LOL! Nope, I'm only getting there. Right now I have my hands full with either shutter or aperture priority settings. Full manual is still a bit ahead. I'll try it soon, though, since it's beginning to look like my goals are more ambitious than the half- atutomatic setting can provide.

Also, while I love my camera, the LCD display is not my favorite feature. Especially in full sun. But, when I have some time to play, I'll try that, too. 

Ah, bingo! Thank you so much, Tom. That was it. I completely forgot about spot metering - tried all the different settings and most of them worked but that's the essential I missed. Yay!. I knew it was something simple that just slipped my mind. I had it set on average metering or center weighted (can't remember what the symbols are right now) and didn't go back there for a long time.

Tom, you're a genius! 

Thanks again. The problem is, I do not want to change perspective. Some of my favorite photos are done playing with light and that's the whole point. Usually, I don't just want to shoot a bud. I want to show the light hitting it. Yes, I know it's often difficult to avoid over esposure, that's why I'm asking the questions.

And I'm grateful for the answers. I did my last field trip in pretty harsh sun and for the most part, the effects were better. :D

As for the white balance... I'm with Tom here. I also like to play with it. And yup, tones of fun.

Thank you all, guys.

White balance? No, thanks. I actually like playing with it. I love some of my photos to be shivering cold and others warm and fuzzy. Unless this does something to over exposure, too?

And thanks, Inshala, I'll try to remember this: " the higher the "f-number" the deeper the field of view." There is still a lot to learn for me there but boy, is this fun!

I spent a whole day today in a very sunny weather in the botanic gardens. I guess I shot each flower to death, trying out various settings. Now, the moment I find some time to actually look through them, I might have something to show.

Thanks everyone. Helpful as always. :)

Since I'm by no means a pro (and have no intention to become one, just like me some shooting), I'm not sure if I even qualify to answer your question. Frankly, if any of my photos turned out to be actually worth stealing, I'd probably be just thrilled. :D

I can, however, tell you this: Not being a photo theif, either, I do like to have some nice images in my personal folder for inspiration. I also remember ripping some mushroom images for my dad (great passion of his) from some highly "encrypted" encyclopedia online. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The no right click thing, I mean. Just look around your browser options and knock yourself out copying all the beauties you can find. 

I don't know about the software you're talking about but I can't imagine there is no easy bypass there. And I'm no hacker, either.

If you ask me, the best way to go is to either make them small as you're doing it or slap your name/handle/copyright notice all over the thing - so it can't be photoshopped out easily. Kind of like Shutterstock does: it's not obscuring the image, you can still enjoy it but try to get rid of it. Sure you can, in most cases, but it really takes far more time and effort (with each and every image) then devising a one time weapon against a security software and go free and wild on all of them.

Thanks. Actually, I'm trying to minimize my postwork and still learning the intricacies of manual settings. Does faster shutter speed decrease DOF? The shot was taken at shutter speed 1/40 sec and f/3.5 Sorry, I should have clarified it earlier.

Hm... let's say it reminds me of a nice... bikini. :D

Ugh... good it's not in the other thread. I wouldn't be able to post the "instant recall"... :D

Heh! I've just the thing for you:

The picture below me has a wild animal.

A park nearby. Last fall:

She certainly does:

The picture below me has something that makes sounds :)

I realize this is a long shot but the arch structure just reminded me of this photo I took in a nearby park a couple of weeks ago:

I'm not sure if this qualifies. One of my experiments:

And some brick and mortar