Slynky, thanks for the reply! I guess the bottom line would be the enjoyment of photography. As for what direction the picture takes after being captured either on film or digital is a by-product as it were of the photographer's imagination. That is part of the reason that I joined in this group. To see and enjoy other folks pictures and to see where the imagination takes it. To me there is beauty in a simple picture of a flower or the flights of fantasy in a manipulated image. Hopefully, i will be inspired to try new techniques emplyed by the people in this group. Jack OBTW, the effect in the picture of the church was acheived by using a mild cutout filter, and following that up with the poster edge filter just a little to define the shapes a bit....