (positive & negative), suggestions, etc.

Thanks.
The Beach The Beach 2

Here's a great solution for a good picture that isn't all that great.

A friend caught us in this moment just before my husband changed into his tux for our wedding. It's one of my favorites of that day -- except for, well, all the stuff around us. Original. So, first I "cleaned up" the cabin -- who wants the trash can and a pot of slaw in a wedding photo, right?  Retouch 1. Next I decided to focus on what made this such a good pic - our moment. So, out came the blur filter. Retouch 2 Retouch 3  Retouch 4. And finally a bit of cropping Retouch 5

What do you like best?

Inspired by the beautiful closeups some of you post and the beautiful bouquet I received), decided to try my hand (and my little Olympus D-40) at getting this right. So, all you closeup wizards: Here was my  Rose close up. And although I didn't change any settings or technique as far as I could tell, the second pic was much  softer. What would cause the difference in results? Maybe I just got a little closer than the first shot?

What do you think of this composition? (Personally I think there's something wrong with the lighting?) Better?

Did I try to squeeze to much into this one and this other one?

Thanks in advance for some blunt feedback & advice :-)

Just about time for this Yankee-girl to head south again for the south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-family reunion at our cabin. I get my best photos there. Got me started thinking about our last trip. The drive down sets the stage:  
 Lookout ; The View

One of my favorite sites: the "Old

Boundry Rock" is actually listed on the deed as the edge of the property.  

More later, but would love your advice & comments on these. Thanks, all.

Signed on this AM & saw your post yesterday & all the responses. How awesome! Thanks to you, Hero, (and all of you) who intersperse cool photos with thoughts/questions/poetry etc. to get us to think and "talk" to each other. Okay, enough mushy stuff. Back to photos - what do you think of my Marina picture from a weekend trip to Marina Vallarta? Would have made a great "reflections" entry too, eh? Any recommendations on making a shot like this better?

Harriet, I don't claim to be a botanist (but my first-generation-off-the-mountain mother-in-law is darned close to one) & this is definitely a Mountain Laurel - state flower of Pennsylvania & blooms all over the eastern mountains. There may, of course, be other varieties which may account for the different color & blossom shape in your photo? And while we're at state flowers, here's one of my favorites, the NC State flower, the Dogwood. :-)

I came across these pictures while "cleaning up" my files. They're from last summer's Bristol (WI not UK) Renaissance Faire. A prettily landscaped garden Gate led to the Jousting field barns. When you peek behind the shops, you'll often find a great vignette like this Fountain. I think the tricky part about taking pics at a place like this is getting a moment when there are no patrons in the photo - wait, wait, wait, wait, then snap quick before the kiddies run back into the scene :-) And to all those parents out there who make their kiddies wait until someone who's obviously setting up to take a photo is done --- THANK YOU!!!!

More pictures from the cabin in NC. The first is a view up the steps to the porch. And then the view past the cabin. Here's where I need some advice: How do I get my beautiful NC skies to actually look blue in my photos? They keep "whiting out". (I'm using an Olympus 4megapixel digital). Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I've been able to figure out how to do a lot on this site, but can't delete uploaded pics from "My Photos". Can anyone help? Thanks, all - & sorry if this is a really dumb question!

This is my first entry - hope I did this right. Took this at our property in NC. My husband split the rails and built a fence around a lookout bench in memory of a departed friend. Your comments, critique (yes, I truly mean it) & suggestions would be welcome. Fence