Pnevai, you're father was obviusly talented - these pictures and the fact that he managed to be very sucessful in a job which requires talent prove this. Before you posted these images, I was composing a reply, which I lost due to my wonderful(!) connection. However, you have stated a comment I was also to make, namely that your father's attitude to the way he worked was borne a great deal from cost. If he was self-taught then I appreciate that totally, as that is my position at the moment. If he had an instructor, teacher or whatever they also will have instilled that in him. However, as you noted, costs today are a lot less (once you've bought the equipment!) - indeed a digital camera promotes the 'take loads of shots, what does it matter' attitude. I do that - not flippantly, I take a maximum of 5 shots of an items, borne from a 'cost' in memory capacity on my camera - but I don't consider those shots to be a waste or mean I have no talent. While one shot may make a good picture in itself, another makes a good background in a completely different picture and responds differently to effects - after all, what is Photoshop if not an advancement of your father's painting above? Would he have the same attitude himself with today's resources? As regarding your early comment on digital photographers almost expecting to have work stolen, if this situation happened with just one 'perfect' picture you are in a one-to-one arguement. With five other shots of the same scene from slightly different angles, you have compelling evidence of ownership..... Finally, when it comes to talent, I have no-one to teach me, no peers except here, and learn purely through peoples attitudes to my pictures. I've never done anything except 'play about' until November when I got my digital camera, and have only been producing reasonable work for 6-8 weeks. I would like to complete this by telling you what I go on is the only real piece of advice I have ever been given; "The man in the street doesn't know what it takes to make a good picture. He doesn't know how much work or personal sacrifice went into, he just knows if he likes it or not. If he does, he says it's a good picture." Thank you for your time.