If I may add a little technically off-topic addition to this. Those 'holes in his face' as you eloquently put it are heat detecting organs. All snakes have them - it's how they find their prey. And please, don't be afraid of the snakes, especially this little guy. If you don't make them feel threatened they have no reason to retaliate. They're smart enough to know that you're not prey and so as long as you're not a threat either, enjoy them and have no fear. (c:

I think the shot looks fine as it is origionally without motion blur or cropping. The blur makes it look falsified, and if you crop too much off as kim has done then you have no reference for what the rider is actually doing. You need the cement, atleast the lip of the bowl so you can tell that he's flying.

As an Australian, I can say with 100% confidence that these are definately young Kookaburras - A member of the Kingfisher family.

I bought my Fuji S-9500 because I really wanted an S-series camera, and it's about as high up as you can go. It's literally one step down from an entry-level DSLR. The only thing that stopped me making that extra step is price. I have other things that are more important for me to spend money on (or not as the case may be) right now than what sis to me at this stage only a hobby. I also got a VERY excellent price on my camera ($6 more than wholesale), so that really clinched it for me. My other camera is a Canon T-70 which was given (!!) to me a few years ago and doesn't get used nearly as often as it should. I have to say I'm addicted to all the advantages that straight-to-digital imaging offers. I've only owned my S-9500 for 4 days, but I love it allready.

Off topic here (kinda) But damn, you guys have some great work!

Leeco, it IS mainly based on size. User center-weighted AF, if you MUST use AF (or as the others have said, manually focus). My new Fuji S9000 is the same. My old camera was the same. It's not a fault, so don't worry. :P