Wow, guys!! Thanks so much for all the great information and ideas!! Cindy, thanks for explaining about the "triangle theory" of compo! I got a lot of great ideas about 3 months ago about how to remove a background and/or select an object. Click Here to see that thread! I'm really ashamed to admit that i still have a lot of problems with this despite all ya'all's (sorry for deep southern slang) help. i do roll out my images really big as Brenda suggested. Trying to use that silly lasso thing is hard for me. snakey said: "I again would use the lasso tool to draw a neat outline around areas like the pole and hair line." Well, i can't draw a neat outline around those areas with a mouse to save my soul. i really think i need to use a tablet and pen, but kemal says there's some kind of problem with my USB ports or something and it may not work so good. anyway, maybe i should try to find some tutorial. Also that's a cool idea about the background matching the type of music he sings. I will think about that, Cindy!!!! Thanks!! maybe i can make something unusual that way! hmmmm, everyone seems to like the bottle and the hand??? thanks for telling me. i'll think about that! hands are important to me to do right. i keep looking at it and feel like i could have done it better. i'm really, really picky when it comes to hands. Michelle, you're absolutely right...there were sooooo many distractions in this. and there were also 3 dogs running around. and one lady was a wee bit tipsy and staggering around. i was really nervous about taking these pics, and i didn't pay enough attention to composition before i took this shot. i so much appreciate your 2 cents (and everyone else's), and believe me I'm happy when you guys tell me how to improve my images!! i never take any offense so don't give it a second thought to just tell me what you think. Richard, i will do that. i've taken some other shots like that, but i felt a little awkward. i just need to experiment under conditions that less stressful (dogs and tipsy lady! LOL). I'll give a whirl next time though and see what happens. Brian/Sylvaine: who are Alice B. Toklas and Casta Diva? It's a beautiful image, Sylvaine!!! Thanks so much guys for all the feedback on this. Ya'all gave me a lot to think about, and I really appreciate it!!! I hope I will see improvements in my work next time!!! Hugz, sheila