Hi Jinx :) Of course you're right with saying, the more expensive stuff is (usually) the better stuff :). I do believe any word Donald says (not only because there are a lot people out there, saying right the same) but if i do need a zoom lens and don't have 1600 (100-400mm) or even 2000 Euro (for that great 70-200 L IS) i'll have to stay with what i can afford. At least i get IS ... after Donald told me, how happy he is with it. I'm not sure if those other lenses are three times better than what i will be buying (how to measure that exactly?) but they are three times as expensive. So i'll have to stay with the lower one, knowing that i don't have the best i could get and trying to make the best out of the limits, that inferior lens gives me. If sometimes taking photos gives me some real money, i'll think about that question again. So thanks to you too Jinx :o) As an info to all you helpful people: today i gave my old zoom-lens back to the dealer i bought it some weeks ago. He's nice enough to give me the full money back. And i ordered a 70-300 4-5.6 IS USM. Will get it within the next two weeks (hopefully!!). If anyone is interested, i'd give you information on how happy i will be with this one. But as it is better than what i had, i will surely not be too disappointed .. just should never ever think of that L-series again sigh ... but what is a man without dreams? :) Thanks again to ALL of you! Hope, sometimes i can give something in return! :-)

Must read some definitions on what is "surreal" for this one doesn't look to surreal to me? Anyways, it's one masterpiece of a picture and i do love it very much!! :)

Did you open the pics with the image-viewer from WinXP? This little bugger is well known for changing files without asking? Just an idea, sorry for not having better help.

Thanks go out to all of you!! Donald: as that 70-200mm L lens would be capable for use of a 1,4x-converter, the focal lenght is sufficient, but as all other L-lenses, it is too expensive for me these days because i'd like to get it with IS (2000 Euro, 1850 via ebay). Maybe without L now and the 70-200 you do like that much (for a good reason!) in two years? @3DGuy and Misha: of course, i try to use a tripod, but it's not possible all the time, some of my "models" don't agree in waiting to get it mounted or at least standing still when i'm ready ;). Plus: how to use a tripod if i'd like to have some non-standard POV? One reason to get a IS-Lens :) @Michelle: you have been of great help for reassuring me that what i thought to "know" actually is true. Theses times, that really has value to me! Thanks!! :-) @Firestorm: good luck to you! If there's not plenty of money in your pockets, there are some difficult decisions ahead.

Ype, me likes to thank them too. Browsing through r'osity is fun again! :-)

Ok, thank you!! :) You'll see it somewhat bigger in the galeries tomorrow. Thanks again :)

I hope, the next one will stand the anticipation .. but we'll see :) and i'm almost sure, you'll still be awake so you may very well be the first one to see it. I really hope you'll like it. somewhatnervous I agree, this one is great (will find it's way into the gals with some other framing and title sometimes), but one should never replace magic by wow me thinks. Even if it would make an excellent cover for that Cat-Stevens-Album (if they still sell it). :) singing :D

Thanks Cyn! :) To what Gerhard said (in short as i do miss some words too): Working with gradients and other techniques are used in a dark chamber in analog photography too. In his opinion (to which i do agree) this kind of postwork doesn't really change the original picture and therefore is no "postwork" at all. According to this, it is postwork, if the picture is changed that much, that is a new picture. Of course, there isn't a hard cut (my words, not Gerhards) :) hugz Thomas

Thank you very much Gerhard!! As i started taking photos with getting my hands on a digicam, there's a lot to learn for me. I do like your definition. And - in german - i did understand it ;). So thanks again! Best regards Thomas :)

Looking out for them! Thanks my dear :) Have a wonderful evening and let there by some angels on your side of the ocean too!! hugz

Hi :) Hmm .. went sleeping and today, i did miss my ebots .. sorry!! About that picture .. if you allow me to do so Brenda, i'll just copy this from my IM .. : ---------------------------------- What i've done with the other one? Ouch. I'm not working in a style, where i know exactly where to go and than look for a straight way to get there. At least not, if playing with pictures as i did with yours. Playing around and looking what's happening. Can't reproduce that in any step. But i do remember some elements: converting to lab-mode. Blurring a/b channels. Partially sharpening the brightness. (=reducing grain a little) converting to cmyk. Colour adjustment (lesser green, more red and yellow) back to rgb playing with some gradients to further adjust colours duplicating the image-layer, blurring the second layer, choose "soft light" as layer mode, reduced alpha to 40% (may be 20 or 60 too) duplicating the first layer a second time, moving it to the top. Layer mode "multiply negative", alpha 20% (getting it brighter) creating a 4th layer with some rendered random clouds. Layer mode is saturation (not for sure) About framing: i don't ever use pregenerated frames. Lovely option within PSP, but i feel, that each picture deserves his one frame, even if they look similar most of the time, but this is to let anyone see, from whom this pic is. But i have to admit, that sometimes there are some PS-styles in play, if it comes to titles ;) @Brenda: these sponsors here are only those merchants, selling their stuff at r'osity. At least, that's what i thought. Have a great evening. Playing an hour with PS and than, it's pillow-listening-time again. huggz Thomas

Thanks for the clarification Captain Michelle! bows :) Another congrats to Misha, photography-mate 1st grade!

I still don't really know, what a coordinator has to do, but we'll see that soon enough :). And as he is someone who knows what to do with a camera and seems to be a nice guy, i'll gladly welcome him! Good luck with your new responsibillities Misha and congrats from me! Raven / Thomas