Thank you all VERY much for your kind words about that image. As several here know, some of my real interests are in b/w, light/shadow, patterns. I more or less 'saw' this image in b/w when I shot it (I often tend to 'see' images in monotones), but I liked the duotones processing to get those bluer gray tones. No Alpha, I didn't. This was my first week with this new camera, plus we were walking Charleston---and though the photography was MY interest, it wasn't David's priority (he was looking at design/architecture). We've both been here a number of times before, but we haven't just spent hours walking/wandering as much. I wish now that I had done some details of a variety of different subjects, but I was spending so much time just in working with the camera (I wasn't comfortable with it yet for sure LOL) AND in not stopping too long any place, that I missed some good shots, I know. Next time. Syyd--the pier is in SC (as is HIlton Head), but on a little 'family' island beach--more like the kind I like in NC--not too commercial yet. Its quite a bit north of HH and Charleston. We spent time in Beaufort area too, north of HH (BUfort, not BOfort like in NC) and out on the sea islands--you'd like those. Diane