A fine halo effect! Your light or natural? Either way it is still "cool". I assume you are inches in distance.

Barnum ain't dead he is alive and selling stuff on e-bay!

I'm going to have to print a standard shot for the owner (Whoever that is?). Good advise. Still I would like the adventurous among us to, color, distort or try any combination of effects. Just to try and get a new animal form, or at least a striking image of feline/frauline.

Colm has a very good eye. There is an ability to visualize and capture images that needs to be used very often. I know the subjects help and they are attractive. Still the pictures are far enough from standard as to be unique with being contrived.

The effect is very abstract and also appeals, I don't know why. Pictures like these are not neutral in their appeal. The viewer either likes or is unmoved. The effects from manipulation are really interesting to compare.

To use the current teenage jargon "awesome" thanks for the post. The earth outline gives it real drama.

To use the current teenage jargon "awesome" thanks for the post. The earth outline gives it real drama.

This a challenge I can't resist. Start at the Chicago Harbor and view both directions toward the water and the city. There is Navy Pier, the Art Intitute, Soldiers Field, Miegs Field and on the South end McCormick's Place. As you go west from the Art Institute you are at Rush Street and then Wabash St. This the old commercial district, elavated rail and very old resturants and hotels. Then you wander north to the Chicago River and then West again for few blocks. Then south on LaSalle. Special Places are Chicago Natural History Museum in Grant Park and Museum of Science and Industry (South Shore and 57th). Watch your time of day in the city. During the day there is a lot of foot traffic downtown. A night it slows down a lot. Buildings that are all tall make for some really deep contrast. If you want to glimpse the gaumt, take the South Shore Line out a few miles and then return. On good summer days a lot office workers eat lunch outside, Try the Sears Tower near lunch. Take a trip up and get bird's eye view. You may have to pick a theme just to limit what is available.

That's life, some people want others to make their life interesting, some people make their own life interesting. It seems that if you aren't interesting where you are moving to Vancover BC won't change anything. We take our own little mental prison's with us when we journey. Open a window let in some light.

Nice piece of jewelry. The black velvet technique on the scanner is slick. Even with the short depth of field. It could be used with PS or Corel, etc the form interesting montage images that are easily cut out.

THe best way to train a photographer is for them to take pictures. A child who gets to take pictures will develop an eye for what is well composed and interesting to them. Also you can't beat the prespective.

The idea is right, next time a little more face to establish age and expression.

The first picture is as the camera produced the shot. No editing except gamma adjustment and some resampling. The resample may have messed with the contrast. The upside down comment was also my wife's reaction to being handed a print of the "art"shot. Some plants have enough variation in the leaf to get unique images from some editing and then posterizing at three to five colors. Nikon 880 on a tripod. Only a 314 kb original file. I'm beginning to understand Corel PhotoPaint 9 for Digital.

This is a fine example of being creative after the image is captured. This basic building and grounds provides the starting point. As posted it is light, bright and peaceful. I could vision three or four other presentations.

Beeu-ti-full, the color is true, and the detail of the wing and fuzz is picked up. Mostly these creatures get angry with my presence. I would guess that you were not the subject of their interest. Micro nature pictures show a different view of the world. There are several variations available just from this exposure.