Yeah, I definitely understand that. I tend to prefer a more real look, although I would have framed them out if I had the chance.

It's amazing what a high end P&S can do these days. A bit of fringing and a small amount of noise, but otherwise prefect.

Actually, what about this (I delete it if you ask me to) :

(I was quick, so I really did a poor job -you can tell where I messed with the pixels- heh, but that gives you a general idea of the composition).

I do kind of like it, although, I think removing the extra branches tends to make it look kind of fakish. But feel free to tweak away at it, I'm always curious what folks get.

I just tend to prefer to have photos be either clearly authentic or clearly photoshopped, but that's just my personal taste.

Not sure if you could clone the top branches away and then crop alittle off the photo so the hawk is bigger in focus.
What lens did you use?

Well, I've been playing games more than playing with the camera these few months but managed to take a few normal looking shots of our own Universal Studios:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6424825875_05c9ea4bf7_b.jpg
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6219/6424830139_a3a7eee34e_b.jpg
Pretty normal shots with a 10-20mm wide-angle lens, that's about it I guess.

This Red Wattlebird used to sit outside on the garden furniture everyday waiting to follow me around the garden to feed the chickens. It was real friendly and tame for a wild bird, would eat scraps out my hand or sit next to me grooming. Sadly since Tuesday it hasn't come back. Its partner and two chicks still hang around the trees. I only got a few photos as it was there all the time.

Never noticed this thread oO Time to add some pictures ;) Imagesize is reduced to 3000x2000 (original is 4752x3168 and 6MB per picture). Camera is Canon EOS 500D.

Some birds of prey:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/64/img0447xq.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/img0456yx.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/img0510yg.jpg/

Dolphins:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img0596lz.jpg/

A lizard:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/img0549go.jpg/

I'm learning to use a new camera. I like having a dSLR, but sometimes it's too large to lug about. So, I used a Canon Powershot SX40 HS, I'm really impressed with it's performance right now, the big challenge for that shot was getting it balanced on the tripod.

The moon was taken with a 105mm lens which after cropping is a similar view as with a 840mm lens in 35mm format.

With some color grading you can bring out the true picture ;)
http://i.imgur.com/tecFC.jpg

The art gallery I submitted my samples to loved my pictures, but they are not taking photography artwork right now. They told me to try again in a few months. Which is disappointing but that's ok, I'm aware that I'll get more negative answers than positive ones.

No, what bugs me is that they kept the $25 check. Basically, I paid $25 to hear that they don't take photographs. I wish I knew that before paying them, since they knew I was going to submit photographs.

Good news is, I found a couple other places that are willing to make a deal with me. Both places are an hour an a half away, but I can deal with that. :)

Good luck with your quest ! I believe you have the talent just need an opportunity.

I'm still eying the D90 and the D7000 as it's hard to convince myself I need another expensive camera. I have the 12 mp p&s in the mean time . . . =)

You probably don't need it these days. My new high end P&S is quite impressive.

That being said, what you're typically buying is flexibility and reliability, the main annoyance with P&S cameras is the typically clunky interface. My camera does have full manual controls, but they're a PITA to use.

And 12MP is probably way more than you really need, you can do an 8x12" photo at full 250dpi.

Thanks!

I only have a few of these on Photobucket at the moment. Taken with a Canon Poweshot S3 IS and Nikon D80.

http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/u2jedi/U2%20contest%20entries/

Pmub.

You have some really good shots u2jedi. That must be something to take pictures during a live performance.

Choosing a polarizing filter is much harder than I anticipated. I'm willing to spend between 100 and 150 dollars (I want a decent quality glass and frame). I had some models in mind (like the Hoya HD for instance), but after watching a few reviews on YouTube, I'm not totally convinced.

It seems to me that you are losing way too much light and sharpness, resulting in underexposed images with black too dark here and there. I keep my investigations going and hopefully I'll make up my mind within the next couple weeks.

You always lose about 2/3 of a stop with polarizing filters. And yes, you do tend to have to tone it down in areas so that you don't have those black areas when you don't want them.

Sharpness, is a different matter, you'll always have some degradation, but not necessarily the same no matter which filter you use.